title: Recommendation for DSM-V: A Proposal for Adding Causal Specifiers to Axis I Diagnoses.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Aboraya is Chief of Psychiatry, William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital, Weston, West Virginia; Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, West Virginia; and Director of World Health Organization (WHO), SCAN Training and Reference Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aboraya