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MEDLINE Indexing Online Training Course

Category F - Psychiatry and Psychology

Indexing Principles

Category F contains the MeSH headings in the areas of psychiatry and psychology. It is divided into four subcategories:

  • F1 normal behavior and behavioral mechanisms
  • F2 normal psychological phenomena and processes
  • F3 mental disorders
  • F4 behavioral disciplines, psychological techniques and activities

Indexing Policy

In general, the indexing principles and use of subheadings for Category F are:

  • The indexing principles and permitted subheadings for mental disorders are the same as for category C - Diseases.
  • The indexing principles and permitted subheadings for the behavioral disciplines are the same as for Categories H1 - Natural Science Disciplines and H2 - Health Occupations.
  • The indexing principles and permitted subheadings for the psychiatric and psychological services are the same as for category N2 - Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and Services.
  • The indexing principles and permitted subheadings for the diagnostic techniques and tests and therapeutic methods in psychology and psychiatry are the same as the diagnostic and therapeutic methods for Category E- Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment.

Last Reviewed: March 10, 2015