Classification of Psychological
Disorders
And Models
Chap 4
CBSE CLASS XII
2020-21
Published by the American Psychiatric Association
Provides standard diagnostic criteria for the
classification of mental disorders
 Used by clinical psychologists, psychiatrists,
researchers, health insurance companies,
pharmaceutical companies, the legal system, etc.
 First edition (DSM‐1) published in 1952
 Most recent edition: DSM-5 (2013)


Prior to the DSM-5, 5 "axes" or dimensions were used for
diagnostic and treatment purposes.
Axis I
Axis II
all psychological diagnostic categories except mental retardation and personality
disorder (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, schizophrenia)
personality disorders and mental retardation (considered “life-long problems”)
(e.g., paranoid personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, intellectual
disabilities)
Axis III
general medical condition; acute medical conditions and physical disorders
including brain injuries
Axis IV
psychosocial and environmental factors contributing to the disorder (e.g.,
family problems, housing problems, economic problems)
Axis V
Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (i.e. assessing a person’s mental health
and determining how their current behaviors are influencing their psychological,
social and occupational functioning)

No more multi-axial assessment system

Replaced with a more simplified documentation
Old
New (DSM-5)
Axis I The three axes related to mental disorders and medical conditions
Axis II COMBINED - allowing clinicians to rate disorders along a continuum
Axis III
Psychosocial and environmental factors - changed to “codes” (e.g., Z55.9:
Axis IV academic or educational problem,
Z59.1: inadequate housing)
Axis V
Global Assessment of Functioning Scale - replaced by the World Health
Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2 (=better measure)
NEUROTIC DISORDERS

Distressing but one can
still function in society
and act rationally.
PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS

Person loses contact
with reality,
experiences distorted
perceptions.
International Statistical Classification of
Diseases and Related Health Problems
(ICD-10) – developed by World Health
Org.Mental and behavioural disorders
subsection (compatible with the DSMIV)Companion “International Classification
of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)”
focused on overall functioning and health
• Achenbach System of Empirically Based
Assessment(ASEBA)–
internalizing/externalizing problems
•
Psychological
School/Perspective
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic
Cause of the Disorder
Internal, unconscious drives
Humanistic
Failure to strive to one’s
potential or being out of touch
with one’s feelings.
Behavioral
Reinforcement history, the
environment.
Cognitive
Irrational, dysfunctional
thoughts or ways of thinking.
Sociocultural
Biomedical/Neuroscience/
Genetic factors
Dysfunctional Society
Organic problems, biochemical
imbalances, genetic
predispositions,