Diagnosed

Diagnosed is the past participle of diagnose, a verb that means to determine the nature of a disease or condition based on an assessment of symptoms, history, and tests. When a clinician concludes that a person has a specific illness, that person is described as diagnosed with that illness. The term is used across medical specialties, including general practice, pediatrics, psychiatry, and pathology.

Diagnosis typically begins with medical history and clinical examination, followed by laboratory tests, imaging, and specialist investigations as needed. Clinicians compare findings to established criteria or guidelines, such as DSM-5 criteria for mental disorders or ICD-10/11 codes, to assign a diagnosis. In some cases, a provisional or differential diagnosis is stated while tests confirm the final conclusion; subsequent information may revise the diagnosis.

Etymology: diagnosis derives from Greek dia- "through" and gnosis "knowledge." The past participle diagnosed is used for patients and, in epidemiology or research, to describe cases identified in a study. Outside medicine, the term can be used metaphorically to describe the identification of problems or issues in other fields, though its primary use remains health-related.

Limitations and implications: a diagnosis can be uncertain and may change with new data or over time. Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment, while a late diagnosis can delay care. Privacy, stigma, and patient involvement in decision-making are important considerations in clinical practice.