According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2015), a diagnosis is “the act of identifying a disease, illness, or problem by examining someone or something.” While this definition appears to be straightforward, the act of diagnosing is a complex and subjective process. In the field of mental health, clinician’s generally acknowledge the complexity of diagnosing and strive to make an accurate diagnosis. However, some clinician’s are also participating in purposeful misdiagnosing for numerous reasons, which include external and internal pressures. This paper will discuss the ethical and practical implications related to the issue of over and under diagnosing in the field of mental health, the external and internal pressures faced by clinicians,
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These acts are likely genuine in natural but are questionable in regards to the NASW Code of Ethics. By giving a specific diagnosis, the client may in turned be given a stigmatizing label that could follow them for life. Some diagnoses carry more of a stigma than others. For example, in general an Adjustment Disorder is received and regarded better than a Depressive Disorder. The clinician may make the diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder over a Depressive Disorder to protect the client’s self-esteem (Kirk and Kutchins, 1988). The desires to avoid stigmatizing labels and protect the client’s self-esteem are therapeutically motivated but these actions do not follow the NASW’s Code of Ethics. In contract, the Code of Ethics identifies the protection of the client’s confidentiality as a standard. The clinician may choose to under diagnosis in an effort to protect the client’s confidentiality with the insurance company. Like diagnosing, the NASW’s Code of Ethics are subjective and open to interpretation. However, in an effort to protect the client’s confidentiality, the clinician is disregarding their right to self-determination and informed consent. Lastly, the clinical may decide to provide a lesser diagnose until additional information in obtained which can guide a proper
These acts are likely genuine in natural but are questionable in regards to the NASW Code of Ethics. By giving a specific diagnosis, the client may in turned be given a stigmatizing label that could follow them for life. Some diagnoses carry more of a stigma than others. For example, in general an Adjustment Disorder is received and regarded better than a Depressive Disorder. The clinician may make the diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder over a Depressive Disorder to protect the client’s self-esteem (Kirk and Kutchins, 1988). The desires to avoid stigmatizing labels and protect the client’s self-esteem are therapeutically motivated but these actions do not follow the NASW’s Code of Ethics. In contract, the Code of Ethics identifies the protection of the client’s confidentiality as a standard. The clinician may choose to under diagnosis in an effort to protect the client’s confidentiality with the insurance company. Like diagnosing, the NASW’s Code of Ethics are subjective and open to interpretation. However, in an effort to protect the client’s confidentiality, the clinician is disregarding their right to self-determination and informed consent. Lastly, the clinical may decide to provide a lesser diagnose until additional information in obtained which can guide a proper