How would you explain a diagnosis to a client?

How would you explain a diagnosis to a client?

How would you explain a diagnosis to a client? Are there circumstances in which a diagnosis would not be appropriate to share with a client? 275 words 1 ref

There are many pros and cons about mental health diagnosis. List some in supporting an argument for or against formal diagnostic protocols. Briefly explain the cross-cutting symptom measures in the DSM. Include at least two scholarly references. 275 words, 1 ref

 

Mental Health Diagnosis

 

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How would you explain a diagnosis to a client? Are there circumstances in which a diagnosis would not be appropriate to share with a client?

Diagnosis refers to the process where mental health professionals classify a client’s symptoms. Diagnoses are important because they help clinicians determine effective interventions including pharmacological and therapeutic interventions. I would explain a diagnosis to a client by explaining their symptoms and how I assessed them to arrive at the diagnosis. I would also explain the impacts of other factors such as culture and socioeconomic factors that contribute to mental health issues and how they are linked to the diagnosis.

When explaining the diagnosis, I will utilize both non-verbal and verbal communication skills to ensure the client understands what I say. Additionally, I will use simple and easy-to-understand language especially when talking to clients whose native language is not English (Jensen-Doss & Hawley, 2011).

Counselors can refrain from sharing a diagnosis with a client if they feel that the diagnosis may harm the client or other people. Before explaining a diagnosis, it is important to consider the negative and positive implications that may result from it. For instance, there are situations where recording a diagnosis on the client’s health record increases the risk that the information may be used to harm the client.

Additionally, some clients may not be prepared to receive a diagnosis and may harm themselves after they discover what mental illness they are suffering from. Diagnoses can also be harmful if they are made prematurely. In some situations, counselors may lack sufficient data to arrive at an accurate diagnosis hence it is better to refrain from making one until there is access to more information. However, it is important to note that some clients may be relieved when they hear their diagnoses because they will finally understand why they are ill (Jensen-Doss & Hawley, 2011).

 

References

Jensen-Doss, A., & Hawley, K. M. (2011). Understanding clinicians’ diagnostic practices: Attitudes toward the utility of diagnosis and standardized diagnostic tools. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 38(6), 476–485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-011-0334-3

 

There are many pros and cons to mental health diagnosis. List some in supporting an argument for or against formal diagnostic protocols. Briefly explain the cross-cutting symptom measures in the DSM. Include at least two scholarly references.

Formal diagnosis protocols are important because they help people access the services they need. Specific diagnoses lead to the identification of interventions supported by research evidence which help reduce the client’s symptoms and help them live better lives. When a diagnosis is made, patients are provided with a sense of knowing which may give them more peace. Patients also feel better knowing that the mental health issues they may be suffering from are also experienced by other people.

Patients are also more likely to take their treatment seriously if they know what they are suffering from thus leading to better outcomes. Diagnostic protocols for mental health issues also relieve the financial burden for patients because they help with insurance reimbursement. Formal diagnostic protocols also guide research processes in mental health. Although mental health disorders may have varying symptoms, a standardized protocol makes it easier for research professionals to study them (Craddock & Mynors-Wallis, 2014).

The cross-cutting symptom measures refer to self-rated measures that examine the domains of mental health which contribute to psychiatric diagnoses. The main purpose of the measures is to help clinicians determine the specific areas of inquiry that may be important to the prognosis and treatment of their clients. Moreover, cross-cutting measures can be used to assess any changes in the symptom presentation of patients with mental illnesses over time.

Therefore, patients may be required to complete the measure regularly based on their psychiatrist’s recommendations and their symptoms and treatment status. For patients with impaired capacity, an informant who is close to the patient may complete the measures. Patients who consistently have high scores have problematic symptoms that may need further assessment (Clarke & Kuhl, 2014).

References

Clarke, D. E., & Kuhl, E. A. (2014). DSM-5 cross-cutting symptom measures: A step towards the future of Psychiatric Care? World Psychiatry, 13(3), 314–316. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20154

Craddock, N., & Mynors-Wallis, L. (2014). Psychiatric diagnosis: Impersonal, imperfect and important. British Journal of Psychiatry, 204(2), 93–95. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.113.133090