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inter alia psychiatrists and clinicalpsychologists in making diagnoses, is a team
effort becausemore than 1000 professional people have helped in the preparation of
this document (1995:xiii). Axis IV is for reporting psychosocial and.environmental
problemsthat may affectthe diagnosis,treatment andprognosis ofmental disorders.
A psychosocial or environmental problem may be a negative life event, an environ­
mental difficulty or deficiency, a familial or other interpersonal stress, an inadequacy
ofsocial support or personal resources, or other problem relating to the context in
which a person's difficulties have developed (see DSM-IV 1995:29-30). The pro­
blems thatare quoted as examplesthatbelong to DSM-IV's Axis IV are all problems
that logotherapists certainlywould like to address from their phenomenological­
existential perspective. The following groups ofproblems are listed in DSM-IV:
Problemswith primarysupport group include: the death ofa family member, health
problemsin family, disruption offamily by separation, divorce, or strangement,
removalfrom the home, remarriage ofa parent, sexual or physical abuse, parental
overprotection, neglect ofchild, inadequate discipline, discord with siblings, and/or
the birth ofa sibling. Problems relating to the social environment include inter alia:
the death or loss of a friend, inadequate social support, living alone, difficultywith
acculturation, discrimination, and/or adjustment to life-eycle transition (such as
retirement). Educational problemsare also listed and include: illiteracy, academic
problems, discord with teachers or classmates and inadequate school environment
(DSM-IV 1995:29).
Other problems that are listed on Axis IV where logotherapy can be used successfully
include occupational problems like unemployment, threat ofjob loss, stressful work
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