DSM-III in the clinical practice of child psychiatry.

The clinical usefulness of DSM-III was assessed by examining its inclusiveness, its correspondence to DSM-II, and difficulties encountered in its use in evaluations of 108 children. DSM-III covered adequately a wide range of diagnostic entities, showed relatively good correspondence to DSM-II with some exceptions, and presented relatively few major difficulties in a child psychiatry clinic setting. DSM-III seems likely to be accepted and used by a majority of practicing child psychiatrists.