Within that system, Axis I disorders included “mental health and substance use disorders.”
It provides the criteria required for diagnosis, also categorizing conditions based on certain similarities.
Under the DSM-IV, allpsychiatric disordersand other mental health issues were organized into five different categories or axes.
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Axis I Disorders In the DSM-IV
Axis I disorders included both mental health andsubstance abuse disorders.
People with PTSD tend to have other anxiety disorders, also commonly developing substance use disorders.
Despite this connection, in the DSM-5, PTSD was removed from the category of anxiety disorders.
Instead, it was put into a classification called “Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders.”
Other Axis Categories
Other mental health issues fell into the other axial categories.
Axis III disorders referred to medical or neurological issues with the potential to give rise to psychiatric problems.
Axis IV disorders referred to psychiatric problems triggered by environmental and psychosocial stressors.
These stressors can compromise diagnosis and treatment of a mental health condition.
Lastly, Axis V was used to classify an individual’s ability to function in life.
A mental health professional can provide strategies for coping with your condition.
These professionals may also sometimes prescribe drugs to help manage symptoms associated with that particular disorder.
Simply speaking to a neutral party about your experiences can be uplifting as well.
What you discuss with a mental health provider is confidential.
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National Institute of Mental Health.Post-traumatic stress disorder.
