Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135:1500-1504
Copyright © 1978 by American Psychiatric Association
Hysteria split asunder
SE Hyler and RL Spitzer
The authors present the proposed DSM-III classification of the traditional
hysterical disorders, i.e., disorders that suggest physical illness but in
which psychological factors are judged to be of importance. The use of the
DSM-III inclusion and exclusion criteria-- physical mechanism explains the
symptoms, symptoms are linked to psychological factors, symptom initiation
is under voluntary control, and there is an obvious recognizable
environmental goal--are discussed in the differential diagnosis of
somatoform disorder, factitious disorder, malingering, psychological
factors affecting physical condition, and undiagnosed physical illness.
