Psychiatry Intro Flashcards
What is mental health?
a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to contribute to his or her community
What is a mental health disorder?
results in significant changes in a persons thinking, emotional state and behavior, and ability to function in social and occupational settings
meets defined diagnostic criteria
What are examples of mental health disorders?
depression
anxiety
insomnia
bipolar
schizophrenia
What is a mental health problem?
broad term that includes mental health disorders and less severe mental health symptoms that do not meet diagnostic criteria but may disrupt personal, social, and occupational functioning
experienced and expressed uniquely by individuals
What are examples of mental health problems?
stressed
tired
anxious
worried
Describe the Canadian epidemiology of mental illness.
1/5 experience mental illness per year
-over $50 billion to our economy
8% of adults experience major depression in their lifetime
1% will experience bipolar or schizophrenia
by age 40, 50% will have or have had mental illness
suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24yo and 16% among 24-44yo
mortality due to suicide is 4x higher in men
What percentage of people with mental health problems and mental illness do not seek help?
60%
-stigma is one of the main reasons
How does psychiatry view the mind?
psychiatry focuses on the mind being separate from the brain
What are the 3 components of the mind?
emotions
behaviors
thoughts
How does culture impact mental illness?
each culture has a unique perspective on mental health
-impacts the way people describe their symptoms
cultures differ in meaning and level of concern given to mental illnesses
-each culture has its own way of making sense of the highly subjective experience of understanding ones mental health
-each culture has its own opinions on mental illness (real or imagined, illness of body or mind or both, stigma, etc)
culture influences treatment decisions and coping
What is the belief about people with mental health concerns and violence?
believed that they are typically violent
they are more likely to be victims of crime
What is the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)?
purpose:
-assist people suffering from serious mental illness in receiving treatment
encourages voluntary receipt of services
What is involuntary admission criteria?
- being found to be a person with a mental disorder who needs inpatient care
- not being fully capable of making an admission or treatment decision
- likely to harm self or others or suffer substantial mental or physical deterioration
Describe psychiatrists based on the following:
-background
-object of study
-field of study
-license
-work
background: physician
object of study: mental illnesses
field of study: biology, human behavior, medication
license: MD
work: examine emotions, thoughts, and behaviors at a biological level in addition to understanding mental processes
Describe psychologists based on the following:
-background
-object of study
-field of study
-license
-work
background: scientist or clinician
object of study: human mind and behavior
field of study: clinical and research psychology
license: PhD, PsyD
work: how mental processes coincide with emotions, thoughts, and behaviors
Describe therapists based on the following:
-background
-object of study
-field of study
-license
-work
background: several specialties
object of study: variable based on specialty and practice setting
field of study: counseling, social work
license: PhD, various certificates
work: help people navigate challenging emotions, thoughts, and behaviors
What is the difference between a physical and mental health diagnosis?
physical: objective
-signs and symptoms
-medical history
-lab tests
-diagnostic tests
psychiatry: subjective
-clinician impressions of the patients thoughts & feelings
-symptoms cross-referenced to a diagnostic/classification manual containing 100s of potential syndromes, and 1 or more diagnostic labels are applied
What is the current practice of psychiatry for diagnosing based on for most clinicians?
syndrome-based classification systems
-evolution of thinking toward a brain-based or biologically-based diagnostic system for mental illness might facilitate efforts to advance brain research, to develop better treatments, and improve patient care
What is involved in a clinical assessment in psychiatry?
combination of physical exam & clinical interview
Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
What is the DSM-5?
handbook used as a guide to diagnose mental disorders
contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders
provides a common language for clinicians to communicate about their patients
establishes consistent and reliable diagnoses
a guide=combine with clinical judgement