Diagnosing mental health conditions is inherently challenging pertaining to the complex and subjective nature of mental health. There is no blood test or brain imaging to standardize diagnosis and leaves the clinician no choice other than relying on self-reported symptoms and clinical interviews. The problem is that many mental health conditions share similar symptoms. To make things more complicated symptoms can present very differently from one individual to another.
In many healthcare systems, psychiatrists are expected to see a high number of patients each day, which often means appointments are squeezed and feel rushed.
At Zoya Clinic, I take a different approach—I prioritize spending meaningful time with patients and their parents, because that extra time almost always leads to more accurate diagnoses and better outcomes.
