# Michael First

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American psychiatrist

**Michael B. First** (born 1956) is an American [psychiatrist](/source/Psychiatrist) who focuses on [diagnostic criteria](/source/Diagnostic_criteria) for [mental disorders](/source/Mental_disorder). He is Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University). First was one of the editors of [DSM-IV-TR](/source/DSM-IV-TR), the Editor of Text and Criteria for the [DSM-IV](/source/DSM-IV), and the editor of the [Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV](/source/Structured_Clinical_Interview_for_DSM-IV).[1] He also served as consultant to the [World Health Organization](/source/World_Health_Organization) for the revision of [ICD-11](/source/ICD-11).

## Life and career

First earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from [Princeton University](/source/Princeton_University) in 1978. He then graduated from [University of Pittsburgh](/source/University_of_Pittsburgh) with a master's degree, also in Computer Science, and a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1983. He did his psychiatric residency at [Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center](/source/Columbia-Presbyterian_Medical_Center) and a fellowship in [biometrics](/source/Biometrics) at the [New York State Psychiatric Institute](/source/New_York_State_Psychiatric_Institute). He is certified with the [American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology](/source/American_Board_of_Psychiatry_%26_Neurology).

First frequently writes on diagnostic criteria, particularly diagnostic controversies. He has written on several of these controversies, including [depression](/source/Major_depressive_disorder),[2] [eating disorders](/source/Eating_disorders),[3] and desire for [amputation](/source/Amputation) or [paralysis](/source/Paralysis), calling it [body integrity identity disorder](/source/Body_integrity_identity_disorder).[4]

He has provided expert opinion and testimony on several high-profile cases, including the federal trial of the accused Al Qaeda terrorist [Zacarias Moussaoui](/source/Zacarias_Moussaoui).[5] First co-authored *Am I Okay?: A Layman's Guide to the Psychiatrist's Bible* with psychiatrist [Allen Frances](/source/Allen_Frances).[6]

## Selected publications

- Kupfer DA, First MB, Regier DA (2002). A Research Agenda for DSM-V. American Psychiatric Publishing, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-89042-292-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-89042-292-2)

- First, MB; Pincus, HA; Levine, JB; Williams, JB; Ustun, B; Peele, R (Jun 2004). "Clinical utility as a criterion for revising psychiatric diagnoses". *[Am J Psychiatry](/source/Am_J_Psychiatry)*. **161** (6): 946–54. [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [15169680](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15169680).

- Crawford, TN; Cohen, P; Johnson, JG; Kasen, S; First, MB; Brook, JS (Feb 2005). "Self-Reported Personality Disorder in the Children in the Community Sample: Convergent and Prospective Validity in Late Adolescence and Adulthood". *[J Pers Disord](/source/J_Pers_Disord)*. **19** (1): 30–52. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1521/pedi.19.1.30.62179](https://doi.org/10.1521%2Fpedi.19.1.30.62179). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [15899719](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15899719).

- First, MB (2005). "Desire for Amputation of a Limb: Paraphilia, Psychosis, or a New Type of Identity Disorder". *[Psychological Medicine](/source/Psychological_Medicine)*. **2005** (35): 919–928. [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [15997612](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15997612).

- First, MB; Westen, D (2007). "Classification for clinical practice: how to make ICD and DSM better able to serve clinicians". *[International Review of Psychiatry](/source/International_Review_of_Psychiatry)*. **19**: 473–481. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/09540260701563429](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F09540260701563429). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [17896228](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17896228).

- First MB, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, Gibbon M: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I) - Research Version, Biometrics Research, New York, NY, USA

- First, MB (December 2010). "DSM-5 proposals for paraphilias: suggestions for reducing false positives related to use of behavioral manifestations". *Arch Sex Behav*. **39**: 1239–44, author reply 1245–1252. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s10508-010-9657-5](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10508-010-9657-5). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [20697936](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20697936).

- Kendler, KS; First, MB (Oct 2010). "Alternative futures for the DSM revision process: iteration v. paradigm shift". *[Br J Psychiatry](/source/Br_J_Psychiatry)*. **197** (4): 263–5. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1192/bjp.bp.109.076794](https://doi.org/10.1192%2Fbjp.bp.109.076794). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [20884947](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20884947).

## See also

- [Robert Spitzer](/source/Robert_Spitzer_(psychiatrist))

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-scid4_1-0)** ["How Do I Reference the SCID if I'm Using It in a Study?"](http://www.scid4.org/info/refscid.html). scid4.org. Retrieved 8 April 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-carey2007_2-0)** Carey, Benedict (April 3, 2007). [Many Diagnoses of Depression May Be Misguided, Study Says.](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/health/psychology/03depr.html) *[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-goode2000_3-0)** Goode, Erica (October 24, 2000). [Watching Volunteers, Experts Seek Clues to Eating Disorders.](https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/24/science/watching-volunteers-experts-seek-clues-to-eating-disorders.html?scp=16&sq=%22michael%20first%22%20psychiatrist&st=cse) *[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-henig2005_4-0)** Henig, Robin Marantz (March 22, 2005). [At War With Their Bodies, They Seek to Sever Limbs.](https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D61E3CF931A15750C0A9639C8B63)*[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-roberts2006_5-0)** Roberts, Joel (April 19, 2006). [Victims' Kin Take Stand For Moussaoui.](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/victims-kin-take-stand-for-moussaoui/) *[CBS News](/source/CBS_News)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-first2000_6-0)** Frances A, First MB (2000). *Am I Okay?: A Layman's Guide to the Psychiatrist's Bible.* Simon and Schuster, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-684-85961-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-684-85961-3)

## External links

- [Michael First, M.D.](http://asp.cumc.columbia.edu/facdb/profile_list.asp?uni=mbf2&DepAffil=Psychiatry) via Columbia University Medical Center

- [Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV](http://www.scid4.org/info/refscid.html)

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