Assessment and Diagnosis Flashcards
Kraepelin’s view on mental disorder nosology and his card-sorting method
psychiatric illnesses should be classified based on observable patterns of symptoms and the course of the disease over time
he used index cards to record patient symptoms, observations, and case details, which he would then sort into groups based on similarity and patterns.
What is the relationship between nosology and diagnosis?
Nosology is the science of classifying diseases. It involves organizing illnesses into categories based on shared characteristics, such as symptoms, causes, or progression patterns.
Diagnosis is the process of identifying an individual’s specific condition within this classification system.
What are the philosophical views that intersect with psychology and mental disorders?
Monism: Reductive Materialism
‒ Mental disorders are brain disorders, types of medical illness.
Dualism
‒ Mental disorders are disorders of mental processes, and do not have a necessary basis in brain or bodily processes
Most psychiatrists doing psychopharmacology act as
monists; most psychotherapists act as dualists
Possible contributors to recent decline in young people’s mental health
COVID-19, sexual violence,
LGBTQ students, Increased social media use,
“Climate anxiety” ,
“helicopter” parents,
leaving students ill-prepared for college,
family and self-imposed pressures to attend college,
Decreased stigma surrounding mental disorders, with some social–media influencers touting (and identifying with) their own diagnoses, medications, and therapies.
Phenotypic vs. genotypic diagnosis.
Phenotypic diagnosis focuses on observable traits, symptoms, behaviors, or clinical presentations of a condition.
Genotypic diagnosis is based on identifying genetic markers, mutations, or other molecular features that underlie a condition
How is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment used?
it is a brief screening tool used to assess cognitive functioning. It’s widely applied in clinical settings to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which can be an early sign of conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurological disorders.
what’s the difference between prognosis and diagnosis
diagnosis tells “what” the illness or condition is, while prognosis predicts “what will happen” with it over time.
What is the TAT and what does it consist of?
The TAT consists of 30 black-and-white picture cards showing ambiguous social and interpersonal situations.
Psychologists examine story content, the emotions conveyed, and narrative structure to identify unconscious desires, fears, relational patterns, and coping mechanisms.
It is widely used in understanding aspects of personality, particularly with issues related to relationships, self-concept, and defense mechanisms.
What’s the general makeup of MMPI-2?
a widely used psychological assessment designed to measure a range of psychological conditions and personality traits. The test is made up of 567 true-or-false statements and is commonly administered to individuals aged 18 and older.
What are the major types of brain imaging?
Structural Brain Imaging: These methods provide detailed images of brain anatomy, useful for identifying structural abnormalities, such as tumors or atrophy. (Ex: MRI, CT)
Functional Brain Imaging: These methods measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow, metabolism, or electrical activity. (Ex: fMRI, EEG, MEG)
