Diversity of Diagnosis: The Need for Individual Understanding

Current diagnostic frameworks like DSM-5 and ICD focus heavily on surface-level symptoms, leading to a homogenized view of conditions such as anorexia. However, the psychoanalytic approach highlights the importance of recognizing heterogeneity among patients, suggesting that multiple developmental pathways can lead to similar diagnoses. A study utilizing the Shedler-Weston Assessment Protocol (SWAP) identified three distinct categories of patients with eating disorders: high-functioning perfectionists, constricted over-controlled individuals, and emotionally dysregulated under-controlled patients. This differentiation indicates that effective psychotherapeutic approaches must go beyond standard DSM classifications to tailor treatment based on individual psychological structures.