Diagnosing Disorders

Question 1

Psychological Disorders

Answer 1

Patterns of thoughts, feelings, or actions that are deviant, distressful, and dysfunction (3Ds)
Disorder: state of ill health
Patterns: finding a collection of symptoms that tend to go together; not just one symptom

Question 2

Deviant

Answer 2

Differing from the norm / expected

Disorder may also be a deviation from a typical developmental pathway

Question 3

Axis I of Diagnosis

Answer 3

Is a clinical syndrome present?

Using spec defined criteria, clinicians may select 0, 1, or more syndromes

Question 4

Axis II of Diagnosis

Answer 4

Is a personality disorder or mental retardation (intellectual developmental disorder present)?
Clinicians may / not also select one of these two conditions

Question 5

Axis III of Diagnosis

Answer 5

Is a general medical condition, such as diabetes, arthritis, or hypertension also present?

Question 6

Axis IV of Diagnosis

Answer 6

Are psychosocial / environmental problems, such as school / housing issues, also present?

Question 7

Axis V of Diagnosis

Answer 7

What is the global assessment of this person’s functioning?

Clinicians assign a code from 0-100

Question 8

What effects do stigma and stereotypes have on diagnoses?

Answer 8

Many ppl think a diagnostic label means being seen as weird / weak; b/c of this many psychologists use extreme caution in labels
However, negative views / stigma come from pop culture views

Question 9

Distress

Answer 9

Deep frustration w/ not being able to control a spec behavior

Question 10

Dysfunction

Answer 10

Interference of time / energy spent on certain thoughts / behaviors w/ everyday life