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RE: Psychology Addict # 22 | The Diagnosis of Mental Illness

in #psychology7 years ago

This is an intricate topic indeed. From what I've heard from some students of psychology the patients' self-awareness of their mental state actually offers a good basis for diagnosis although they typically lack the knowledge to put everything into perspective by themselves.
After all, a good determining factor in classifying a condition as a 'disorder' or just a quirk is whether the person in question feels he or she is suffering from it. Or is this approach too simple?

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Hey @galotta, thank you so much for leaving such a meaningful comment. I like how you worded this

a good determining factor in classifying a condition as a 'disorder' or just a quirk is whether the person in question *feels* he or she is suffering from it.
But, please note that here, of course, the psychologist shouldn't rely on subjective evidence (e.g how one feels like) only. Occasionally, for one reason or another, some people withhold information from their therapist - this is also one of the reasons misdiagnosis can occur. Relying on both subjective and objective evidence (e.g crying, lack of sleep) is a safer way to classify a condition.

All the best :)