chapter 16 - Diagnosing mental disorders Flashcards
Normality
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.
Mental health
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.
Mental health problems
Problems that cause emotional, cognitive and behavioral difficulties that affect relationships and functioning in every day life.
Mental illness
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.
mental disorder
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.
DSM name
Diagnostic and statistical Manual of mental Disorders
ICD name
International Classification of Diseases
What is DSM
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.
What is ICD
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.
Axis 1 of the DSM name
Clinical Disorders: any Major Psychological Disorder
Axis 2 of the DSM name
Mental Retardation and Personality Disorders
- Mental Retardation: Intellectually Well-bellow Average (lowest 5% of the population)
- Personality Disorders
Axis 3 of the DSM name
General medical conditions
Axis 4 of the DSM name
Psychosocial and environmental problems
Axis 5 of the DSM name
Global Assessment of functioning (GAF) (a ‘score’ assigned by psychologist)
Axis one disorder categories
- Disorders usually first evident in infancy, childhood or adolescence (ADHD-Stuttering)
- Substance-related disorders (alcohol/drug abuse)
- Schizophrenia
- Mood disorders (depression, bipolar)
- Anxiety disorder
Axis two disorder categories
- paranoid personality disorder
- antisocial personality disorder
- borderline personality disorder
- obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
Axis three disorder category
- any physical disorder (diabetes, cancer etc)
Axis four problem category
- the psychologist makes references to social and environmental stressors experienced by the person over the past year (isolation, unemployment, family break up)
Axis five sample scores and symptoms
- 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
Diagnosis Systems Criticisms - Cultural variation
the DSM was created based off of American culture, traditions and more.
Appendix 1. gives instructions for diagnosing people within their cultural context.
Diagnosis Systems Criticisms - Validity of Categories
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.
Diagnosis Systems Criticisms - Writing by Committee
the DSM criteria was formed in discussion by multidisciplinary committees.
Members may have a disproportionate influence on the committee listing the diagnostic criteria
Diagnosis Systems Criticisms - Subjectivity
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
Diagnosis Systems Criticisms - Health insurance
- 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.
