‘The value of objective and subjective evidence in...

‘The value of objective and subjective evidence in understanding mental health conditions’ It is important to consider both subjective and objective evidences to gain a comprehensive picture of any mental health condition. I am going to demonstrate through examples how parallel considerations can be used by clinicians to gain a full understanding of mental health disorders. Subjective evidence is how the patient interprets the working of his own mind. It includes what he reports about his thoughts and feelings including any uncomfortable sensations or distressing thoughts. Objective evidence on the other hand is measurable. It comprises of any signs of the illness that can be observed by a third person and any abnormality that has a†¦show more content†¦He takes into consideration not only the patient’s mental state but also the patient’s general physical health, psychosocial or environmental problems, their ability to integrate into society and take care of themselves. Subjective evidence includes the thoughts and feelings of the patient. It comprises of the symptoms the patient is reporting and the level of distress he is experiencing. A patient suffering from depression for example might report symptoms of having dark thoughts, feeling blue, can complain of persistent low mood, outbursts of crying, decreased appetite and activity levels, lack of sleep. These are all examples of subjective evidence. Objective evidence about the condition includes any signs noticeable to the clinician that can be taken as an indication of mental disease. This can include slumped posture, poor hygiene, scruffy appearance, sadness, crying, sighing or pacing. Lack of appetite can be a symptom a depressed person is complaining about, while the amount of weight loss is measurable and objective. Aches, pains and flulike symptoms may not have any biological basis in the body but can be psychosomatic manifestations of the depression. Moreover depression usually accompanie s many severe, long-term conditions. During the psychological assessment the clinician gathers all information about a patient’s medical health and mental health history, collects information from immediate family members, looks