Diagnosis Matters

Why is a diagnosis important?

We often have patients and their families ask us if having a specific diagnosis matters or “isn’t that just a label”.

Certainly, a diagnosis can be used just as a label, however, we strive to determine the most accurate diagnosis for a very different and important reason.

To explain, let’s begin with an illustration. If you speak a 2nd language then you may appreciate this comparison:

Words are powerful and have specific definitions. Many words have multiple meanings and as such can lead to some confusion or poor communication. The best chance for accurate communication occurs when a clear language is used.  This requires both engaged parties to utilize the same dictionary or definition for the words being used. 

This is also the case in psychiatric diagnoses. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), currently in the 5th edition, is maintained and updated with a primary goal of providing a common language for mental health clinicians in discussing the varied conditions that patients may experience. The DSM is the most comprehensive, widely studied and universally utilized language for psychiatric disorders in the USA and many other countries. 

Our goal is to provide the best evidence-based care for the patient’s diagnosis. Treatment studies use the DSM primarily to accurately identify and include patients who meet criteria for the mental disorder being studied. This ensures that a treatment is applicable to a specific diagnosis.

The most accurate diagnosis will enable us to utilize the best available treatments for that specific condition. The diagnosis is not ‘just a label’, but rather an orienting clinical concept that directs the provider in offering the patient the best path towards health. 

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