Question

Discuss categorical and dimensional approaches to diagnosis among children and provide an example of each approach.

Answer 1

In the categorical approach, children are classified and assigned to different categories of physical or mental ilessness. This is done by idenfying and assessing if the child displays the symptoms and characteristics that is described as typical of the disorder. For instance, the DSM is used a diagnostic tool as it lists several disorders and describes them in specific terms.

On the other hand, the dimensional approach quantifies a children’s symptoms or other characteristics of interest and represents them with numerical values on one or more scales or continuums, rather than assigning them to a disorder category. An example of a dimensional diagnostic tool is the use of an IQ test to measure the child’s intelligence.