S53.01 - Toward DSM v: Why the new acute mental patient deserves more study

Abstract

Over the last several years diagnostic research made significant conceptual and methodological advances but acute mental disorders still remain almost neglected from international classifications. This is becoming, however, an area of growing concern with considerable relevance to mental health policies: an increasing number of patients seek for acute/emergency treatment with atypical symptoms yet classic diagnostic categories do not adequately describe the multiple co-morbidities and unpredictable course of these disorders. To capture a number of exquisite clinical characteristics that may be a putative target of innovative treatment programs on the changing scene of emergency psychiatry and acute psychiatric treatment, this report will introduce the concept of “new acute mental patient” a condition at the crossroad of dissociative disorders, mood disorders and personality disorders among patients exposed to traumatic life events. The validity of this diagnostic construct and its relevance to outcome research will be further investigated utilizing the data basis from longitudinal studies.