Person Mapping and Tier-Class Symptom Status: A Framework for Collaborative Mental Health Assessment Across Clinical Settings.

Abstract

Mental health symptoms are encountered across virtually every healthcare setting, yet assessment often occurs under conditions of diagnostic uncertainty, time constraints, and evolving clinical presentations. Although diagnostic classification systems provide an essential shared language for communication, treatment planning, and reimbursement, clinicians often require additional approaches to organize symptom information, assess functional impact, communicate clinical risk, and support person-centered care prior to diagnostic stabilization. This paper proposes two complementary conceptual frameworks: **Person Mapping** and **Tier-Class Symptom Status**. Person Mapping is a longitudinal formulation framework that organizes current symptoms, functional impact, developmental and trauma history, sociocultural context, strengths, worldview, and patient-defined goals. Tier-Class Symptom Status complements this process by describing current mental health status through dimensional severity tiers and primary symptom domains. Together, the frameworks provide a structured yet flexible approach to supporting symptom-based assessment, interdisciplinary communication, continuity of care, longitudinal monitoring, and stepped-care decision-making without requiring immediate categorical diagnosis. They are intended to complement, rather than replace, established diagnostic systems while promoting ethical, person-centered assessment across clinical settings. Future research should evaluate the feasibility, reliability, clinical utility, and outcomes associated with implementation across diverse practice environments.