Axis I: Clinical Disorders

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According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013), “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the handbook used by health care professionals in the United States and much of the world as the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders. DSM contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders”. In this manual, axis I: clinical disorders are presented and the most efficient way to diagnose these symptoms. Axis I is one of the five axis models that are used when diagnosing a clinical disorder. A few acute disorders fall under this category which is mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia. This paper will go in-depth about a few acute disorders that contributes …show more content…
Anxiety is when the body is alert due to threats or it can even prepare us for a challenge that we will be facing (NAMI, 2014). Both emotional and physical responses, can stem from anxiety disorders. When an individual constantly feels unexplained fear or thoughts that negative, an anxiety disorder can be developing. When a person is in a non- threatening situation, and begins to experience a proliferation in their heart rate, heavy breathing, and excessive sweating means they are displaying the symptoms of an anxiety disorder (NAMI, 2014). For example, if a student has to speak in front of a class, and these signs began to develop, it is a possibility that the student has an anxiety disorder. A problem can occur when anxiety triggers the “fight or flight” response, when there is not a need for it. Usually anxiety disorders appear when a child is experiencing depression or ADHD. It can also be seen as a co-occurring disorder because adolescents with anxiety disorders, typically abuse alcohol and drugs when faced with it (NAMI, 2014). The most common anxiety disorders that affect adolescents are: generalized, separation, social, panic, and obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD). When a child experiences generalized anxiety disorder, a wide variety of issues can trigger their anxiety. With generalized anxiety the …show more content…
At this time it is hard, because children begin to isolate themselves from their parents in search of their own identity. When an adolescent can clearly hear aggressive voices in their head, they are possibly experiencing a psychotic episode. Schizophrenia is an illness that effects every aspect of an individual’s life. This disease is so complex that it has different effects on different people. Some of the most common symptoms of that are experienced during schizophrenia is hallucination and delusions. Hallucinations is when a person sees or hears something that is not actually there. Usually when a person is hallucinating, they tend to hear aggressive and threatening voices that can be critical (NAMI II, 2014). Delusions is when a person believes something even when there is evidence to show that their beliefs can be proven wrong. When a child says certain things that do not make sense, and they are so set in their beliefs, it is a possibility that they are delusional. For example, when a child believes that adults can read their minds are signs of delusion. When attempting to tell a delusional person that they are wrong can often cause conflict. When it comes to diagnosing schizophrenia, a very good evaluation of the patient is key. This is because schizophrenia have similar symptoms of bipolar disorders and pervasive

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