Multiaxial Diagnosis of Mental and Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

Abstract Most health care professionals who diagnose and treat mental disorders use the diagnostic criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition–Text Revised (DSM-IV-TR), which uses a multiaxial system to ensure a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the patient's presenting symptoms, general medical condition, psychosocial and environmental problems, and level of function. The five axes are mental disorders; personality and mental disorders; general medical conditions; psychosocial and environmental problems, and global assessment of functioning (GAF) scale. Psychosocial and environmental problems may affect diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mental disorders; the problems or stressors can contribute to the development of a mental disorder or can be the result of a mental disorder. The multiaxial assessment process should result in the following; documentation of the primary and any secondary mental and behavioral disorders; definition of physical disorders that may be present and indication if they are related to or influence the mental and behavioral disorders; identification of environmental stressors that may affect, contribute to, complicate, or exacerbate the mental and behavioral disorder; and a rating of the person's psychological, social, and occupational functioning. A table shows the GAF scale (ratings by deciles from 1 to 100; higher numbers indicate fewer problems) and does not include impairments that result from physical or environmental limitations.