4D's of Diagnosis A03

Question 1

What is a strength of the 4D’s of diagnosis?

Answer 1

Using all 4D’s helps avoid wrong diagnosis.

Question 2

How can the 4D’s be applied to real life?

Answer 2

The 4D’s are used by clinicians to diagnose mental illness in conjunction with the classification manuals.

Question 3

What is a weakness of the 4D’s of diagnosis?

Answer 3

They lack objectivity. It would be better if individuals were compared to a reference group rather than the clinicians view. The clinician would need information about the individuals community too.

Question 3

What is a further weakness of the 4D’s of diagnosis?

Answer 3

They create labels, this matters because such attitudes may become ‘self-fulfilling prophecies’.

Question 4

How can we link the 4D’s to Issues and Debates?

Answer 4

There is potential for social control and abuse of power.

Russian psychiatrist Koryagin (1981) described how the KGB pressured psychiatrists in the 1960’s to diagnose and imprison people that didn’t conform to official policies.

Question 5

What are the 4D’s of diagnosis?

Answer 5

Deviance
Dysfunction
Danger
Distress

Question 6

What is Deviance?

Answer 6

Behaviours, feelings, cognitions, and desires which are extreme, unusual or bizarre and differ from social and statistical norms.

Question 7

What is Dysfunction?

Answer 7

The inability to conduct everyday activities.

Question 8

What is Distress?

Answer 8

The subjective experience of feeling upset and/or anxious.

Question 9

What is Danger?

Answer 9

At risk of causing physical or psychological harm to self or others.