To the Editor: I was interested in the recent articles from the “Stamps of greatness” series, reprinted from past issues of the AMA Gazette, containing the memorialisation in stamps of famous historical leaders in medicine. Few readers would be likely to realise the association between the hobby of philately (the study and collection of postage stamps) itself and the development of the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM) classification of psychiatric illness.1
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- 1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. (Text revision.) Washington DC: APA, 2000.
- 2. Houts AC. Fifty years of psychiatric nomenclature: reflections on the 1943 War Department Technical Bulletin, Medical 203. J Clin Psychol 2000; 56: 935-967.
- 3. Nomenclature of psychiatric disorders and reactions. Office of the Surgeon General, Army Service Forces. War Department Technical Bulletin, Medical 203. 1946. J Clin Psychol 2000; 56: 925-934.
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