Arguments on Psychological Diagnosis in Clients
A Mental Illness Diagnosis Can Be Both Harmful and Beneficial
Sep 17, 2009
Diagnosis will label a client as abnormal, changing the way others view them and the way that one views the self, but diagnosis can also aid in the healing process.
What It Means to Be Abnormal
What does it mean to be called abnormal? Common synonyms of the term include "uncommon," "unnatural," "deviant," and "different." When a person is labeled this way, as a result of the physical or psychological signs that he or she portrays, this means that there must be an opposing behavior that is considered to be normal.
Psychopathology itself is related to this notion because it can be identified by the display of a set of behaviors that deviate from the norm. In the realm of the helping field, these operations are considered to be behavioral and/or mental disorders.
Psychological Disorders Name a Set of Abnormal Symptoms and Behaviors
There are many types of disorders. A few examples are anxiety, mood disorders, and personality disorders. A person suffering from anxiety responds very strongly to stress. A student during her finals period who has anxiety problems might have periods of excessive worry that impairs her ability to focus.
Bipolar disorder, a mood disorder, is characterized on the one hand by manic periods, and at the other extreme, periods of depression. People diagnosed as manic-depressive are sometimes extremely energetic, to the point where they can hardly maintain self-control. At other times, they are completely dispirited and morose.
The Benefit of Psychological Disorder Diagnosis
The benefits of labeling these and other disorders is that it allows clients to seek proper treatment and aid. Nowadays, clinicians and therapists offer a variety of drugs, workshops, and non-traditional practices (i.e. meditation) that can help people cope with or overcome disorders. Elementary schools through universities are also beginning to recognize that there are a variety of learning methods that may be beneficial to those with mental and behavioral disorders In these cases, labeling makes a positive impact.
The Disadvantage of Diagnosis
Problems arise when diagnosed individuals' views of themselves (and others' views of them) negatively shift. Once a person is considered to be a member of a specifically defined group, that person is automatically associated with the set of behaviors and characteristics identified with that group. This is dangerous in the sense that it can create boundaries and limit the perceived potential of an individual.
One key example is the vast increase in the number of children diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. The disorder has become an excuse for poor performance and bad behavior in the classroom. This problem can be exacerbated by children who think they can't pay attention, by parents who want sympathy for their kids, and by teachers who give up on them.
There is No Right Answer
It isn't clear whether the risks of psychological diagnosis outweigh the benefits (or vice versa) when it comes to placing labels on psychological and behavioral functioning. What is clear, however, is that helping professionals need to be aware of the impact that diagnosis has on their clients.
The ability to identify clinically abnormal behavior isn't enough. Helping clients to understand their behavior and the options they have for treatment is key to being a successful helper.
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