Including Laboratory Tests in DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria

Michael B. First, M.D. and Mark Zimmerman, M.D. write in the December issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry:

Despite widespread acceptance that most psychiatric disorders are "diseases of the brain" (1), the field of psychiatry has thus far failed to identify a single neurobiological marker that is diagnostic of a mental disorder (2). There are a number of potential advantages to including laboratory tests in diagnostic criteria. In contrast to the clinical signs and symptoms that form the basis for the current DSM criteria, laboratory tests are more objective (3), would facilitate detection of mental disorders in primary care settings (4), and would highlight the neurobiological basis of psychiatric disorders.