4Ds

Question 1

Deviance Definition

Answer 1

Deviance is when clinicians look at the extent to which the behaviour is ‘rare’ and so not the ‘norm’ in society. If a disorder is considered rare enough and deviant from the norm, a clinical disorder mat be present.

Question 2

Issue with Deviance

Answer 2

An issue with deviance is that some common disorders are not rare. For example, depression occurs in around 20% of the Western population. Therefore, a social norms definition may be more appropriate for some disorders when defining abnormality.

Question 3

However Deviance

Answer 3

However, most disorders are rare. For example, schizophrenia and anorexia are present in around 1% of the population. Therefore, this D is useful when used alongside classification systems in diagnosing most mental disorders.

Question 4

Dysfunction Definition

Answer 4

Dysfunction considers if the behaviour is significantly interning with the person’s life, and if it is, a mental illness may be present.

Question 5

Dysfunction Strength

Answer 5

A strength is that standardised tests can be used to assess symptoms of many disorders which Davis suggests supports the validity of the DSM. For example when assessing dysfunction, psychologists use a variety of objective measures to assess everyday functioning, such as a questionnaire looking at factors such as a person’s understanding of what is going on around them, communication and self-care. Therefore, the use of the 4D’s may avoid errors in diagnosis and have a practical application as they are useful for professionals when considering when a patient’s symptoms or issues becomes,e a clinical diagnosis.

Question 6

Distress Definiton

Answer 6

Distress considers that extent to which the behaviour is causing upset and negative feelings for the individual.

Question 7

Distress Strength

Answer 7

A strength is that standardised tests can be used to assess symptoms of many disorders which Davis suggests supports the validity of the DSM. For example, when assessing distress, psychologists use a variety of objective measures to assess the intensity or duration of the distress, as well as functioning, in order to help arrive at a valid diagnosis. Therefore, the use of the 4D’s may avoid errors in diagnosis and have a practical application as they are useful for professionals when considering when a patient’s symptoms or issues become a clinical diagnosis.

Question 8

Danger Definition

Answer 8

Danger assesses the patients behaviour on a scale of severity under two elements: danger to themselves, eg if they are suicidal, and a danger to others.

Question 9

Danger Issue

Answer 9

Using danger as a criterion for a mental disorder leads people to equate mental illness with being dangerous in society where most are not. For example, Fazel et al suggests that most people with SZ are not actually more dangerous than people without this diagnosis. Therefore, the use of this term may lead to ‘self-fulfilling’ stereotypes and stigma for many disorders.