Thedsm-IV Was Originally Published in 1994 and Listed More Than 250 Mental Disorders. It

TheDSM-IV was originally published in 1994 and listed more than 250 mental disorders. It was produced by theAmerican Psychiatric Associationand it characterizes mental disorder as "a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual,...is associated with present distress...or disability...or with a significant increased risk of suffering" but that "...no definition adequately specifies precise boundaries for the concept of 'mental disorder'...different situations call for different definitions" (APA, 1994 and 2000). The DSM also states that "there is no assumption that each category of mental disorder is a completely discrete entity with absolute boundaries dividing it from other mental disorders or from no mental disorder."

The DSM-IV-TR (Text Revision, 2000) consists of five axes (domains) on which disorder can be assessed.

The five axes are:

Axis I: Clinical Disorders (all mental disorders except Personality Disorders and Mental Retardation)

Axis II: Personality Disorders and Mental Retardation

Axis III: General Medical Conditions (must be connected to a Mental Disorder)

Axis IV: Psychosocial and Environmental Problems (for example limited social support network)

Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning (Psychological, social and job-related functions are evaluated on a continuum between mental health and extreme mental disorder)

The main categories of disorder in the DSM are:

DSM Group / Examples
Disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood or adolescence. *Disorders such asADHDandepilepsyhave also been referred to asdevelopmental disordersanddevelopmental disabilities. / Mental retardation,ADHD
Delirium,dementia, andamnesiaand othercognitive disorders / Alzheimer's disease
Mental disorders due to a general medical condition / AIDS-relatedpsychosis
Substance-related disorders / Alcohol abuse
Schizophreniaand otherpsychotic disorders / Delusional disorder
Mood disorders / Major depressive disorder,Bipolar disorder
Anxiety disorders / Generalized anxiety disorder,Social anxiety disorder
Somatoform disorders / Somatization disorder
Factitious disorders / Münchausen syndrome
Dissociative disorders / Dissociative identity disorder
Sexualandgender identity disorders / Dyspareunia,Gender identity disorder
Eating disorders / Anorexia nervosa,Bulimia nervosa
Sleep disorders / Insomnia
Impulse control disordersnot elsewhere classified / Kleptomania
Adjustment disorders / Adjustment disorder
Personality disorders / Narcissistic personality disorder
Other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention / Tardive dyskinesia,Child abuse