Abstract
The paper discusses the DSM-IV, the standard classification system for mental disorders and explains that its intent is to systematically identify mental disorders consistently throughout the medical profession in the United States. The paper explains the three major parts to the DSM-IV: diagnostic classification, diagnostic criteria and descriptive text, and discusses each in turn.

From the Paper
""I am Sam" is a drama film distributed in 2001 and tells the story of an autistic father and his efforts to obtain custody of his daughter after she has been taken away from him by social workers (Nelson, 2001). Sam Dawson is a special needs autistic adult who is attempting to raise his daughter alone. Lucy (daughter) was was born to same and a homeless woman--the mother left Sam and Lucy the day after Lucy's birth wanting nothing to do with either one. Until the age of 7 Lucy lived with her father in a caring and loving environment--all of Lucy's physical and..."

Tags:mse, dsm, iv, sam

Abstract
The paper examines the research on the limitations of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and addresses the construction of personality 'types' by the DSM, its emphasis on creating stable constructs of sanity versus insanity, as well as its questionable application of a medical model of wellness to mental health. The paper clearly shows that having a uniform standard of mental illness in a manual is problematic. The paper posits that giving clinicians greater flexibility in diagnosis by reducing the importance of diagnostic specificity might create a more productive treatment environment in the future.

From the Paper
"Koerner, Kohlenberg, and Parker's examination of the lack of utility of Axis I and Axis II distinctions in the DSM is especially useful: they point out that a variety of anxiety disorders overlap with avoidant and dependent personality traits and often the symptoms of many personality disorders overlap with other conditions to the point either diagnosis has little use for the therapist. Instead, behaviors should be examined, rather than grouped together and categorized as diseases or character 'types.' Additionally, the question of what is a personality disorder seems particularly well-suited to a behaviorist critique given that it raises the question of what it means to have a personality, and the degree to which this might be an artificial construct. After all, that is the difference between merely suffering from anxiety and having an anxious personality disorder, even anecdotally?
"Furthermore, the DSM idea of 'personality disorders' suggests a kind of immutable quality in regards to personality, although in the case of some personality disorders, most notably Borderline Personality Disorder, the symptoms may seem to resemble the identity conflicts of a typical adolescent. Once again, the issue of context is relevant--unstable, impulsive and needy behavior may be less maladaptive and more socially acceptable in adolescents than in adults."

Tags:Axis, I, Axis, II, clinicians, therapist, personality

Abstract
This paper discusses the importance of classification in the psychiatric field. It begins by providing a brief historical review of classification in psychiatry. It then discusses how DSM-IV contributes to health care and the entire medical field.

From the Paper
"Diagnosis is the foundation of all medical practices (Berrios, 1995). In recent years, the medical industry has experienced a revolution in medicine's ability to identify and treat the illnesses that burden humanity. The psychiatric industry, which specializes in treating mental illnesses, has been a key participant in this revolution, identifying new diagnostic measures and systems of classification for many psychiatric disorders."

Tags:disorder, treatment

Abstract
This paper is a psychological report written as an exercise based on public information about a hypothetical public figure. The writer describes the fictitious patient in detail, giving her personal history and background. The DSM-IV-TR multiaxial assessment process in which an individual's symptoms are classified based on a five axis model, is used to determine that the patient suffers from substance abuse, bipolar II disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The treatment prescribed for the patient is cognitive behavioral therapy, and the writer explains in detail what it will entail. The writer concludes with suggestions for further treatment.

Outline:
Part I - Basic Information
Part II - Referral Context
Part III - Disclosure Statement
Part IV - Pertinent Background Information
Academic History
Substance Abuse History
Trauma History
Family History
Past experiences in Counseling
Part V - Behavioural Observations / Validity Results / Clinical Interview
Part VI - Diagnosis & Cause of Problem
Part VII - Treatment Recommendations
Goals
Therapist Function and Role
Interventions
Part VIII - Impressions & Recommendations

From the Paper
"Kitty is a public figure of some sorts, as she is the wife of a previous presidential candidate. Kitty has spoken publicly about the difficulties people in the public eye have in seeking mental health treatment and in fact has admitted that she is happy her husband did not win the presidential election in 1988 because she feels that that would have further impeded her ability to seek help for her serious substance abuse problem at the time. Because of Kitty's role as a public figure, confidentiality is of the utmost concern. Confidentiality is always an important part of the therapeutic process, but in Kitty's case she requires additional acknowledgement that the relationship she has with her therapist is confidential. During our initial session I reviewed a formal informed consent with her, which covered the issues of confidentiality specifically related to her situation."

Tags:psychoanalysis, mental health, depression catastrophic negative manageable homework, diet pill, family

Abstract
This paper examines the urgent need for changes in the classification of personality disorders. The paper discusses the current classification model for personality set forth by DSM 4. It looks at the problems associated with this system of classification, including high level of co-morbidity and lack of theoretical or empirical rationale for selection of categories. The paper looks at proposed alternative classification systems, such as dimensional systems where extreme scores are representative of psychopathology.

From the Paper
"Personality disorders are longstanding patterns of extreme, inflexible personality traits that are deviant or maladaptive and lead to impaired functioning or subjective distress. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 1994). The essential feature of a personality disorder is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture."

Tags:apa, dimensional, psychiatry, research

Abstract
The purpose of this research paper is to identify one of the classifications in the DSM IV using one of the cases in the book, "The Transcendent Child" by Lillian B. Rubin, to fit the diagnosis.

Abstract
In this paper, the writer looks at a Mexican American couple who visit a professional regarding the wife's recent suicide attempt. The writer notes that the wife is an attractive, meticulously dressed woman. The writer also points out that she mentions that she attempted to take her life as her only recourse to escape her husband's constant, verbally abusive demands that she lose weight. The writer explains that the husband comments that all he ever asked her when they got married was to stay thin and be faithful. He thinks that she purposely gained weight after their second child, just to spite him. This paper discusses the writer's diagnostic impressions of the wife. Further, the writer offers goals and treatment suggestions for both the wife and family. This paper includes approximately twenty pages of source copies.

From the Paper
"It is important to discuss the symptomology behind each one of these Axis diagnoses, in order to better understand why it is believed that these are the issues and problems that the wife must deal with. The most significant of these, however, are the depression and the post traumatic stress disorder that the wife is dealing with, because these are the problems that must be addressed first and that appear to be the most serious where she is concerned. For the family, however, the Axis IV diagnosis of the wife must be addressed, because the wife is having problems with her social and family network due to the berating and verbal abuse that she is taking from her husband.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can usually be seen as a delayed reaction to some type of traumatic event that usually is psychological in nature. This type of trauma is outside of the normal human experience and can include some type of accident or natural disaster, psychological or physical abuse, terrorism, and war."

Tags:depressive, disorder, trauma, abuse, suffering

Abstract
The paper presents a model case-study for a psycho-social evaluation using the DSM, a diagnostic manual used for evaluting individuals suffering from some form of mental illness or emotional difficulty. The paper selects an individual who is a 15 year old female suffering from a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder. The paper includes a description, differential axis assessment and discussion.

From the Paper
"Rachel is a thin, 15-year-old Caucasian female. The oldest of 4 children, Rachel is a junior, attending a large suburban high school north of Boston. She lives in the family's private home in an upper-middle class community. Appearance: Rachel is 5'6" tall but weighs only 103 pounds. On the day of her evaluation, her brown hair was drawn into a ponytail, with bangs partially obscuring dark, somewhat sunken eyes. She wore no make-up, a baggy..."

Tags:anorexia, dsm, iii, r, evaluation

Abstract
The paper outlines how this chapter from the DSM-IV Guidebook examines a number of conceptual issues related to psychiatry and how a practicing psychiatrist should approach a diagnosis of a particular mental disease. The paper specifically summarizes the two sub-headings, the authors' discussion of the term "mental disorder", descriptive syndromal diagnosis and the reasons why mental disorders are even classified in the first place. Finally, the paper looks at the authors' caution that users must be flexible and clinically practical when diagnosing any mental illness, not taking DSM-IV rules and paradigms beyond their own clinical judgment and experience.

From the Paper
"The first sub-heading "Epistemology of the Diagnostic Endeavor" offers a simple analogy to the psychiatrist in the form of umpires who see balls and strikes in a game of baseball as very different in terms of epistemology or the "study of the nature of knowledge and how it is experienced and organized in the human mind" (Denison, 2003, p. 245). Thus, the nature of reality and knowledge, at least for the psychiatrist, "has profound implications for understanding the nature of psychiatric classification" (DSM-IV Guidebook, 1995, p. 14) regarding how to approach a diagnosis of a mental illness in a patient. Overall, one might ask the question, "Do psychiatric disorders exist as entities in nature (i.e., occurring naturally) or do they arise as mental constructs created in the minds of the classifiers?" (DSM-IV Guidebook, 1995, p. 14).
"The second sub-heading explores the definition of a mental disorder which Walter D. Glanze sees as "any disturbance of emotional equilibrium as manifested in maladaptive behavior and impaired functioning," caused by genetics, physical, chemical, biological, psychologic and/or cultural/social factors (2000, p. 741). According to the DSM-IV guidebook, a mental disorder is merely a human concept which "lacks a consistent operational definition that covers all situations" which might arise in the office of a psychiatrist. In other words, a mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bi-polar/depression, ADHD or some type of disorder associated with substance abuse, cannot be fully diagnosed by simply relying upon poorly-defined psychological entities or constructs which oftentimes only discuss traditional ideas of Western culture related to biology, treatment and testing."

Tags:mental, disorders, classification

Abstract
Discussion of the DSM IV diagnosis of the disease. Information needed to complete the five axis diagnosis. Uses a fictional client as an example of how to form an accurate diagnosis. Criteria needed including memory impairment, cognitive impairments, gradual onset, elimination of other conditions that could this this specific dementia. Intervention plan.

From the Paper
"DSM IV Diagnosis : Alzheimer's Disease
DSM IV Criteria
Axis I 290.10 Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type, With
Early Onset, Uncomplicated
Axis II V71.09 No diagnosis
Axis III Alzheimer's disease
Axis IV None
Axis V GAF = 31 (current)
The above five axis diagnosis is preliminary only since some of the necessary information is unavailable at this time. Axis I, Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type, is substantiated by the following criteria: (A) memory impairment, failure to identify objects (agnosia), and disturbance in executive functioning; (B) the cognitive impairments cause significant impairment in..."