Clinical Psychology Flashcards
(77 cards)
what makes someone mentally ill?
definition of mental illness
abnormal behaviour
being out of touch with reality
statistical infrequency
people with moderate depression tend to be …
- Less susceptible to self-enhancement bias
- Less illusion of control
- More balanced assessments of future events (Taylor & Brown, 1968)
what determines a mental illness?
maladaptive traits
poorly understood in society –> society
define maladaptive
impaired ability to function which causes distress to the individual and/or others
how many people have a mental health problem?
1 in 4
why is it hard to define mental illness?
definitions change over time
e.g. being gay seen as a mental disorder in the past
causes of mental disorder theory
nature vs nurture
what is the nature vs nurture debate
biogenic factors vs psychogenic factors cause mental disorders to form
define biogenic
caused by biological or genetic factors
define psychogenic
caused by psychological or environmental factors
what does the medical approach contribute to the nature-nurture debate?
what are the treatments for it?
genetics and biology cause mental disorders
treatment is medication e.g. antidepressants
what does the psychodynamic approach contribute to the nature-nurture debate?
what are the treatments for it?
psychogenic factors
failure to resolve intrapsychic conflict
result of parenting
treatment is psychotherapy
what does the humanistic/ sociocultural approach contribute to the nature-nurture debate?
what are the treatments for it?
psychogenic factors
social factors
others’ responses
treatment is client-centred therapy
what does the cognitive-behavioural approach contribute to the nature-nurture debate?
what are the treatments for it?
psychogenic
environmental factors
learned behaviour patterns
cognitions
treatment is CBT, counter conditioning, desensitisation
explain the diathesis-stress model
current perspective
combination of nature and nurture
genetics and environment result in mental disorders
diathesis: genetic predisposition e.g. genetics or early experiences
stress: environmental factor e.g. stressors or exposure to life events
how are mental disorders classified?
use DSM criteria
developed by psychiatrists
medical model
different versions e.g. DSM-IV-TR (2000)
current version is DSM-V-tr (2022)
what are the 5 axes that the DSM organises diagnoses into?
i. Major clinical disorders
ii. Personality disorders
iii. Accompanying medical/ physical conditions
iv. Accompanying social/ environmental factors
v. General assessment of functioning (GAF)
how does one get diagnosed using the DSM?
each disorder is described using prototypical symptoms
an individual must meet a set number of criteria to receive that diagnosis
what are some changes to the DSM version 5?
- ‘non-axial assessment’
- Removal of first 3 axes
- Separate notations (assessment) for other two axes: psychosocial and environmental factors and disability
- New chapters e.g. ‘trauma- and stressor-related disorders’
- New diagnoses e.g. hoarding disorder, binge eating disorder
- Revised diagnoses e.g. autism spectrum disorder split into Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
strengths of DSM criteria
- Guides prognosis and treatment
- Helps to know what medication is needed or if patient needs to be institutionalised
- Provides a way of objectively classifying abnormal behaviour that might otherwise seem random or worse e.g. evil or possessed
weaknesses of DSM criteria
- High comorbidity rates – certain behaviours are consistent with more than one diagnosis – too much overlap – low reliability, - too many disorders? Are people really that ill?
- Categories vs dimensions e.g. ill/ not ill vs behaviour that varies on a continuum
- Political & social influence e.g. homosexuality was once a mental disorder
- Stigma – label of disorder may affect how others view them and how patients view themselves
early approaches to treat disorders
mental illness was seen as being occupied by demons, spirits and the divine
during egyptian civilisation trephining was used - hole in the skull to release evil spirits
early treatment resembled torture more than actual help
mesmerism was used in the late 18th century - hypnosis
current treatment for disorders
eclectic style meaning use whatever treatment best fits
depends on particular patient and particular time
often combination of approaches
focus on how best to solve clients problems
people respond differently to different therapies or medication
assumptions of psychodynamic therapy
unconscious conflicts of competing demands of the id, ego and superego
originating often in early childhood
biological urgers e.g. sex, aggression
