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Chapter 4 - Classifications and the Diagnostic Process in Psychiatry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2025

By
Marcelo Bruno Generoso  and
Marsal Sanches
Edited by
Marsal Sanches  and
Jair C. Soares
Marsal Sanches
Affiliation:
McGovern Medical School, Texas
Jair C. Soares
Affiliation:
McGovern Medical School, Texas
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Summary

The diagnostic process is a crucial aspect of medical practice. Psychiatric diagnosis involves information gathering, mental state assessment, hypothesis integration with laboratory or imaging when needed, and data interpretation. Clinical reasoning operates through two systems: System 1, characterized by intuitive pattern recognition; and System 2, which employs meticulous critical thinking. These systems complement each other, with System 1 being faster but riskier while System 2 offers a more planned approach. Today, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) are the two primary diagnostic manuals. Despite their imperfections and reliance on symptom descriptions, the DSM and ICD remain indispensable tools in psychiatry for communication, research, and clinical decision-making.

Keywords

DiagnosisDSMICDDiagnostic Process
Type
Chapter
Information
Fundamentals of Clinical Psychiatry
A Practical Handbook
 , pp. 19 - 26
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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