NHM MP Staff Nurse-2022
Mental Health Nursing
Easy

Which one of the following manuals is to be followed for the diagnosis of Mental illnesses?

Appeared in: NHM MP Staff Nurse-2022

Explanation

  • The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the primary reference manual developed specifically for the classification and diagnosis of mental disorders.
  • While other classification systems exist, the DSM is exclusively focused on psychiatric conditions, providing detailed and specific criteria for each.
  • Among the choices provided, DSM-IV is the most appropriate answer because it represents this specialized manual, even though it is an older edition.
  • The development of DSM aimed to create a common language for clinicians and researchers to diagnose mental disorders consistently.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: This is not a formally recognized or standardized manual for diagnosing mental illnesses. While there have been Indian adaptations of ICD, 'Indian Classification of diseased condition' is a vague and incorrect term.
  • Option C: The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) is a much broader system that classifies all diseases and health problems, not just mental illnesses. While its Chapter F covers mental disorders and it is used for billing and reporting globally, the DSM is the manual specifically dedicated to the nuances of psychiatric diagnosis.
  • Option D: 'Local Statistical Manual' is a generic term and does not refer to any official, standardized diagnostic tool used in psychiatry. Diagnosis must be based on internationally or nationally recognized standards.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Standardized manuals for psychiatric diagnosis to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
  • Using standardized manuals like DSM and ICD ensures that clinicians have a common language, leading to more reliable diagnoses and consistent treatment across different providers and settings.
  • Accurate diagnosis using these manuals is essential for treatment planning, predicting prognosis, and for administrative purposes like insurance billing and disability claims.
  • Nurses must be familiar with these classifications to understand patient diagnoses, participate in care planning, and communicate effectively with the interdisciplinary team.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, read the question carefully to identify the core concept: a manual for diagnosing 'Mental illnesses'.
  • Analyze the options provided. Notice that some are specific (DSM-IV, ICD-10) while others are vague or incorrect ('Indian Classification', 'Local Statistical Manual').
  • Differentiate between the specific and general manuals. Recognize that DSM is specific to mental health, while ICD is a general medical classification.
  • Select the option that is most specific to the question's focus. Even if the version (IV) is old, the manual's purpose (DSM) is the most accurate fit for diagnosing 'mental illnesses'.
  • Mentally note that the versions provided are outdated, which is important clinical knowledge, but answer based on the best fit among the given choices.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Standardized manuals for psychiatric diagnosis
  • Stem keywords: manual, diagnosis, Mental illnesses
  • Lead-in keywords: Which one

Question ID

QkTwj7AtnbTCnreowWSoUZ

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 2857-2859, 3961-3963

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