"Research along these lines can clarify whether differences in disease diagnosis across groups results from diagnostic criteria, the way the criteria are applied, or environmental factors that influence people’s susceptibility to disorders," wrote the experts, led by Dr. Helena B. Hansen of the departments of psychiatry and anthropology at New York University.
The independent review body would consider differences in rates of diagnoses by sex, ethnicity, income, or geographic area, as well as rapid increase in a specific diagnosis. The review body also would be tasked with recommending changes to the DSM when its diagnostic criteria led to under- or overdiagnosis of a disorder.
The authors of the commentary received financial support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholars Program.
mschneider@frontlinemedcom.com
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