Write a short note on axis IV and V of DSM-IV.

Axis IV and V of DSM-IV

Axis IV:
Axis IV in the DSM-IV is used to report psychosocial and environmental problems that might affect the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mental disorders. These factors can include:

• Problems with primary support group: such as death of a family member, divorce, or family conflicts.
• Educational problems: like illiteracy or academic problems.
• Occupational problems: including unemployment or job dissatisfaction.
• Housing problems: such as homelessness or inadequate housing.
• Economic problems: like poverty or lack of access to healthcare.
• Legal problems: such as involvement with the criminal justice system.

These stressors can significantly impact an individual's mental health and are crucial for a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan.

Axis V:
Axis V refers to the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale, which rates an individual's overall psychological, social, and occupational functioning on a scale from 0 to 100. It provides a numerical summary of the patient's functioning:

• 91-100: Superior functioning in a wide range of activities.
• 81-90: Absent or minimal symptoms.
• 71-80: Mild symptoms or some difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning.
• 41-50: Serious symptoms or impairments.
• 1-10: Persistent danger of severely hurting self or others.

The GAF score helps clinicians assess the impact of mental health conditions on daily life and track changes over time.