New study: Psychiatrists agree on a diagnosis in only 55% of cases

In the 1970s, psychiatric diagnoses were marked by considerable uncertainty and disagreement. Since then, organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization (WHO) have worked to develop standardized diagnostic criteria that psychiatrists around the world can use.These efforts have shaped modern psychiatry by establishing common, criteria-based systems for diagnosing mental disorders across institutions and national borders. However, a new study, led by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, suggests that major challenges remain. In the study, 1,038 psychiatrists and physicians working in psychiatry from 19 countries were presented with nine written patient case descriptions. Each participant...