Question: What is the validity and reliability of diagnosis?

Jasmin Moon answered on 12 Jun 2019:

Great question. I don’t actually diagnose people as part of my job, but I do meet a lot of people that have been given a mental health diagnosis. Most of the time the person is happy with and agrees with their diagnosis, because it has helped them to get the right treatment and the support they need. However I do meet people who disagree with the diagnosis they have been given and this is tricky because a professional (usually a psychiatrist) has decided they are showing the symptoms that indicate a certain disorder. A mental health diagnosis can be very subjective because unlike physical health problems you cannot just do an x-ray or blood test to work out what is wrong. I think the most important thing is that the individual is given support and a treatment plan and if this is working for them then the diagnosis is not so important or relevant.