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Diagnosis of mental illness is done by interview. There is no objective lab test demonstrating a "biochemical imbalance" in the brain. Diagnosis is subjective
by atsaloli 14y ago
Diagnosis of mental illness is done by interview. There is no objective lab test demonstrating a "biochemical imbalance" in the brain. Diagnosis is subjective.
- DanBC 14y agoYes. But for medical purposes diagnosis is usually done by a doctor who can apply some reasoning to the process. They use the DSM, but they do not just tick boxes. Compared to the ATOS (the independent assessors) who are real doctors but who are forced to operate to a very strict, limited, set of tick boxes. That kind of works for some physical disorders. "On my bad days I cannot stand for more than 30 minutes"; "On my bad days I cannot walk unaided more than 10 metres". Thus, real doctors are not allowed to use their subjective experienced judgement.
- atsaloli 14y agoRight. I don't know if I'd use the term "real doctors" in connection with psychiatry, though. Not when the diagnosis is subjective, without a hard medical test to back it up.
- davidtanner 14y agoSubjectivity can be a problem, true. Few would deny that depression is a 'real' phenomenon that has a heritable component and can cause severe problems in someone's life. Yet, depression is always diagnosed by subjective questioning of the patient.
- jrogers65 14y agoATOS are a horrible bunch. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atos#Controversy_over_disability_benefit_assessments http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atos#Controversy_over_disabilit...