The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders. Published by the American Psychiatric Association, it is commonly known as DSM.The manual has been praised for its contribution to the care of patients and to the science community by providing rigorous and reliable diagnostic criteria for psychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder and social phobia. But at the same time, it is also criticized by others for creating too many diagnostic categories and for allowing "the distinction between psychopathology and normal psychological phenomena (e.g., sadness after a major stressful event, shyness in social situations) to be eroded...".
The latest version is DSM-IV-TR (DSM Fourth Edition, Text Revision). This version is organized into a five-part axis system. Each axis or dimension relates to a different aspect of disorder or disability.
- Clinical disorders
- Personality disorders and intellectual disabilities
- Acute medical conditions and physical disorders
- Psychosocial and environmental factors contributing to the disorder
- Global Assessment of Functioning or Children's Global Assessment Scale for children and teens under the age of 18
