Source: # Changes over time – common diagnostic challenges *From the book – Chapter 33: How Mental Health Conditions Are Assessed and Diagnosed* ## Changes over time A diagnosis may be refined as new information appears or as the person’s situation changes. For example, someone first diagnosed with depression may later show episodes of mania, leading to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. [Read the full chapter – Chapter 33: How Mental Health Conditions Are Assessed and Diagnosed](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/chapter/33/) ## Stories from real life - [Eleven Questions, One Long Breath](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/story/eleven-questions-one-long-breath-139/) – Nomvula, forty-one, had put off her first appointment with a psychiatrist in Durban for six months. She was afraid the doctor would judge her or write… - [Seventy-Four Per Cent on the Internet](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/story/seventy-four-per-cent-on-the-internet-140/) – Aiden, twenty, a university student in Melbourne, found a video called 'Signs you have ADHD' and a quiz that gave him a score of seventy-four per… - [Thyroid, Not Just Nerves](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/story/thyroid-not-just-nerves-141/) – Marta, thirty-eight, an accountant in Warsaw, had been anxious for months. Her heart raced, her hands trembled, she lost weight, and she could not concentrate at… - [A Diagnosis That Changed](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/story/a-diagnosis-that-changed-142/) – Hamid, twenty-seven, from Birmingham, was diagnosed with depression two years ago after a long low period. A medicine helped for a few months. Then he suddenly… More on this topic: [What is mental health? A simple guide to the mind and who can help](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/topic/mental-health-basics/) ## More questions - [Culture and context – common diagnostic challenges](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/culture-and-context-common-diagnostic-challenges/) - [What is the difference between normal reactions and disorders?](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/what-is-the-difference-between-normal-reactions-and-disorders/) - [How accurate is diagnosis?](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/how-accurate-is-diagnosis/) - [Understanding and living with a diagnosis – explained simply](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/understanding-and-living-with-a-diagnosis-explained-simply/) - [Common reactions – understanding and living with a diagnosis](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/common-reactions-understanding-and-living-with-a-diagnosis/) - [Questions to ask your clinician – understanding and living with a diagnosis](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/questions-to-ask-your-clinician-understanding-and-living-with-a-diagnosis/) - [Privacy and sharing – understanding and living with a diagnosis](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/privacy-and-sharing-understanding-and-living-with-a-diagnosis/) - [Understanding labels: helpful and harmful – mental health assessment and diagnosis](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/understanding-labels-helpful-and-harmful-mental-health-assessment-and-diagnosis/) - [What is the difference between screening and diagnosis?](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/what-is-the-difference-between-screening-and-diagnosis/) - [Assessment of children and young people – explained simply](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/assessment-of-children-and-young-people-explained-simply/) - [Psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor – what is the difference?](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/psychologist-psychiatrist-or-counsellor/) - [Early warning signs of mental distress](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/answers/early-warning-signs/) [myadvisorfriend@gmail.com](mailto:myadvisorfriend@gmail.com) · [Contact](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/contact/) · [About](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/about/) · [Privacy](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/privacy/) · [Disclaimer](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/disclaimer/) --- *Psychology for Everyone – A Mental Well Being Series* by Satish Zope · free to read · Contact: [myadvisorfriend@gmail.com](mailto:myadvisorfriend@gmail.com) · [About](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/about/) · [Privacy](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/privacy/) · [Disclaimer](https://psychologyforeveryone.com/disclaimer/)