1. Study the DSM IV Classification Scheme
The fourth edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" is the reigning method of classifying types of mental illnesses in the United States. It was created by the American Psychiatric Association, and breaks down mental illnesses into five levels, called axes by the "DSM IV". The "DSM IV" contains a comprehensive list of disorders, along with a summary of the illness and what symptoms to expect. Since the "DSM IV" was written and laid out for use throughout the medical professions and not just for mental health workers, the average person should also have no trouble understanding it. The publication also contains an index for people wishing to know what the classification is for a particular mental illness.
2. Study the Fifth Chapter of the International Classification of Diseases
The World Health Organization has created its own classification scheme for understanding types of mental illnesses. This classification is found in the fifth chapter of the "International Classification of Diseases." The "ICD" classifies mental illnesses into 10 categories, designated F0 to F9, with another quasi-category devoted to mental illnesses that can't be placed into the other 10.
The "DSM IV" and the "ICD" are both valued resources when trying to understand types of mental illnesses. Despite their differences in categorization, the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization have revised their manuals to make both guides compatible with each other.
3. Familiarize Yourself With Other Classification Schemes
The "DSM IV" and the "ICD" are not the only classification of mental illnesses that exist. Other countries and regions have their own ways of understanding types of mental illnesses. The "Latin American Guide for Psychiatric Diagnosis" and the Chinese Society of Psychiatry's "Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders, Third Edition" are just two examples. The "Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders" differs from the "DSM IV" and the "ICD" in various ways, not the least of which is inclusion of homosexuality as a mental illness.
Studying the "Latin American Guide for Psychiatric Diagnosis" and the "Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders" is helpful for anyone trying to understand types of mental illnesses, as it illustrates the way different cultures classify psychological conditions.
