Question

“Physicians make diagnosis looking at a person’s physical symptoms.” How are psychological disorders diagnosed?

Answer 1

Psychological disorders are diagnosed by psychologists and psychiatrists through various methods like clinical observation, interviews, questionnaires, and psychological tests.

In earlier times, abnormal behaviour was often attributed to supernatural forces like evil spirits or demons, and people consulted shamans or faith healers for solutions.

In modern psychology, the biological model suggests that brain and body malfunctions can cause disorders, while the psychological approach sees them as resulting from faulty thinking, emotions, or perceptions.

To standardise diagnosis, manuals like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) by the American Psychiatric Association and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) by the World Health Organisation are used. These manuals list various psychological disorders, their symptoms, and diagnostic guidelines.