Patients can diagnose too: How continuous self-assessment aids diagnosis of, and recovery from, depression

Journal of Mental Health
Peter C Groot

Abstract

A dichotomous ICD-10 or DSM-IV diagnosis of depression does not fully capture its natural phenotype: a dimensional continuum of environmentally reactive fluctuations in mood. Therefore, ICD and DSM labels of depression, although useful from a service perspective, fail to help patients directly. This paper will show, using the author's experiences as an example, that patients with mood disorders can "diagnose" the natural phenotype, in the sense that systematic recording of painful fluctuations in environmentally reactive moods by the patient him- or herself may: (i) not only provide an accurate assessment of depression, but (ii) result in a process of conscious awareness of aberrant responses to the environment - a first step on the way to recovery. The author developed a rudimentary but useable method to diagnose his dynamic mood fluctuations over the years. The continuous assessment method allowed him to systematically score his mood and activities every day, enabling him to study and analyse in detail the course and context of mood symptoms over time. With time, this initial strategy evolved into a new, more informed, more empowered diagnosis of his problems and ultimately contributed to a more resilient mind set with regard...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 15, 2012·Psychological Medicine·G DrakeT Wykes
Jun 21, 2012·Journal of Mental Health·Paul Wicks
Aug 16, 2011·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica·M WichersJ van Os
Nov 3, 2016·Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care·Carl WikbergEva-Lisa Petersson
Oct 30, 2012·The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology·Victor M KarpyakJoanna M Biernacka
Jul 24, 2020·Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology·Peter C Groot, Jim van Os
Nov 23, 2020·Quality of Life Research : an International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation·Laura F BringmannGert Stulp
Feb 25, 2021·JMIR Formative Research·Redwan MaatougBruno Millet
Mar 8, 2020·International Journal of Nursing Studies·Kim van Wissen, Denise Blanchard
Aug 26, 2021·Internet Interventions : the Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health·Wendy FolkersmaJojanneke A Bastiaansen
Aug 31, 2021·Internet Interventions : the Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health·Claire R van GenugtenHeleen Riper

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