Significance of Proper Diagnosis in Mental Health

Nov 26
14:17

2015

Peter Guilorry

Peter Guilorry

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An improper diagnosis and a treatment plan based on it could be as dangerous for a mental patient as in case of any other patient suffering from a serious physical ailment. However, mental illnesses are diagnosed incorrectly many a times, leading to serious implications on the patients’ lives. At times, these could be debilitating, with possibly lifelong repercussions.

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With a correct diagnosis at the right time,Significance of Proper Diagnosis in Mental Health Articles a mentally ill patient can be treated well and cured of the disorder. If you visit some mental health centers in the U.S. or research about the inpatient mental health treatment in Los Angeles, you will find at least a few cases wherein there had been earlier goof-ups in detecting the exact mental problem in patients. And, it is only now that they have checked into a mental health facility and receiving the right treatment.

Blame it on the hormones

Among the most misread mental conditions is bipolar disorder. Somebody who is moody, temperamental, and angry beyond the permissible limit cannot be termed as bipolar. He or she might be facing hormonal imbalances. Before denouncing the person as mentally ill, it is also imperative to check his or her hormones for any imbalance which could have triggered an erratic behavior.

Depression is another area where there are gross fallacies in diagnosing. This mental condition could also result due to physical disabilities and circumstances. Such circumstances are temporary and changes in environment could very well do away with the depression. Heavy medication can never be the solution in such cases.

Effects of wrong diagnosis

If somebody is wrongly diagnosed as a mental patient then there could be lasting implications on the person and the family members. First, the stigma associated with mental illness is bound to hound the person. Though there has been a significant improvement in people’s reproach towards a mentally ill person, many still have some reservations about a mental condition. Try to find out about any residential mental health treatment programs in Los Angeles and you will somewhat get a clearer picture.

A wrongly diagnosed mental illness can cost people their career, social lives and overall fulfilment. Besides, administering medications could also hamper them, both physically and mentally. It could result in further complications and give rise to problems which could have been best avoided in the first place, with a correct diagnosis.

At the same time, a wrong diagnosis and treatment planned accordingly also hits the family hard financially. It is indeed very unfair for somebody to spend money on a lost cause.

How to avoid the situation

The best way to avoid this mishap is to gather as much information about the disease as the first step. If you have sufficient knowledge about mental ailments and their symptoms, such a situation could be avoided to a great extent. Be eclectic in your approach and collect information from every possible resource. Laden with sound knowledge of the feared diseases could reduce chances of wrong diagnosis and incorrect treatment significantly.

Look for a psychiatrist with an impeccable track record and a good reputation. When you go to a good doctor, a correct diagnosis is possible in all likelihood and probably he will never suggest treatment unnecessarily for a non-mental illness. This way you would not only save your money and time, but also keep the unwanted hassles at bay.