401. What is the difference between a psychological problem and a psychological diagnosis or disorder?

The short answer - there is no difference.  The words diagnosis and disorder are medical terms, based on an illness concept of describing psychological problems.  There is some value in using the medical model to describe psychological problems.  But, it also creates confusion about how to properly treat psychological problems, because it implies that they are medical problems, rather than psychological problems.  That leads to a conclusion that medical treatment, such as drugs, must be better than psychological treatment, such as psychotherapy.  That conclusion is simply is not true. In fact, many research studies have found psychological treatment to be superior to drug therapy, and without the dangers present in all drug treatments. 

The word diagnosis refers to the process of determining the cause of a disease, malfunction or problem. A disorder is a mental or physical disturbance, or a disease. A problem is a difficult matter to be settled, or a question set forth for solution or discussion. Some psychological problems might fit the medical model to some extent, but many do not. Most psychologists prefer to use the problem model to describe and explain psychological issues. However, in order to consider whether the remediation of psychological problems should be covered by medical health insurance, insurance companies require a medical diagnosis.  As a result, the medical model will probably always be a part of psychological services.