Mental Health and Substance Use Diagnoses (Core Competencies: 1.11; 2.2; 2.5; 3.7)
The diagnoses presented below are a small sample of the list in the DSM-5. Each diagnosis is presented with symptoms and the diagnostic criteria needed to receive the diagnosis. Certified peer specialists engage in a strengths-based, person-centered approach to peer support, so some may question why the following samples are included in this course. This information is included primarily to support a basic understanding of how diagnoses are structured. Within the substance use and mental health service system, there is sometimes a misunderstanding that certified peer specialists can only offer peer support to people with relatively mild or moderate challenges. This is a myth that withholds potentially valuable peer support opportunities from them. Major depressive disorder The DSM-5 gives the following criteria for assisting clinicians in making a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. 1. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same two- week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure. • Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (examples: feels sad, empty, hopeless) or observation made by others (example: appears tearful). • Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation). • Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (example: a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month) or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. • Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day. • Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down). • Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
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