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Axia College Material: The Dsm-Iv

The document discusses some issues with using the DSM-IV to diagnose personality disorders: 1. Some diagnostic criteria cannot be directly observed, which could prevent an accurate diagnosis. 2. Personality disorders can have overlapping symptoms, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis. 3. Different people with distinct personalities could receive the same diagnosis, as no single feature is required for any diagnosis. The document also expresses that personality disorders should be considered mental illnesses due to their chronic, inflexible patterns that negatively impact relationships and quality of life.

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52 views1 page

Axia College Material: The Dsm-Iv

The document discusses some issues with using the DSM-IV to diagnose personality disorders: 1. Some diagnostic criteria cannot be directly observed, which could prevent an accurate diagnosis. 2. Personality disorders can have overlapping symptoms, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis. 3. Different people with distinct personalities could receive the same diagnosis, as no single feature is required for any diagnosis. The document also expresses that personality disorders should be considered mental illnesses due to their chronic, inflexible patterns that negatively impact relationships and quality of life.

Uploaded by

drcalypsojellyfinger
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Axia College Material

Appendix G


The DSM-IV

The DSM-IV is an important tool for clinicians. It provides a standard for diagnoses to be standardized across psychology;
however, the DSM-IV is not as precise for diagnosing personality disorders as some psychologists would like.

Give an example of each of the following problems identified in your readings and explain how these problems could
negatively affect a diagnosis.

1. Some criteria used for reaching a diagnosis cannot be observed directly.

If the criteria calls for direct observation; yet no direct observation can be accomplished, then the criteria
cannot be included. If a complete diagnosis must consist of those very criteria; then no diagnosis can be
made at all. A puzzle cannot be completed without all of its pieces.


2. Personality disorders can be similar to each other

For example, in the anxious cluster within the DSM there is a considerable amount overlapping between
the symptoms of Avoidant Personality Disorder and those of Dependent Personality disorder. This can lead
to a false or mis-diagnosis. But knowing well the differences should be enough to avoid this.



3. People with different personalities can be given the same diagnosis
(Maybe it was me, but I had a little trouble understanding this one.)

Individuals must meet a certain number of criteria from the DSM-IV to receive a given diagnosis, but no single
feature is necessary for any diagnosis. Because of these problems the powers that be keep changing the
criteria used to assess each of the personality disorders in order to avoid these types of problems.


4. Do you think that personality disorders are true mental illnesses? Why or why not?


I would have to (a little reluctantly) say yes because personality disorders are characterized by a chronic,
inflexible, and maladaptive pattern of relating to the world we all must function in every day. These patterns
are most evident in the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. The most noticeable and significant feature of
these disorders is their negative effect on personal relationships. A person with an untreated personality
disorder is rarely able to enjoy sustained, meaningful, and rewarding relationships with others let alone enjoy
their own lives.

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