Classification and diagnosis of disorders

Question 1

How do psychiatrists diagnose mental health disorders?

Answer 1

diagnostic tools / classification systems

Question 2

What are the two main diagnostic tools?

Answer 2

ICD-11 and DSM-V-TR

Question 3

What do the diagnostic tools do?

Answer 3

• detail categories of disorders and the associated symptoms
• track prevalence rates

Question 4

How are symptoms formatted in the textbooks?

Answer 4

checklists

Question 5

Why are there two types of diagnostic tools?

Answer 5

DSM is used in western cultures and the ICD is used worldwide

Question 6

What is an example of a criteria in one of the textbooks?

Answer 6

needed 2 or more symptoms for a one month period

Question 7

What are the strengths of diagnostic tools?

Answer 7

• objective due to the level of detail = more valid and reliable
• standardised = same diagnosis = reliable
• scientific (due to standardised)
• holistic - exclusion criteria
• reviewed and updated

Question 8

What are the weaknesses of diagnostic tools?

Answer 8

• subjective interpretation from psychiatrists (class divides)
• cultural bias = ethnocentric
• not scientific - no evidence
• unethical labels
• social sensitivity
• when updated disorders are removed = invalid
• comorbid
• reductionist - checklists