Recommendation for DSM-V: A Proposal for Adding Causal Specifiers to Axis I Diagnoses.

Causal specifiers are certain and possible causes of mental disorders and can be biological, genetic, environmental, developmental, social, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, or personality characteristics. Depending upon the clinical judgment of the degree of certainty, a causal specifier can be a definite etiopathogenesis or a factor contributing to manifestations of mental disorders. The author recommends adding causal specifiers to Axis I diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition to improve communication among clinicians.