Although psychology prides itself on being a science, the art of diagnosis goes beyond a simple checklist of symptoms. Clinicians generally recognize that any diagnostic exercise must include a culturally sensitive interpretation and analysis of symptoms. Considering that only a bachelor’s degree in psychology does not prepare you to do diagnosis, it is important to consider how having this knowledge could support you in other careers. It is also important to consider that even a doctorate in psychology does not license you to treat with prescription medicine. To perform this level of diagnosis and treatment, you would have to earn a medical degree in psychiatry. To learn more, read the web page Psychology vs. Psychiatry: Do You Know the Difference? Links to an external site.
To successfully complete this journal,
• Identify at least three disorders that you studied during this course and summarize what the disorders entail.
• Discuss how an understanding of these disorders could support you in a career, prior to achieving expertise in a graduate program, by addressing the following:
o Consider the knowledge application to working with others in a team setting or working with families, etcetera.
o Relate this to the career you have now or one you wish to obtain after earning your bachelor’s degree.
o If you do not plan on gaining employment after graduation, how could this understanding support you in your personal and social contexts?
• Analyze the rationales, including the ethical considerations that exist for becoming more educated prior to personally performing diagnosis.
