Intro to Mental Disorders Flashcards
Why is mental disorder diagnosis challenging?
No independent biological test
Depend on self-reported symptoms, which are not obvious to observers
Not sure if these disorders are quantitatively different from normal functioning or qualitatively different
Some types of behaviour/personality can be associated with risk brings up blame/responsibility issues.
What does DSM stand for?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
What advantages have arose from the DSM?
Greater clinical reliability and clinical communication
Development of research diagnostic interviews
Why has DSM been criticized?
Increasing numbers of disorders with each edition of DSM and the high prevalence of disorders from psychiatric epidemiology surveys.
Name the major categories of mental disorders we will cover this year.
Mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder)
Anxiety disorders; OCD, PTSD
Substance (alcohol and drug) use disorders
Eating disorders
Childhood disorders
List some impacts of having a mental disorder.
Treatment seeking delayed.
Medication adherence often poor
Associated with stigma, shame, self-blame
Affect the psychological faculties we rely on for coping with everyday life - thinking, emotional regulation, sense of self
Often begin at young age when coping mechanisms are not well developed
Can interfere with usual tasks of adulthood - relationships, family, career
What is the etiology behind mental disorders?
Genes and environment mixed together
What is the emerging idea on genetic influence?
Spread across hundreds/thousands of genetic variants, each having very small effects, not specific to disorders, are contingent on environment
What are pregnancy risk factors for mental disorders?
Infections, malnutrition, heavy metals
What are perinatal risk factors for mental disorders?
Preterm birth, season of birth, birth complications
What are the risk factors involving childhood environment for mental disorders?
Urbanicity
Poverty
Maltreatment
Bullying
What are the risk factors involving drug use in adolescence for menatl disorders?
Cannabis
Stimulants
