Which version of the DSM employed a multi-axial system for diagnosis?

• A. DSM-5
• B. DSM-IV
• C. DSM-III
• D. DSM-III-R

Answer: (B)

The correct answer is based on the fact that the DSM-IV, published in 1994, introduced a multi-axial system that was used for diagnosing mental disorders. This system allowed clinicians to evaluate a patient across five different axes, which provided a comprehensive picture of an individual's mental and physical health. The axes included aspects of clinical disorders, personality disorders and mental retardation, medical conditions, psychosocial and environmental factors, and global assessment of functioning.

This multi-axial approach was significant because it recognized that mental health cannot be fully understood by examining clinical disorders in isolation. By considering various components that affect mental health and functioning, clinicians were better equipped to develop accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.

Subsequent editions, like the DSM-5 published in 2013, moved away from the multi-axial system in favor of a more dimensional approach to diagnosis, which aimed to capture the complexity of mental health conditions without separating them into distinct axes. Therefore, the DSM-IV remains the last edition to implement this multi-axial framework.