Definition of Mental Disorders by Symptom:

Question 1

Definition of Mental Disorders by Symptom:

Answer 1

Unlike physical illnesses, mental disorders are defined by their symptomology (the symptoms they have, which are the behaviours displayed), rather than by their route cause.

Question 2

Positive Symptoms

Answer 2

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are additional experiences beyond those of ordinary existence such as:

Question 3

what are the Positive Symptoms

Answer 3

• Hallucinations
• Delusions:

Question 4

• Hallucinations

Answer 4

These are unusual sensory experiences. Some are related to events in the environment. Others bear no relationship to what the senses are picking up from the environment, for example, voices heard. Hallucinations can be experienced in relation to any sense. The person may, for example, see distorted facial expressions or occasionally people or animals that are not there. Real world application comes from Garety et al. (2017) and their avatar therapy.

Question 5

• Delusions

Answer 5

Also known as paranoia, delusions are irrational beliefs. These can take a range of forms.

Common delusions involve being an important historical, political, or religious figure or commonly involve being persecuted.

Another class of delusions concerns the body.

A person may believe that they are under external control. Delusions can make a person behave in ways that make sense to them but seem bizarre to others.

Question 6

Negative symptoms

Answer 6

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia involve the loss of usual abilities and experiences, such as:

Question 7

what are the negative symptoms

Answer 7

• Speech poverty
• Avolition:

Question 8

• Speech poverty:

Answer 8

Schizophrenia is characterised by changes in patterns of speech.

Speech poverty is seen as a negative symptom because the emphasis is on reduction in the amount and quality of speech in schizophrenia.

This is sometimes accompanied by a delay in the person’s verbal responses during conversation.

However, nowadays, emphasis is placed on speech disorganisation (incoherence in speech), which is classified as a positive symptom by DSM-5.

Question 9

• Avolition:

Answer 9

This can be described as finding it difficult to begin or keep up with goal directed activity. People with schizophrenia often have sharply reduced motivation to carry out a range of activities

Question 10

• Nancy Andreasen (1982)

Answer 10

identified three signs of avolition: poor hygiene and grooming, lack of persistence in work or education and lack of energy.

Question 11

David Rosenhan

Answer 11

• Voices said empty, dull, thud.
• Nobody in the ward detected they were sane.
• Discharged with paranoid schizophrenia in remission.
• Dehumanised
• Nobody talks or has contact with you.
• 6 and a half minutes of contact between patients and ward managers.
• Wards and storehouses for people who society don’t want or understand.

Question 12

Categorising Mental Illness

Answer 12

• If you are going to be able to understand and help people displaying dysfunctional behaviour, you’re going to have to diagnose dysfunctional behaviour.
• The first step is to find ways of categorising the multitude of different dysfunctional behaviours.
• Two manuals that categorise dysfunctional behaviour:
• International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Question 13

• Two manuals that categorise dysfunctional behaviour:

Answer 13

• International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Question 14

what is the difference between the ICD-10 and DSM-5

Answer 14

3. They are similar as they are both guides to diagnosing issues with health however, the ICD is for physical diseases whereas DSM-5 is for mental disorders.

Question 15

5. ICD

Answer 15

The schizophrenic disorders are characterized in general by fundamental and characteristic distortions of thinking and perception and affects that are inappropriate or blunted. Clear consciousness and intellectual capacity are usually maintained although certain cognitive deficits may evolve in the course of time. The most important psychopathological phenomena include thought echo; thought insertion or withdrawal; thought broadcasting; delusional perception and delusions of control; influence or passivity; hallucinatory voices commenting or discussing the patient in the third person; thought disorders and negative symptoms.

Question 16

DSM-5:

Answer 16

According to the DSM-5, a schizophrenia diagnosis requires the following: At least two of five main symptoms. Those symptoms, explained above, are delusions, hallucinations, disorganized or incoherent speaking, disorganized or unusual movements and negative symptoms. Duration of symptoms and effects