Learning Objectives
By the end of this lecture, students will be able to:
- Define psychological diagnosis and explain its importance in identifying and differentiating mental health disorders, particularly psychotic conditions.
- Describe the core components of clinical assessment, including the clinical interview and the Mental Status Exam (MSE), and summarize the key observable symptoms such as disorganized thinking, abnormal motor behavior, and negative symptoms.
- Identify the main standardized diagnostic tools and criteria, with particular reference to the DSM-5-TR and structured interviews such as the SCID.
- Explain the role of medical and laboratory investigations in ruling out organic or substance-related causes, including routine tests and neuroimaging techniques.
- Analyze the principles of differential diagnosis by distinguishing between disorders based on symptom duration, timeline, and the relationship between mood and psychotic symptoms.
