Diagnosis: Description or Prescription? A Case Study in the Psychology of Diagnosis

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Abstract
This paper deals with the epistemology of diagnosis. It is suggested that the conventional view of diagnosis, which sees the diagnostician as one who describes and/or explains pathological phenomena, is inadequate. A contrasting model is proposed, one that conceptualizes diagnosis as a prescriptive and problem-solving activity. The difference between these two models is explored with particular reference to the problem of defining “illness.” The relevance of diagnosis to perception and cognition is also discussed.

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