Specified diagnostic criteria have been credited, in part, with
improving diagnostic reliability. The authors hypothesize that nonuniform
application of these criteria across different research centers has been
one factor responsible for the failure to replicate research findings. For
example, researchers using a narrow interpretation of the Research
Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) have found a highly significant association
between endogenous depression and a positive dexamethasone suppression test
result, whereas researchers using a broad interpretation have failed to
find the predicted relationship. The authors used two interpretations of
the RDC and DSM- III endogenous/melancholia criteria to diagnose 60
depressed patients and found significant difference in rates of diagnoses
and symptoms.
Abstract Teaser