dimensional approach/mental disorders

[katykins]

could someone please explain this a bit further, and the sub systems of the approach, and what diagnostic manual is used for it! this is one part that really confuses me! also the multiaxial system gahhh !

thanks so much! xx

[Genericname2365]

The dimensional approach explains symptoms/characteristics in terms of "how much"; it quantifies a person's symptoms or other characteristics of interest and represents them with numerical values on one or more scales or continuums, rather than assigning them to a mental disorder category.

Subsystems (Is this what you meant?):

• A dimension: most commonly viewed as a cluster of related psychological and/or behavioural characteristics that tend to occur together and can be measured. Lower scores are usually associated with lower impairment and vice versa.
• An inventory (test) typically comprises closed-ended questions requiring a yes or no answer, or statements requiring a rating about the extent of agreement or disagreement. Thus responses are scored, summarised, and graphically represented.

Diagnostic manual: The International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) - current edition is International Classication of Diseases, Tenth Revision, or ICD-10
Edit: Oops, there is no diagnostic manual for the Dimensional approach - thanks vashappenin.

Multtiaxial system:

I: Clinical diagnoses: all mental and behavioural disorders, including personality disorders
II: Disabilities: due to impairments produced by the individual's disorder. Includes a rating system like the GAF called the WHO DAS-S (WHO Short Disability Assessment Schedule)
III: Contextual factors: situational factors that influence the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of disorders in I.

This multiaxial system I would consider to be unlikely to appear on the exam.

[katykins]

Thanks that has cleared it up! yeah thats what i meant by the sub-systems! this has released a lot of anxiety, i really hope it doesnt come up on the exam haha
cheers!

[Genericname2365]

Thanks that has cleared it up! yeah thats what i meant by the sub-systems! this has released a lot of anxiety, i really hope it doesnt come up on the exam haha
cheers!

No worries.  But yeah if the multiaxial system came up for instance I wouldn't be happy haha, I won't be able to remember it at all.

[vashappenin]

Wait so are you saying the ICD falls under dimensional?! Because it doesnt!! :/
both the ICD and DSM are categorical. Your description for icd is correct but the only problem is that it doesnt fall under dimensional! Theere isnt an actual manual we need to know for dimensional

[Genericname2365]

Wait so are you saying the ICD falls under dimensional?! Because it doesnt!! :/
both the ICD and DSM are categorical. Your description for icd is correct but the only problem is that it doesnt fall under dimensional! Theere isnt an actual manual we need to know for dimensional

Sorry, you're right. I don't know why I posted that...