The document describes the five axes of the DSM diagnosis system. Axis I covers clinical syndromes like depression and schizophrenia. Axis II covers developmental disorders like autism evident in childhood and personality disorders that impact long-term interactions. Axis III includes relevant physical conditions. Axis IV rates the severity of psychosocial stressors in a person's life. Axis V evaluates the person's highest level of functioning presently and in the past year.
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Axis diagnoses
1. AXIS DIAGNOSES
ï‚¢ Axis I: Clinical Syndromes
 This is what we typically think of as the diagnosis
(e.g., depression, schizophrenia, social phobia)
ï‚¢ Axis II: Developmental Disorders and Personality
Disorders
 Developmental disorders include autism and mental
retardation, disorders which are typically first evident in
childhood
 Personality disorders are clinical syndromes which have
a more long lasting symptoms and encompass the
individual's way of interacting with the world. They
include Paranoid, Antisocial, and Borderline Personality
Disorders.
2. AXIS DIAGNOSES
ï‚¢ Axis III: Physical Conditions
 Which play a role in the
development, continuance, or
exacerbation of Axis I and II Disorders
 Physical conditions such as brain injury or
HIV/AIDS that can result in symptoms of
mental illness are included here.
3. AXIS DIAGNOSES
ï‚¢ Axis IV: Severity of Psychosocial Stressors
 Events in a persons life, such as death of a loved
one, starting a new job, college, unemployment, and even
marriage can impact the disorders listed in Axis I and
II. These events are both listed and rated for this axis.
ï‚¢ Axis V: Highest Level of Functioning
 On the final axis, the clinician rates the person's level
of functioning both at the present time and the
highest level within the previous year. This helps the
clinician understand how the above four axes are
affecting the person and what type of changes could
be expected.