?axis - info-help?

<font color="blue"> I would love some explanations or links to easy info...... can someone explain about the 'axis' 1 disorders as compared to axis 2 disorders? what are they and what are the differences?
My T. mentioned ths to me, so I read a bit and am still confused. I felt unhappy becuase for me its not about these measurable criteria, its more about cause and effect, I know exactly why I have this disorder, its just I need someone to talk it through with who understands. these criteria thingys make me feel fitted into 'the machine', and then I get triggered, ie then I really get disordered! for the disorder.... catch 22 a bit!
</font> ... but I want to understand, any help???

Hi RiverX

I was able to find this which may help explain a little better

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnos...i-axial_system

Take care,
Dee

thank you so much for this, mybestkids, I just had a long read. It was really informative, its a bit of a shock too, to see how this opperates, this professional approach, .........I'm just digesting this.

river

Basically, Axis I disorders are felt to be more serious, or more acute, while Axis II disorders are considered chronic and more part of who a person is. Axis II has the personality disorders and mental retardation, and the rest of the mental disorders are Axis I. There is quite a bit of disagreement about what really should be where. I would argue that pervasive developmental disorders would fit better on Axis II, for example. Some people say that Axis II disorders are less treatable. The guy who taught my personality disorders class claimed that personality disorders are permanent. But others do consider them treatable, and I feel that personality disorders can be treated and people can recover from them if we are willing to do the work that it takes to heal. Not everyone who has personality disorders is interested in changing, however, and so they aren't going to.

The Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual considers DID (Dissociative Personality Disorder) to be a personality disorder, but the DSM has it on Axis I.

And then, Axis III specifies medical conditions, Axis IV lists life circumstances that have something to do with the problem, and Axis V is the GAF score (see the thread about that).

My goodness! it sounds like a jumble out there! but thanks for this, I'm fascinated now.
I'm surprised they try to make this distinction as say, someone with a pd is likely to self harm when they are triggered, and that is acute, is it not? Yet I also understand that a pd is an ongoing internalised collection of approach to life and attitude, way of thinking and relating. A developmental disorder must surely mean that it was aquired whils growing up, something that was lacking for what the child needed to grow and mature, so patterns in adulthood are to do with trying to resolve or compensate for that lack. Which, I agree with you, therefore must be treatable as it is all based on human relationships. Would that be how you see this too?

Thanks for the info, you've obviously been doing your homework and your thinking work.

river