A psychiatric diagnosis is a classification made by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or another mental health professional of the patient’s symptoms and behavior. The psychiatrist bases the diagnosis on a personal interview and review of the patient’s history, symptoms, and current behavior. The psychiatrist may also request various tests, such as a psychiatric exam or a neuropsychological exam. After completing the interview and reviewing the patient’s history and current symptoms, the psychiatrist formulates a diagnosis based on the patient’s current clinical status and the psychiatrist’s clinical impression. Psychiatrists use the diagnosis to provide a framework for the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. The most common psychiatric diagnoses include depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.

The most common psychiatric diagnoses include:

Depression — The most common mood disorder, depression can begin at any age, from childhood to advanced age. Major depression is often characterized by a depressed mood almost every day, suicidal ideation or tendencies, sleeping problems, a lack of pleasure in previously enjoyable activities, and constant feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
Bipolar Affective Disorder — Often abbreviated as BAD, bipolar affective disorder is a mood disorder characterized by periods of high mood and energy levels (mania) and low mood and fatigue (depression).
Borderline Personality Disorder — This personality disorder includes both thought disorder and mood disorder symptoms and has both biological and environmental determinants.
Schizophrenia — A thought disorder that can cause a person to experience difficulty with activities of daily living, schizophrenia may include delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia. Schizophrenic individuals typically appreciate structure and routines and demonstrate concrete thought processing.
Anxiety Disorders — The next most common mood disorder is anxiety, which often involves feelings of apprehension, avoidance of social situations, isolation, and high levels of stress; it can include several different types, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder.

The purpose of a psychiatric diagnosis is to establish an individual’s mental health status and determine whether or not the patient has a mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Formulating an accurate diagnosis is imperative to addressing mental health problems and enabling a good quality of life for the patient.

There are many psychiatric conditions that are diagnosed every year; the most common diagnoses performed in 2018 include the following:

– Major depressive disorder, single episode; 1,219,751 cases
– Anxiety disorder; 1,174,335 cases
– Nicotine dependence; 1,047,672 cases
– Unspecified dementia without behavioral disturbance; 422,476 cases
– Major depressive disorder, recurrent; 382,329 cases
– Bipolar disorder; 364,438 cases
– Alcohol abuse; 362,381 cases
– Generalized anxiety disorder; 323,854 cases
– Alcohol dependence; 269,772    cases

Psychiatry Unplugged is dedicated to providing you with everything you need for an accurate psychiatric diagnosis. Our mental health professionals are experienced in helping people understand their mental health through clear communication, accurate testing, and explaining the results. Call us today or book an appointment for a psychiatric diagnosis, or visit our clinic conveniently located in Los Angeles CA, and Glendale CA. We serve patients from Los Angeles CA, Glendale CA, Beverly Hills CA, Santa Monica CA, Hollywood CA, Burbank CA, and Pasadena CA.