Diagnostics of Normality

When I was a student of applied psychology, I had to read a book called the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). In it was outlined a vast collection of mental conditions, categorized under Abnormal Psychology. Unfortunately, I never found or read a book nearly as thick that described normal psychology, or normal mental conditions. Thus, this manual has been criticized for its shortcomings. The next revised version is slated for 2012.

Having given the book a mild brickbat, the value of this manual is still its intent: to diagnose for dis-ease. Disease is the state of ‘dis-ease’.

SOAP is a model for diagnosing dis-ease. It is an acronym for Subjective, Objective, Analysis and Prescription.

Essentially, the physician will ask Subjective questions such as: ‘How are you feeling?’ ‘How may I help?’ The Objective questions come as a result of a battery of tests, including Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT), heart and lung. The physician then analyses the information he has collected, and then proposes a likely condition. I say, likely, as the body is highly complex and it would be hard to be exact about the conditions. ‘The symptoms point to…’ , or ‘It is highly likely that you have caught the flu.’ The prescription is the intervention that comes about from the diagnosis. However, you may hear ‘Complete the course of antibiotics, and we’ll see if you need a stronger type if you don’t respond to it.’

Before you carry out an intervention, how well do you diagnose the situation? The more disciplined you are, the less likely are we to make inaccurate diagnoses. In human interactions, our carelessness to explore and investigate deeply can cause us to jump to conclusions.