Suicidal behavior on Axis VI: clinical data supporting a sixth Axis for DSM-V.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Previous research suggests incorporating suicide risk assessment into a sixth axis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
• The current study investigates the nonredundancy of suicide risk assessment with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the incremental predictive utility of a separate suicide risk assessment within the DSM framework.
• To provide data supporting the nonredundancy of suicide risk assessment with Axis V (GAF).

Main Methods:

• A standardized suicide risk assessment protocol was administered to 412 adult outpatients.
• Measures included depressive, anxious, and eating disorder symptomatology, and comorbidity index.
• Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores were also collected for comparison.

Main Results:

• Data from standardized suicide risk assessments showed significant associations with symptomatology severity.
• Suicide risk assessment data were also associated with comorbidity indices.
• These associations remained significant after controlling for GAF scores.

Conclusions:

• Suicide risk assessments are distinct from and not redundant with the GAF scale.
• The findings support the potential utility of a separate DSM axis for suicide risk assessment.
• Longitudinal studies are recommended to further investigate the predictive utility of a sixth DSM axis for suicide risk.