Dms-Iv

The DSM-IV

PSY/270

The DSM-IV is an important tool for clinicians. It provides a standard for diagnoses to be standardized across psychology; however, the DSM-IV is not as precise for diagnosing personality disorders as some psychologists would like.

Give an example of each of the following problems identified in your readings and explain how these problems could negatively affect a diagnosis.

1. Some criteria used for reaching a diagnosis cannot be observed directly.

Diagnosing patients can be very difficult to gather different types of information that would be needed in order to make an observation. While sitting right in front of a patient can be completely different from gathering information, because some of the information will be right there in front of you. Watching an issue unfold right in front of your eyes will give you more details, and will also allow you to draw your own conclusions instead of playing a guessing game. Some people may get misdiagnosed if there is any kind of mis-information.

2. Personality disorders can be similar to each other.

Since some personality disorders have some of the same symptoms these personality disorders may be hard to diagnose. If information about a patient is coming from a third party, for example a mother explain symptoms to a doctor about her daughter, the information may not turn out to be completely true. The symptoms need to be described by the patient in order for a proper diagnosis.

3. People with different personalities can be given the same diagnosis?

People that have different personalities can be given the same diagnosis if the diagnosis is a general one. Different individuals may have similar symptoms, but they are two different people, that will entail needing two different final diagnoses.

4. Do you think that personality disorders are true mental illnesses? Why or why not?

I do believe that personality disorders are a true mental illness. If an individual has a...