CLASSIFICATION OF BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS

·         DSM = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

·         The DSM is a manual primarily used by psychiatrists and psychologists to diagnose mental health problems. 

·         APA = American Psychological Association

·         SEVERITY

·         Tells the clinician how much the behavior differs from the norm. 

·         DIMENSIONAL

·         Based on the work of Quay et al.  Dimensional classification provides a relatively reliable  basis for describing five distinctive behavioural disorders.

·         TYPE

·         This is not a formal classification system.  However, it is used by some assessors to distinguish between behaviours which are internalized and behaviours which are externalized.  Internalized behaviours include nausea, pains, headaches, phobias, fears, obsessions, shyness, nightmares, depression and withdrawal.  Externalized behaviours include disobedience, lying, stealing, fighting, sexual delinquency and destructiveness. 

·         AGE OF ONSET

·         Early starters are those whose symptoms occur before the age of 10 and late starters are those whose symptoms occur after the age of 10.   Early starters are of greatest concern because the long-term impact of the disorder is more severe.  Once started, deviant patterns of behavior are very difficult to change and very unlikely to be reversed or eliminated. 

 

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