Axis
In DSM-IV-TR classification system, one of five dimensions used to provide comprehensive assessment of patient functioning. Now largely replaced by dimensional approaches in DSM-5-TR.
Full Definition
The multiaxial system was a feature of DSM-IV-TR that organized clinical information across five axes: Axis I (clinical disorders), Axis II (personality disorders and intellectual disabilities), Axis III (general medical conditions), Axis IV (psychosocial and environmental problems), and Axis V (global assessment of functioning). This system was discontinued in DSM-5-TR in favor of a non-axial documentation approach, though legacy records may still reference axial diagnoses. Editors must recognize axial terminology in historical documents while ensuring current documentation follows DSM-5-TR standards without axial designations.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize when referring to specific axes (Axis I, Axis II). Note obsolescence in current practice.
In Context
- "Historical records indicate an Axis II diagnosis of borderline personality disorder from 2010." — Chart review documentation
- "Current DSM-5-TR documentation does not use the previous Axis system for diagnostic coding." — Clinical training material