Carol Carbone

Dear Colleagues:

     Enclosed please find a supplemental addition to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Section 301.75: Identiopathic Personality Disorder, should be added to DSM-IV between 301.7: Anti-Social Personality Disorder, and 301.83: Borderline Personality Disorder.
     As you know, the DSM-IV is a classification of mental disorders that was developed for use in clinical, educational, and research settings. The diagnostic categories, criteria, and textual descriptions are meant to be employed by individuals with appropriate clinical training and experience in diagnosis. This addition to the category of Personality Disorders is the product of the extensive research and clinical experience of the Task Force on DSM-IV and the Personality Disorder Work Group. We hope the identification of this new diagnosis will enhance your knowledge and understanding in a constantly evolving field.

Yours,