Study of Diego's Medical History - Research Paper Example

A multiaxial Diagnostic System, commonly denoted as DSM-IV-TR, uses a diagnostic system with 5 levels to classify disorders and illnesses. These five levels assist whoever provides treatment with a complete diagnosis, including the factors influencing the patient’s psychiatric condition. This provides an effective plan for offering treatment. It also provides standard criteria and a common language in the mental disorder classification. This manual is used in the United States and worldwide by researchers, health insurance companies, policymakers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical companies.

The current version of this model is the DSM-IV-TR, which is the fourth edition (Ellis, 1988). In dealing with Diego’s ailment, the five DSM levels, better known as “axes”, will be used. The first axis incorporates ‘clinical disorders’, the second incorporates personality disorders and intellectual disabilities, while the remaining ones relate to psychosocial, environmental and medical-related factors. The five “axes” and their application in Diego’s case are as follows.

Axis I: Clinical DisordersAxis I is top-level in the diagnosis. The diagnosis contained in this level is the most familiar and the most widely recognized in the treatment. These involve major mental disorders, substance use disorders, as well as learning disorders. The most relevant categorization of Diego’s disorder in this axis would be the mental disorder. This is because Diego was so troubled mentally and his acts only reflected issues with his mentality. For instance, why would a sane man prick his own eye with a biro point?

That would be a mental disorder, of course. Besides, screaming in an elevator that serves as a medical facility at the top of his voice, claiming to be on his father’s search, speaks volumes of his mental incapacity.Regarding Diego’s substance use disorder, he was a bad influence on his cousin back in Colombia. Here, the justification that first comes to mind is definitely the use of drugs and substances.