What is a Clinical Diagnosis?

Clinical diagnoses can be a time consuming endeavour that may require spending two or three hours with a doctor or a therapist. A diagnosis is a label for an emotional or physical ailment. Psychological diagnoses are often made with the use of two main medical categorical systems:

• The “American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV)”
• The “International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD 10)”.

A diagnosis is often based on a list of symptoms that have been present over a specific period of time. It can be helpful to start with a specific diagnosis so that a treatment plan can be provided for the patient. It is also often useful to be able to name the ailment as it allows the client to learn more about the challenges they are facing. This can be useful as the individual than has the chance to make an educated decision about the treatment options available. The diagnosis is also a common language that allows for efficient communication between different healthcare specialists and medical aid schemes

It is important to remember though that a diagnosis is only a tool that is used to help people gain treatment in times of need. Every person is complex and unique. It is essential that all mental health practitioners take time to get to know their clients in order to appreciate the personality and circumstances of each individual. It is not always easy to open up to a stranger even if they are a professional. For this reason it is helpful for clients to understand more about the psychologist’s obligation of confidentiality. The purpose of this is to protect the rights of the client and to instil trust in the helping professions