Remember, when dealing with disorders of a psychological nature, one must stick to a five axis diagnosis while asking three questions of each:
How much?
How Long?
How does it affect their functioning.
The DSM-IV lays out the diagnostic criteria for conditions in plain black and white, however; they also put on every other page that if you are not a qualified psychologist/psychiatrist that they would prefer you stay away from labeling individuals based on this book.
For instance, if I label someone bipolar, that is a lifelong disorder; but if I give them manic tendencies then that will affect my GAF Scale
and the name of the game is insurance. They absolutely will not pay for a patient with a GAF above 55. Be careful with diagnosing, however perfect the textbook; even the doctors make mistakes in diagnosis every once in a while.




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