5.1.2 DSM-IV Flashcards
What does ‘DSM’ stand for?
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Who are the authors of the DSM?
The American Psychiatric Association
How many versions of the DSM have there been?
7
When did the DSM start?
1952
What does the DSM recognise about mental disorders?
That causes may be purely biological and others psychological.
What 4 factors does the DSM consider for a diagnosis?
1) Biological
2) Psychological
3) Social environment
4) Physical environment
What does the DSM cover about mental disorders?
Mental disorders for all ages
Possible causes
Stats in terms of gender, age of onset, etc
Research concerning the optimal treatment approaches
How is the DSM descriptive of symptoms not explanatory?
It only describes the diagnostic features (symptoms) of abnormal behaviour, it doesn’t attempt to explain their origins.
How does a clinician arrive at a diagnosis?
They match the patient’s behaviours with the criteria of the DSM that define a particular abnormal behaviour.
Which version of the DSM brought about the axes?
3
How many axes does the DSM-IV have?
5
Identify ‘Axis 1’.
Looking at all clinical disorders and their sub-categories.
Describe the features of Axis 1.
Looking at all disorders except personality disorders and mental retardation and also looking at conditions that may need more attention than others.
What are 2 common examples of what a clinician would find in Axis 1?
1) Schizophrenia
2) Depression
Identify ‘Axis 2’.
Personality disorders
Describe the features of Axis 2.
Decsribed long term problems in functioning not considered axis 1 disorders
What are 2 common examples of what a clinician would find in Axis 2?
1) Paranoid PD
2) Obsessive-complusive PD
Identify ‘Axis 3’.
General medical condition; acute med cond and physical disorders
Describe the features of Axis 3.
Incls physical + med conds that influence/worsen axis 1/2 disorders
What are 2 common examples of what a clinician would find in Axis 3?
1) HIV/AIDS
2) Brain injury
Identify ‘Axis 4’.
Psychosocial & envir factors contributing to the disorder
Describe the features of Axis 4.
Any factor from patient’s envir that may affect functioning
What are 2 common examples of what a clinician would find in Axis 4?
1) Unemployment
2) Divorce
Identify ‘Axis 5’.
Global assessment of Functioning/Child Global assessment of Functioning
Describe the features of Axis 5.
Rating scale used to assess pateint’s ability to cope w normal life, low score = danger to patient to hurt themselves, high= superior lvl of functioning
What are 2 common examples of what a clinician would find in Axis 5?
1) Low score= can’t function, may end up losing something eg job
2) High score= Functions well, eg maintains job
Which axes are not compulsory and why?
4&5, they refer to social conditioning
Define ‘culture bound syndromes’.
Patterns of abnormal behav occuring in some cultures but not others
Give an example of a culture bound syndrome in China.
Koro; fear of genitals shrinking/ retracting into body n causing death
Give 4 strengths of the DSM-IV.
1) 5 axes; standardised + less subjective to improve reliability
2)Details of how to conduct diagnostic intervs
3) Addresses culture-bound syndromes to improve V of diagnosis
4)GAF scale taken out of recent DSM to incr objectivity of diagnosis due to GAF referring to social conditioning
Give 4 weaknesses of the DSM-IV.
1) DSM produced by APA- USA dominanted, ethnocentric so decr G to other cultures
2)Use of axis 4 can lead to subjectivity of clinician where they judge envir factors impact on patients wellbeing
3) Issues of test-retest R is axis 4 isn’t essential in diagnosis, so inconsistent method for diff clinicians
4) Can’t explain origin of symptoms
