IMPACT OF DSM-III AXIS-III ON THE DIAGNOSIS OF PHYSICAL DISORDERS IN AMBULATORY PSYCHIATRIC-PATIENTS

In the present study, the effectiveness and utility of DSM-III axis II I in terms of adequate identification of physical disorders in psychia tric outpatients is appraised empirically. To this effect, the presenc e of physical disorders in diagnostic statements recorded in clinical charts is compared in a large medical center for two psychiatric outpa tient samples, one from the nonmultiaxial DSM-II era and one after the implementation of the multiaxial DSM-III. In the earlier sample, 11% of the patients were diagnosed as having physical disorders. In the DS M-III sample, 42% of the patients were so diagnosed. The latter figure is consistent with the 40% average prevalence of physical disorders r eported in careful studies of the physical condition of ambulatory psy chiatric patients.