5A. The Psychiatric Diagnostic Process

You probably want to know what steps go into making a diagnosis. To make a diagnosis, doctors: 

• Find the symptoms that cause the patient distress.
• Review the patient’s medical, psychological and social history. This information may come from the person, the family or other treatment providers. 
• Rule out any reasons for the symptoms other than mental health issues. A complete physical exam with the proper lab tests is crucial. Physical illnesses can sometimes produce symptoms similar to a mental illness. Some medications or street drugs can also cause symptoms.

Remember, it can take time to make a final diagnosis. A person’s diagnosis may change as their condition changes over time. Sometimes, a new provider will evaluate the person and make a different diagnosis.