Without a classification system for psychological disorders, the problems that Pete Wentz, Jessica Alba, and Keith Urban appear to have suffered from—bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance abuse, respectively—would be nameless. Among other purposes, a classification system allows clinicians to diagnose and treat symptoms more effectively, allows patients to know that they are not alone in their experiences, and helps researchers to investigate the factors that contribute to psychological disorders and to evaluate treatments.
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