Study Questions

  1. The Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) is an important addition to the DSM-5.  Describe the CFI, and how you might use it during your first interview with a client or patient.  In what ways does it contribute to your understanding of your client or patient’s level of severity in regards to mental health problems and diagnoses?  How might you misdiagnose someone if you do not use the CFI?  Explain why one should always use the CFI versus, making assumptions of to certain clients or patients needing the CFI as part of the assessment process?

  2. There are several classification systems mentioned in the chapter, compare and contrast the DSM-5 with another classification system.  Regardless of the type of classification used, in what ways does having accurate diagnoses help to inform therapy and intervention. 

  3. Compare and contrast the categorical versus dimensional approach in understanding mental illness.  Though the DSM-5 and the ICD are more often utilized in a mental health settings, how might a dimensional approach be warranted when explaining to your patient or client about their mental illness?

  4. Certain symptoms, such as change in appetite, sleep patterns, and irritability levels are common among several types of psychiatric diagnoses and medical illnesses.  In determining how to best account for and make use of these symptom expressions, how do you rule out or consider these symptoms as being part of  a particular diagnosis versus another or the possibility of the patient as having comorbid or dual diagnoses.