A Qualitative Analysis on What Brazilian Psychiatrists Want from Current Diagnostic Classifications

Abstract

Aims:

To analyze the qualitative answers profile of an anonymous standardized survey, with qualitative and quantitative questions, about the Brazilian psychiatrists' perceptions on their use of the multiaxial diagnostic systems ICD 10 and DSM-IV and on their expectations about future revisions of these classifications (ICD-11 and DSM-V).

Method:

the questionnaire, elaborated by Graham Mellsop (New Zealand), was translated into Portuguese and sent through mail to 1050 psychiatrists affiliated to the Brazilian Psychiatry Association. The quantitative analysis is presented elsewhere.

Results:

One hundred and sixty questionaries returned (15,2%). From these, 71,1% of the open questions where answered. The most needed and/or desirable qualities in a psychiatric classification were found to be: simplicity, criteria clarity, objectivity, comprehensibility, reliability and ease to use. The axis I of the ICD-10 was reported to be the most used due to its instrumental character in addition to being the official classification, including for legal and bureaucratic purposes. The DSM-IV was also used in the everyday practice, mostly for education and research purposes, by psychiatrists with academic affiliations. The less frequent use of the multiaxial systems was justified by the lack of training and familiarity, the overload of information and by the fact they are not mandatory. It was evaluated that some diagnostic categories must be reviewed, like: mental retardation, eating disorders, personality disorders, sleeping disorders, child and adolescence disorders, affective and schizoaffective disorders.

Conclusion:

This material offers a systematic panorama about the psychiatrists' opinions and expectations concerning the diagnostic instruments used in the daily practice.