If you’ve ever paid fucking attention when trying to use Google in getting answers you’ll notice there is a list of symptoms and signs of a problem. And while the differences between symptoms and signs apply to every diagnosis, I of course , am referencing them in regard to metal fucking health.
As someone new to the field it’s become apparent that there is some facts that I can’t run to Google for and I need to be the one in the room who can answer something easily and at the very least to myself. The difference between a symptom and a sign is indeed one of those fucking facts that I need to be able to answer and recall on command.
The reason is because that the difference matters when it is time to assess and diagnose a new client. Which, now that I can’t rely on the comfort of being a student or intern, makes it pretty fucking consequential
Like I said, the difference is the same no matter what is being diagnosed, but it is different in terms of mental health. This is because signs are observable indicators of a disorder, and symptoms are self reported and based on what the client feels. Which can be slightly abstract and difficult to distinguish.
Medically, this can be simply distinguished as the symptom a client may give is experiencing headaches, while the sign the doctor observes is high blood pressure. When it comes to metal health, it can come down to who observes the effect.
The reason this matters is that unlike physical illnesses, there isn’t a medical test to diagnose mental health disorders. This means clinicians must rely on feelings, behaviors, and time frames to classify and diagnose these disorders. It is the signs and symptoms that help determine if the clients’ experiences align with the criteria for the disorder. Once those diagnoses are identified ,effective treatment can be planned for the client.
……until next week
herewesayf&@#k!!! 