A diagnostic summary must include which of the following?

• A. Strengths and weaknesses of the client
• B. DSM-5 diagnosis
• C. Treatment plan
• D. Family history

Answer: (A)

A diagnostic summary is meant to give a concise, clinically useful snapshot of how the client is functioning overall. Including strengths and weaknesses is essential because it shows what the client can rely on to cope and move forward, as well as the areas that need targeted work. By naming strengths, you identify resources, skills, supports, and motivations that can be built upon in treatment. By noting weaknesses, you highlight symptom patterns, functional impairments, and barriers to change, which helps in setting realistic goals and selecting appropriate interventions. This balanced view informs treatment planning, risk assessment, and how to engage the client in the process.

While a DSM-5 diagnosis will appear in the assessment, a diagnostic summary focuses on translating that diagnosis into a practical, person-centered picture of functioning. The treatment plan itself is typically a separate document outlining goals and steps. Family history may be collected as part of the broader assessment, but it isn’t the core focus of the diagnostic summary itself.