Improving diagnostic assessment for equity-denied groups: Development of the Minority Stress Module of the Diagnostic...

Minority stress refers to the chronic stressors (i.e., discrimination, victimization, internalized stigma) that marginalized individuals experience, which increase the risk of psychopathology. Minority stress experiences are rarely considered during diagnostic assessment due to challenges in clinical application, as clinicians may not know what questions to ask or may hesitate to ask about identity-based experiences. To address this need, the Minority Stress Module (MSM) was developed for the Diagnostic Assessment Research Tool to facilitate minority stress assessment. An overview of its development and implications for diagnostic assessment are presented.

The development of the MSM was led by a team with expertise in minority stress and diagnostic assessment. Item development was guided by: (a) Meyer's (2003) Minority Stress Model and associated research; (b) the team's experience providing care to equity-denied individuals; and (c) insights from consultation with members of equity-denied groups.

The MSM is a brief semistructured interview consisting of 13 questions related to symptoms, experiences, and resilience factors associated with minority stress. The MSM aims to improve therapeutic rapport, case conceptualization, diagnostic decision making, and treatment planning when working with individuals from equity-denied groups.

Integrating minority stress assessment into diagnostic assessment is critical for developing diagnostic impressions and tailored treatment recommendations that consider contextual information. The MSM can facilitate this process, and its inclusion in the Diagnostic Assessment Research Tool will improve clinicians' access to a standardized minority stress assessment tool for clinical practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).