Component 3: Mental Illness

Question 1

1. (A)
   Outline one definition of abnormality (2)

Answer 1

• several definitions
• eg., deviation from statistical norms
  : ‘when human behaviour is seen as abnormal when it FALLS OUTSIDE A RANGE THAT IS CONSIDERED STATISTICALLY TYPICAL

Question 2

1. B
   Explain why labelling people ‘abnormal’ could be considered unethical (3)

Answer 2

• once given the label it is difficult to loose (“stickiness of labels” - Rosenhan)
• often victims of stigma and discrimination —> may find their behaviour judged by their label
• others might interpret their actions in light of the label

Question 3

2.
Rosenhan hypothesised psychiatrists cannot reliably tell difference between people who are sane and insane.

With reference, discuss how classification of mental illness can result in stickiness of labels (5)

Answer 3

• stickiness of labels: when ind. unable to loose the mental health label (even when they do not suit it anymore)
• eg, Rosenhan
• took place: 12 diff. Hospitals in America, contained 8 pseudo patients (researchers) who all had no symptoms
• set up appointment at one of hospitals under false name occupation and employment
• complained they’d been hearing a voice seemed to say “empty, hollow and thud” and truthful info
• 11/12 diagnosed as schizophrenic, and 1/12 as manic depressive
• stopped displaying symptoms
• even after displaying normal behaviour the hospitals treated them in accordance to their labels
• especially clear when behaviour eg writing notes was classified as obsessive writing disorder
• discharged with diagnosis of schizophrenia in remission even when being normal for range of 7-52 days

Question 4

Outline one historical view of mental illness (3)

Answer 4

• somatogenic theory (18-19th cent): disturbances are identified in physical functioning resulting from either illness, genetic inheritance or brain damage / imbalance.
• example: Hippocrate’s theory of jumped from 400BC. Believed that deficiency in or excess of one of 4 bodily fluids (blood yellow bile black bile and phlegm)

Question 5

Describe the characteristics of psychotic disorder (5)

Answer 5

• psychotic disorder: mental state often described as involving “loss of contact with reality”.
• DSM-V: individual must display two or more of the follow symptoms each present for a significant portion of time during one month period
• characteristics: delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech, grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour, and negative system.
• social dysfunction, continuous symptoms for 6 months, not due to medical problem

Question 6

Lena a clinical psychologist

Assess one difficulty that Lena could experience in trying to confirm that her patient is experiencing a psychotic disorder (6)

Answer 6

• PD: mental state described as involving a loss of contact with reality
• trying to confirm: determining whether actually experiencing characteristics eg
• portion of time
• so self report which is unreliable / hard to validate
• comorbidity: overlapping symptoms