How do mental health professionals diagnose disorders?

A diagnosis of a mental health condition may be made by a psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker or other mental health professional. Your primary care doctor may also be involved in a diagnostic assessment or make referrals to a mental health specialist.

A diagnosis may be based on the following:

• A medical history of physical illness or mental health disorders in you or in your family
• A complete physical to identify or rule out a condition that may be causing symptoms
• Questions about your current concerns or why you're seeking help
• Questions about how recent events or changes in your life — trauma, relationships, work, death of a friend or relative — have affected how you think, feel or behave
• Questionnaires or other formal tests that ask for your feedback on how you think, feel or behave in typical situations
• Questions about past and current alcohol and drug use
• A history of trauma, abuse, family crises or other major life events
• Questions about past or current thoughts about violence against yourself or others
• Questionnaires or interviews completed by someone who knows you well, such as a parent or spouse