The DSM is a vital reference book for mental health professionals, providing diagnostic criteria, treatment options, and prognosis for mental illnesses. It divides mental illness into five axes and is useful for other healthcare professionals. The DSM is revised periodically, with the latest edition being the DSM-IV.
Mental illness is more at the forefront of society than it used to be. With this increased visibility, people have begun to view psychiatric references as vital reading, especially if they have a family member who is mentally ill. One of the first books many people read is the DSM, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This is the official reference book for psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health counselors and therapists.
The DSM classifies and describes mental illnesses; presents diagnostic criteria, treatment options, and prognosis; and detail the search results. It’s in almost every mental health professional’s office. The DSM divides mental illness into five axes.
Axis I covers clinical syndromes such as schizophrenia and depression. Axis II includes developmental and personality disorders such as autism, mental retardation, paranoia and antisocial personality disorders. Axis III deals with physical conditions, such as patients suffering from impaired function due to brain injury. Axis IV discusses the severity of psychosocial stressors, and Axis V helps determine the patient’s highest level of functioning. A mental health professional consults the DSM to determine whether a patient’s functioning has decreased or increased since the last measurement.
The DSM assists a mental health professional in diagnosing mental illness. It provides a list of symptoms for any given disorder and tells the health professional how many symptoms must be present for the condition to be diagnosed. Even those who are not counselors or psychiatrists may find the DSM useful. For example, a physical therapist, speech therapist, or music therapist might consult the DSM to learn the symptoms of a patient’s diagnosis and might be able to tailor therapy to better benefit the patient. If a physical therapist consults the DSM and discovers that a patient is taking a medication that affects balance or movement, she may want to focus on those areas to help improve the patient’s function.
The DSM is revised from time to time, as more knowledge about mental illness, its origins, and treatment becomes available. The latest edition of the work is the DSM-IV. The next edition of DSM is expected to be released in 2011.
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