Clinical: 4Ds Of Diagnosis

Question 1

Define diagnosis

Answer 1

The process of matching a persons behaviours and feelings to the signs and symptoms of a mental disorder in order to provide treatment

Question 2

Define deviance (4 marks)

Answer 2

-Behaviours that are extreme, unusual and go against societal and statistical norms.
-Social norms can depend on the culture, history situation, age and gender of the individual.
-Culture example: hearing voices may be normal in a culture that believes in spirits but not in another.
-Failure to conform to social norms may lead to negative attention and social exclusion.

Question 3

Define dysfunction (4 marks)

Answer 3

-Symptoms which obstruct a persons ability to continue with everyday life.
-Objective measures used to assess everyday functioning (self-report questionnaires)
-Looks at factors such as a persons understanding of what is going on around them
-Example: Getting up in the morning

Question 4

Define distress (4 marks)

Answer 4

-If symptoms cause emotional pain or anxiety.
-Can come across physically (aches and pains)
-Can depend on the situation. For example: losing a loved one would cause distress but there may be no need for diagnosis
-Quantitative data collected through distress scales about level of distress.

Question 5

Define danger in terms of the 4Ds

Answer 5

-Hostile behaviour that could risk the safety of the individual or others.
-Mental Health Act allows an individual to be detained if they are a danger to themselves (3 professionals must agree)
-Example: self harm or threatening to harm others.

Question 6

What are the 4Ds?

Answer 6

Deviance, Dysfunction, Distress, Danger

Question 7

Give an example of how history can cause deviance to differ?

Answer 7

What is abnormal at one time may change. Eg; homosexuality used to be viewed as a mental illness but is now accepted in most western cultures

Question 8

Give an example of how situation can cause deviance to differ.

Answer 8

Behaviour that is normal in one context may be abnormal in another. Eg; normal to be naked in a nudist beach but not in a supermarket.

Question 9

What are the 2 strengths of the 4Ds

Answer 9

+Application:
Each disorder displays different Ds so when used with classification manuals it’s more accurate. DSM matches certain disorders to specific Ds.
+Evaluation
Helps avoid error as it considers many factors.

Question 10

Evaluate the 2 weaknesses of the 4Ds.

Answer 10

-Lacks objectivity:
No objective measurement all observations and subjective to the clinician. Raises issues on reliability.
-Labelling:
Using ‘danger’ as a criteria could mean people link mental health to danger.