Discussion Questions on Diagnosis
Turner
What is the debate about typologies and labeling? 13 – 14
Is there a difference between social work diagnosis and psychiatric diagnosis?
Is there a difference between assessment and diagnosis? What is it?
How has postmodernism influenced the discussion about diagnosis?
How is power an issue in diagnosis? 32
What does it mean to say that diagnosis is not a search for pathology? 36 – 37
What does it mean to say that diagnosis is not a process of labeling and
categorizing? 38 – 39
8. Turner says that one of the most important diagnoses we can make is when we
say, “I really don’t know what this situation is all about and what I should do.”
How is that a diagnosis?
9. How is diagnosis both a process and a fact?
10. What does it mean to say that diagnosis is not seeking to apply a particular
theory? 43 – 46
11. What is the connection between diagnosis and differential therapeutics?
12. Who is responsible for diagnosis? 49
13. What is social work diagnosis? 51
14. Turner says, “I have often worried about settings where the first person to contact
clients is a nonprofessional whose responsibility is to obtain an overview of the
presenting situation and to decide when, where, and with whom the first interview
is held.” Why might this be a concern?
15. How is diagnosis an ethical responsibility? 61
16. How is it an ethical responsibility to label? How can we label ethically? 67 - 71
Turner says it is important that we base our practice on a template or paradigm.
What does this mean? 73
17. Why might it be unethical not to diagnoses mental illness when it is present? 75
18. Why might it be wrong to diagnose a client who does not have an illness but who
wants therapy? 79
19. Why is it important to make diagnosis a part of the record? 85 – 89
20. What is the distinction between assessment and diagnosis according to Turner?
103 – 104
21. Turner says, “No theory is better than another.” Can you see anything wrong
about that statement?
22. How does theory influence diagnosis?
23. How is diagnosis risky? 123
24. What is the purpose of diagnosis?
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Maxmen and Ward (For 641 Only)
1. Differentiate signs, symptoms, and issues. 7
2. Explain descriptive and psychological approaches to diagnosis. 8
3. What is the difference between incidence and prevalence? 15
4. How does Maxmen and Ward’s idea of environmental biology fit with the personin-environment perspective? 67
5. What is the difference between genotype and phenotype? 68
6. How do twin studies help determine the causes of mental illness? 69
7. Of the psychosocial theories that Maxmen and Ward list, which are most subject
to empirical verification? Why? 72 – 79