Neopositivism and the DSM psychiatric classification. An epistemological history. Part 2

Historical pathways, epistemological developments and present-day needs

Bibliographic Data

ID19445740
AuthorsMassimiliano Aragona (0000-0002-4841-5825, Crossing Dialogues Association, Rome, corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume24
Issue4
Pages415-426
Publication date2013-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHistory of Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-154X • E-ISSN: 1740-2360
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0957154x13499671
PMID24573752
OpenAlexW1987632048
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited24

Little is known about the concrete historical sources for the use of neopositivist operational criteria by the DSM-III. This paper suggests that distinct sources operated implicitly. The current usefulness of the operational approach is questioned. It is shown that: (a) in epistemology, neopositivism has been replaced by more adequate accounts; (b) psychologists rejected operational definitions because these were unable to define the majority of mental phenomena; (c) mental symptoms cannot be directly described as such, because they already make part of the psychiatric diagnosis to which they belong. In conclusion, diagnosing is based on the hermeneutical co-construction of mental symptoms. The failure of the neopositivist programme suggests that it is time to reconcile scientific formalization and semiotic activity

Epistemology · Psychiatry · Semiotics · Sociology · Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology · Mental Health and Psychiatry · Philosophy · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications

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