Style and Ethics in Writing

Terminology and Adaptation to the Reader

The language should be adapted to the addressee. If the report is for another colleague, the use of technical terms is adequate; however, if it is for a school or parents, the technical level should be "lowered" to make it understandable without losing rigorousness.

Cautionary terms such as "impresses", "suggests", "seems" or "is likely" should be used, and avoid absolute statements or terms such as "etcetera", which generate ambiguity and confusion (the reader's subjectivity could fill this "etcetera" with erroneous information).

Focus on the Presence of Traits

Ethically, the report should be written in terms of the presence of traits or symptoms, avoiding talking about "absences". It is not valid to list what the patient does not have; what the patient does have should be described.

In addition, inappropriate or incoherent information should be avoided; for example, it cannot be concluded that there is anxiety in the diagnosis if the body of the report never described indicators of anxiety.

The wording should be faithful to what was assessed and observed, using the phrase "at the time of assessment" as an ethical and technical safeguard, given that the psyche is dynamic and changing.

Abstract

Language should be adapted to the reader, using technicalities if for colleagues or simple terms if for parents, but always using cautionary words such as "suggests" or "impresses".

Absolute statements and the use of "etcetera" should be avoided, as they generate ambiguity. Ethically, describe the features present and not the absences, reporting only what is actually observed.

The wording should include the phrase "at the time of assessment" as an ethical safeguard, recognizing the dynamic nature of the psyche and avoiding static diagnoses that do not reflect future changes.