Clinical Psychology Flashcards
What is the aim of clinical psychology?
The aim is to Diagnose, Explain and Treat.
What do we mean by Diagnose, Explain and Treat?
Diagnose: Patients’ symptoms are listened to by clinicians, who then compare them to clinical traits listed in diagnostic handbooks.
Explain- What might caused this disorder and the course that illness may take.
Treat- What might help the person, for example, drugs (for biological causes) or a talking therapy (for psychological causes).
What are the two ways that you can define mental disorders and what do they mean?
Statistical Norm- Any behaviour that is statistically different from others i.e the majority of people do not have these symptoms. For example, Hoarding.
Social Norm- Any behaviour that deviated (moves away) from what is acceptable in society. For example, coming into college nude.
What are the 4Ds of Diagnosis?
- Deviance
- Distress
- Danger
- Dysfunction
What do each of the 4Ds mean?
Deviance: you move away from what’s normal, so those that are unusual, undesirable, and even bizarre.
Distress: when symptoms cause emotional pain or anxiety. Sometimes psychological distress may manifest as physical symptoms (such as aches and pains, tiredness).
Danger: careless, hostile, or hazardous behaviour that jeopardises the safety of the individual.
Dysfunction: symptoms that distract, confuse, or interfere with a person’s ability to carry out their usual roles and responsibilities.
What’s the meaning of ‘self-fulfilling prophecies’?
When you’re told something so many times, you start to believe it.
