![]() Diagnoses may also serve clients by providing them with medical labels rather than moral labels. As noted earlier, providing diagnoses serves clients by providing a framework for selecting appropriate, effective interventions. So, does this mean that using the DSM to diagnose clients runs contrary to social work ethics?Īlthough some professionals might argue that DSM diagnoses violate the principles of nonjudgmentalism and strengths-based practice, others might argue that such diagnoses are ethically justifiable under the principle of beneficence, doing good. Conditions such as depression, borderline personality disorder, and autism spectrum disorders also label clients with undesirable client traits. When a social worker diagnoses a client with schizophrenia, for instance, the worker is highlighting problematic factors such as hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. Diagnosing mental illnesses, however, is essentially an exercise in judging clients and focusing on their pathologies or weaknesses. The social work value of “respect for the dignity and worth of all people” (in the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics) can be translated into ethical guidelines such as being nonjudgmental and building on client strengths. This article also provides suggestions for addressing these ethical concerns, allowing social workers to promote social work values and ethics even when using the DSM poses certain risks. This article explores the DSM in relation to ethical concerns such as demonstrating respect for the dignity and worth of all people, empowering clients, practicing within one’s professional competence, and owing a primary duty of care to one’s clients. Despite the widespread use of the DSM, social workers should be cognizant of the ethical issues that may arise in the context of using this diagnostic tool. Having a common nomenclature for diagnoses also facilitates research. Diagnosis helps professionals with goal setting, treatment planning, and determining a client’s prognosis. The DSM is commonly referenced by social workers, particularly by clinical social workers practicing in the field of mental health.Īt their best, DSM diagnoses help social workers and other mental health professionals understand clients, guiding their interventions from an evidence-based perspective. Diagnosis refers to a process of gathering information to understand a client’s condition, linking that information with knowledge about various cognitive, emotional, and behavioral conditions. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Fifth Edition (DSM 5) is known as the primary method of classification used by American mental health clinicians to diagnose patients with mental illnesses and conditions ( ).
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