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The terms diagnosis and prognosis are often used in mental health.
While they are sometimes confused, they have different meanings.
A diagnosis identifies the condition that is associated with a set of symptoms.
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A prognosis is a prediction about the course that a condition will take.
Each condition has specific diagnostic criteria that should be met to make a diagnosis.
To make a diagnosis, a doctor or mental health professional will ask questions about symptoms.
They may also take a family history, medical history, and adminster psychological assessments.
What Is a Prognosis in Mental Health?
People often confuse the terms prognosis and diagnosis.
Simply put, a prognosis is a prediction, whereas a diagnosis states what’s already there.
It is used as a best guess for how the condition will affect your life in the future.
A variety of different factors can also affect a person’s prognosis.
People who have good interpersonal relationships and a strong social support system tend to fare better.
Your doctor or therapist can give you an educated guess.
However, it is essential to remember that this guess is not a guaranteed outcome.
It may also be changed in a person’s symptoms grow worse or suddenly change.
Prognosis with treatment refers to how a person is expected to fare if their condition is treated appropriately.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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