Diagnostic Tool for Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders present a wide array of symptoms. Understanding the various tools available for assisting in forming a diagnosis will help a practitioner better work with their clients.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) is a compendium of symptoms designed to help practitioners diagnose patients. It is divided into several sections (such as anxiety disorders or depressive disorders) to help narrow down to a specific diagnosis.

Interviewing Using the DSM-IV

• Each section of the DSM-IV-TR provides a list of symptoms and how a patient would meet the criteria for each. Interviewing the patient to find out what symptoms they have is one way to form a diagnosis.

Supplemental Diagnostic Tools

• If you are having trouble forming a diagnosis from an interview, you can use tools like the Diagnostic Interview Schedule or the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III).

Assessment and Level of Functioning

• Determining how much a patient's anxiety impacts their daily living can be done through the multiaxial diagnosis. Each of the five axes provides different information such as what disorder they may have, medical conditions, life stressors, and their overall level of functioning.

Assessments Specific to Anxiety

• There are several assessment tools available that are specific to anxiety disorders. Two common assessments are the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory.