Mental health diagnoses are a foundational component of clinical and research-based approaches to explaining psychological well-being. They help to categorize and describe thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, as well as provide a framework for evidence-based interventions for those diagnoses. There are different standardized classification approaches to mental health diagnoses, including the diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM) and the international classification of diseases (ICD). On this website, we use the DSM when discussing mental health conditions through the biomedical lens. However, mental health (and illness) is complex and deeply personal, reflecting the nuances in one's life experiences in addition to cultural and social factors.
In academic and clinical contexts, mental health diagnoses help to standardizing research methodologies, which enables the development of reliable and valid tools for screening and assessment. It also informs best practice in treatment interventions and public health strategies. It's important to understand the limitations and implications of diagnoses--they should be seen not as definitive labels but as tools to enhance self-awareness, facilitate access to resources, and guide personalized treatment approaches.
On Anatomy of Psych, we use the terminology of the DSM to discuss mental health conditions in order to remain consistent and access evidence-based research.