Psychiatry

Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that diagnoses, treats, and studies mental illness and behavioral conditions. While all physicians will encounter patients with mental illnesses and any of them may treat it, psychiatrists specialize in these areas, being more extensively trained in the differential diagnosis (distinguishing various forms) and treatment of mental illness and are professionally required to keep up to date on the newest developments in the field of mental illness. Additionally psychologists, nurse practitioners, and social workers can provide psychiatric care though of these only the nurse practitioners may prescribe medication.

The DSM system

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, presently in its fourth revised (IV-TR, 2000) edition, systemises psychiatric diagnosis in five axes:

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• Axis I: potentially transient conditions
• Axis II: underlying pervasive or personality conditions, as well as developmental or learning disorders
• Axis III: any nonpsychiatric medical condition ("somatic")
• Axis IV: social functioning and impact of symptoms
• Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning (on a scale from 100 to 0)

Common Axis I disorders include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Common Axis II disorders include borderline personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder.

Related Topics:
Depression - Anxiety disorders - Bipolar disorder - Schizophrenia - Borderline personality disorder - Schizotypal personality disorder - Avoidant personality disorder - Antisocial personality disorder

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The contents of the DSM are determined by experts whose mandate is to create a set of diagnoses that are replicable and meaningful. While the classification system was originally intended to enhance research into both diagnosis and treatment, the nomenclature is now widely used by both clinicians and insurance companies.

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