Another purpose of classification is the collection of statistical information on a national and international scale. The primary purpose of the INTERNA-TIONAL CLASSIFICATIONOF DISEASES (ICD), for example, is the enumeration of morbidity and mortality data for public health planning (World Health Organization, 1992). In addition, a good classification will facilitate communication among scientists and provide the basic concepts needed for theory development. Both ICD and DSM have been used extensively to classify persons for scientific research. Classification provides a common frame of reference in communicating scientific findings.
Diagnosis also may serve a variety of administrative purposes. When a patient is suspected of having a substance use disorder, diagnostic procedures are needed to exclude "false positives" (i.e., people who appear to have the disorder but who really do not) and borderline cases. Insurance reimbursement for medical treatment increasingly demands that a formal diagnosis be confirmed according to standard procedures or criteria. The need for uniform reporting of statistical data, as well as the generation of prevalence estimates for epidemiological research, often requires a diagnostic classification of the patient.
Classification Systems
ALCOHOLISM and drug ADDICTION have been variously defined as medical diseases, mental disorders, social problems, and behavioral conditions.
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