Because of the close association between physical diseases and mental disorders, early and precise detection of mental disorders is of high clinical importance in medical care. Specific aspects have to be considered for diagnosis of mental disorders in somatic diseases. Therefore, the important categories of mental disorders related to chronic somatic illnesses are discussed and specified instruments for dimensional (screening tools) and categorical (clinical interview) diagnostic procedures are presented. Furthermore, the article introduces current developments of new instruments from a methodological point of view and, with regard to content, meeting the specific problems of psychiatric diagnosis in somatic illnesses.
