On the relationship of psychiatric diagnosis to behavioural assessment

Abstract

In this article we address the relationship between behavioural assessment and psychiatric diagnosis. We argue that a diagnostic formulation should be made prior to behavioural assessment but consider diagnosis as complementary to traditional behavioural assessment. Implicit in our proposal, is the notion that behavioural practitioners should be thoroughly conversant with the various forms of psychopathology, and be able to identify the signs and symptoms that cluster together to constitute a clinical syndrome or disorder. The same practitioners should be able to differentiate the signs and symptoms of one syndrome or disorder from another. It is further proposed that behavioural practitione..