Classification of psychopathology

Question 1

Diagnosis

Answer 1

The identification of a disease or disorder by means of its signs and symptoms. It is a hypothesis regarding the cause of an individual’s distress

Question 2

Why diagnose

Answer 2

• understand causality
• identify appropriate treatment pathway
• test the efficacy of treatments
• organise services and support for sufferers

Question 3

Emil Kraepelin (1883-1923)

Answer 3

developed concept of psychiatric syndromes

Question 4

WHO (1939)

Answer 4

international causes of death (ICD)

Question 5

APA (1952)

Answer 5

Diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM)

Question 6

Advantages of classification

Answer 6

Facilitate the growth of an expert body of knowledge. Help develop epidemiological information. Aid communication through providing a common language

Question 7

Steps to reaching a diagnosis

Answer 7

1. assessment
2. diagnosis
3. treatment

Question 8

Assessment often includes

Answer 8

Interviews with client.
Informative interviews.
Behavioural observations.

Question 9

How is the assessment done?

Answer 9

1. diagnostic criteria are memorised

2. the clinical interview

Question 10

Clinical interview

Answer 10

• ask open ended questions - free speech
• generation of limited number of diagnostic hypotheses
• closed questions

Question 11

Elements of the psychiatric interview

Answer 11

• history of present illness
• history of syndrome approach
• mental state examination (appearance, speech, affect, behaviour etc.)

Question 12

Problems with classification

Answer 12

• no two snowflakes are the same
• pathologizing human distress
• comorbidity
• subjectivity
• reliability
• validity

Question 13

Anti-psychiatry movement

Answer 13

• treatment efficacy of medications
• ethical
• philosophical

Question 14

alternative approaches

Answer 14

• looking beyond signs and symptoms e.g., research domain criteria
• psychological formulation