Deeds, not Diagnosis.

Here on Shrink Rap, we've talked at length about the implications of having a psychiatric diagnosis on one's future occupational endeavors.  For example: We've talked about whether you can have bipolar disorder and be a doctor. We've talked about the fact that a psychiatric diagnosis prevents you from being a pilot. We've talk about psychiatric disorders and being in a powerful political office. We've noted that the New York Times recently ran an article on psychiatric diagnoses and how it affects one's ability to be admitted to the Bar Association. We've discussed mental illness and gun legislation.   What the DSM does for us is it gives us a list of symptoms that go with every diagnostic category.  It means that if a patient presents at a given time with a specific set of symptoms, and they are examined and a history is taken, that different psychiatrists at that point in time, with the same data, will come up with the same diagnosis.  It's actually good for that, and we call this inter-rater reliability.   What the DSM doesn't do is tell us which patients with a given disorder will get better with medicines, will get better without medicines, will respond well to therapy, will do better without medicines, or will be hopelessly sick and disabled no matter what is done.  Schizophrenia is often a poor prognosis illness to have, and nothing about diagnostic criteria tells us who with schizophrenia will become a law professor, like Ely...
Source: Shrink Rap - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Source Type: blogs