The GLADP-VR Person-centered Diagnostic Formulation: Back-ground, Concepts, and Structure

Abstract

A Revised Version of the Latin American Guide of Psychiatric Diagnosis (GLADP-VR) has been recently published by the Latin American Psychiatric Association (APAL) through its Diagnostic and Classification Section, in collaboration with the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Section on Classification and Diagnostic Assessment, the International College of Person-centered Medicine (ICPCM), and the Institute of Spanish Speaking Psychiatrists (IPLE). This development has been grounded progressively on pioneering Latin American contributions to the systematization of psychiatric diagnosis, the series of Cuban Glossaries as adaptations of the International Classification of Diseases to local realities and needs, the WPA International Guidelines for Diagnostic Assessment, the original version of the GLADP, the ICPCM Person-centered Diagnostic (PID) Model, and the support and participation of the national psychiatric societies of Latin America.The GLADP-VR person-centered diagnostic formulation uses ICD-10 categories and codes for illness description in a culturally-informed manner and is aimed at implementing a diagnosis of whole health and not only of diseases. Its informational domains involve the following levels: Health Status (from disorders and disability to well-being, all assessed with standard categories and dimensions), Health Contributing Factors (risk factors and protective factors formulated with categories and narratives), and Health Experience and Expectations (formulated in a semi-structured and narrative manner). Completion of this diagnostic formulation is based on interactive engagement among clinicians, patients, and families. Formats for the GLADP-VR diagnostic formulation and accompanying clinical care plan are presented and illustrated with a clinical case.The GLADP-VR represents the first practical application of Person-centered Integrative Diagnosis (PID), employing culturally-annotated ICD-10 categories for use in a major region of the world. While the development of the GLADP-VR appears to have been well grounded conceptually and built on the experience of the regions' professional community, the task remains for the now published GLADP-VR to be empirically evaluated on its applicability and usefulness across Latin America and beyond.