chapter 16 - Diagnosing mental disorders

Question 1

Normality

Answer 1

State of being normal, defined in terms of the frequency with which a behavior or characteristic occurs within the population. A set of data is collected, and measures of central tendency (mean, mode and median) and range are calculated to determine the average behavior or characteristic.

Question 2

Mental health

Answer 2

A state of emotional and social wellbeing in which individuals realize their own abilities, can cope with the normal stressors of life, can work productively and can contribute to their community.

Question 3

Mental health problems

Answer 3

Problems that cause emotional, cognitive and behavioral difficulties that affect relationships and functioning in every day life.

Question 4

Mental illness

Answer 4

A mental disorder that affects one or more functions of the mind. A mental illness can interfere with a persons thoughts, emotions, perceptions and behaviors.

Question 5

mental disorder

Answer 5

exaggerated forms of thoughts, feelings and behaviours, implying the existence of a clinically recognisable set of symptoms and behaviours that usually need treatment to be alleviated.

Question 6

DSM name

Answer 6

Diagnostic and statistical Manual of mental Disorders

Question 7

ICD name

Answer 7

International Classification of Diseases

Question 8

What is DSM

Answer 8

Used to identify and classify symptoms of mental disorders. Based off numerous factors such as individuals medical condition, psychological stressors and extent the medical state is interfering with everyday life.
DSM is a descriptive and does not specify causes or treatment of the mental disorder.

Question 9

What is ICD

Answer 9

A descriptive and largely based on symptoms reported by the patient and criteria ranked important by a professional.
It does not consider causes or treatment.
it covers a wider range of illnesses compared to the DSM but is less dynamic and responsive to new ways of thinking about mental health issues.

Question 10

Axis 1 of the DSM name

Answer 10

Clinical Disorders: any Major Psychological Disorder

Question 11

Axis 2 of the DSM name

Answer 11

Mental Retardation and Personality Disorders

1. Mental Retardation: Intellectually Well-bellow Average (lowest 5% of the population)
2. Personality Disorders

Question 12

Axis 3 of the DSM name

Answer 12

General medical conditions

Question 13

Axis 4 of the DSM name

Answer 13

Psychosocial and environmental problems

Question 14

Axis 5 of the DSM name

Answer 14

Global Assessment of functioning (GAF) (a ‘score’ assigned by psychologist)

Question 15

Axis one disorder categories

Answer 15

• Disorders usually first evident in infancy, childhood or adolescence (ADHD-Stuttering)
• Substance-related disorders (alcohol/drug abuse)
• Schizophrenia
• Mood disorders (depression, bipolar)
• Anxiety disorder

Question 16

Axis two disorder categories

Answer 16

• paranoid personality disorder
• antisocial personality disorder
• borderline personality disorder
• obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Question 17

Axis three disorder category

Answer 17

• any physical disorder (diabetes, cancer etc)

Question 18

Axis four problem category

Answer 18

• the psychologist makes references to social and environmental stressors experienced by the person over the past year (isolation, unemployment, family break up)

Question 19

Axis five sample scores and symptoms

Answer 19

• 90: minimal symptoms, good functioning in all areas
• 70: Some mild symptoms or some difficulty in social, occupational or school functioning but generally functioning quite well
• 40: Some impairment in reality testing or communication or major impairment in family relations, judgement, thinking or mood
• 20: Some danger of hurting self or others, occasional failure to maintain minimal personal hygiene or gross impairment in communication

Question 20

Diagnosis Systems Criticisms - Cultural variation

Answer 20

the DSM was created based off of American culture, traditions and more.
Appendix 1. gives instructions for diagnosing people within their cultural context.

Question 21

Diagnosis Systems Criticisms - Validity of Categories

Answer 21

homosexuality
the systems goal is to enable and increase consistency of diagnosis, it can be argued that validity of the categories may be over looked.

Question 22

Diagnosis Systems Criticisms - Writing by Committee

Answer 22

the DSM criteria was formed in discussion by multidisciplinary committees.
Members may have a disproportionate influence on the committee listing the diagnostic criteria

Question 23

Diagnosis Systems Criticisms - Subjectivity

Answer 23

classification is based on symptoms reported by the person or behaviours they are subjectivity observed to exhibit.

• people may disclose
• people may be unaware of someones condition

Question 24

Diagnosis Systems Criticisms - Health insurance

Answer 24

• america insurance system
• these companies are very commercial and will only pay for treatment of mental disorders listed in the DSM
• causing great tendency for other conditions to appear.