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What use is a psychiatric diagnosis?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 December 2017

M. O. Huttunen
M. O. Huttunen*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
*
*Address for correspondence: M. O. Huttunen, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland. (Email: matti.huttunen@konsmoh.inet.fi)
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Abstract

Current psychiatric diagnostic practice is usually based on groups of symptoms reported by patients which are compared with symptom clusters in recognized diagnostic classifications, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The number of psychiatric diagnoses has increased in each edition of DSM, which may not be in the best interest of those we treat. Some of the issues with increasing diagnostic categories include potential for overmedicalization, lack of scientific evidence relating to each diagnostic category, and clinician efforts to make a precise diagnosis too early when a more longitudinal assessment is necessary. Clinicians should be mindful of this in their practice and ensure that the unique life experience of each individual is considered in clinical encounters.

Keywords

Diagnosisdiagnostic classificationDSM-5symptoms
Type
Perspective Piece
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , June 2018 , pp. 151 - 152
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2017 

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