Andrea Aguglia,Luca Proietti, Andrea Vallarino and Mario Amore
Several authors agree that Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM) is not appropriate to define a psychiatric diagnosis, with negative implications in research and treatment. Operative diagnosis is a strategic construct, it can be functional, complementary and coexist next to the DSM dictated descriptive diagnosis. While the latest ones can be used as a guide in emergency and during psychiatric hospitalization, especially to decidean adequate pharmacological treatment, the operative diagnosis can vice versa be useful to discover how a problem works and to indicate possible solutions in the long-term prognosis. The aim of this case report is to show the importance of an operative diagnosis, based also on integration of environmental and familial situation, to reach a better therapeutic effectiveness and recovery.
