Definition: Mental disorders are diagnosed according to a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). A DSM-IV diagnosis has five parts. Each part, called an axis, gives a different type of information about the diagnosis.
- Axis I provides information about clinical disorders. Any mental health conditions, other than personality disorders or mental retardation, would be included here.
- Axis II provides information about personality disorders and mental retardation.
- Axis III provides information about any medical conditions that are present.
- Axis IV is used to describe psychosocial and environmental factors affecting the person.
- Axis V is a rating scale called the Global Assessment of Functioning; the GAF goes from 0 to 100 and provides a way to summarize in a single number just how well the person is functioning overall.
