DC: 0-3R

Originally published in 1994, ZERO TO THREE’s Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0-3) was the first developmentally based system for diagnosing mental health and developmental disorders in infants and toddlers. Its diagnostic categories reflected the consensus of a multidisciplinary group of experts in early childhood development and mental health.

The revised DC:0-3 (DC:0-3R) drew on empirical research and clinical practice that occurred worldwide after 1994. DC:0-3R, published in 2005, extended DC:0-3 by incorporating empirical research and clinical practice. It supported clinicians in diagnosing and treating mental health problems in the earliest years. Specifically, DC:0-3R was designed to help mental health and other professionals:

• Recognize mental health and developmental challenges in young children,
• Understand how relationships and environmental factors contribute to mental health and developmental disorders,
• Use diagnostic criteria effectively for classification and intervention, and
• Work more effectively with parents and other professionals to develop effective treatment plans.