DSM and ICD classifications in medico-legal reporting: misperceptions, misunderstandings and misuse

SUMMARY Analysis of court and tribunal judgments in cases where expert psychiatric evidence has been admitted reveals widespread misunderstandings and misuse of the diagnostic and statistical manuals published by the American Psychiatric Association and the similar publications of the World Health Organization. Examples are given here of cases in which their use has caused difficulties in the delivery of justice. For them to be a help and not a hindrance, it is suggested that when used there should be appropriate explanation as to their status, nature, purposes and limitations and that expert witnesses should handle them with the care that they require.