Following the American Psychiatric Association's success with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition(DSM-III-R), which for the first time quantified psychiatric diagnosis, it was felt that there was a need for a similar treatise on psychiatric treatment. This book, which runs to four volumes and over 3000 pages, represents seven years of intensive work, involving, as it does, over five pages of consultants and 26 separate panels. Each drew together as a working group and produced three drafts of each subject, which were then sent out to a number of consultants for modification and comments.
Despite its size, the book follows the general format of DSM-III-R. Although at times it reintroduces older diagnostic categories by way of clarification, a cautionary statement indicates that the report is not intended to be construed or serve as a standard for psychiatric care. It is inevitable, however, that certain