Multiaxialität

Multiaxialität, also known as multiaxial classification, is a system used in psychology and psychiatry to describe a person's mental state across multiple dimensions or axes. This approach was famously employed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), specifically the DSM-IV, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a patient's condition than a single diagnosis might allow.

The DSM-IV utilized five axes. Axis I focused on clinical disorders, encompassing conditions like schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety disorders. Axis II addressed personality disorders and mental retardation, highlighting enduring patterns of behavior and cognition. Axis III was for general medical conditions that might be relevant to the patient's mental health. Axis IV considered psychosocial and environmental problems that could be contributing to or exacerbating the mental disorder, such as financial difficulties or relationship issues. Finally, Axis V provided a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score, rating the individual's overall psychological, social, and occupational functioning.

The primary benefit of a multiaxial system is its ability to capture the complexity of a person's experience. It acknowledges that mental health is influenced by a variety of factors beyond just a single diagnostic label. By considering medical, social, and environmental elements alongside clinical diagnoses, clinicians can develop more tailored and effective treatment plans. While later versions of the DSM, such as the DSM-5, have moved away from a strict multiaxial format, the underlying principle of considering multiple dimensions of a person's functioning remains a valuable concept in mental health assessment.