Discuss the difference between symptoms and signs, and explain why both concepts are important in DSM-5 diagnosis

What will be an ideal response?

The criteria that define the recognized categories of disorder consist for the most part of symptoms and signs. The term symptoms generally refers to the patient's subjective description, the complaints she or he presents about what is wrong. Signs, on the other hand, are objective observations that the diagnostician may make either directly (such as the patient's inability to look another person in the eye) or indirectly (such as the results of pertinent tests administered by a psychological examiner). To make any given diagnosis, the diagnostician must observe the particular critieria – the symptoms and signs that the DSM-5 indicates must be met. 6 point total. 2 for correctly identifying signs, 2 for correctly identifying symptoms, and 2 for correctly stating why both are important in diagnosis.