sac 6 (mental health)

Question 1

mental health

Answer 1

a state of wellbeing in which an individual realises their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to their community

Question 2

what factors effect your mental health

Answer 2

many factors that can contribute to this, including biological, psychological, and social factors.

Question 3

mental health problem

Answer 3

most often occurs as a result of a life stressor, and is
usually less severe and of a shorter duration than a mental disorder.

Question 4

mental disorder

Answer 4

• involves a combination of thoughts, feelings and/or behaviours which impair the ability to function effectively in everyday life
• a diagnosed psychological state characterized by the presence of a severe disturbance, sense of distress, and thoughts feelings and/or behaviour that are atypical of the person and significantly impacts their ability to function independently.

Question 5

continuum

Answer 5

Mental health can include many different kinds of mental health states that have different effects on our functioning. It is for this reason that mental health is often conceptualised as a continuum

Question 6

mental disorder; essential characteristics

Answer 6

• disorder occurs within the individual and results from dysfunction within the individual.
• There is a clinically diagnosable dysfunction in thoughts, feelings and/or behaviour
• causes significant distress
• Actions and reactions are atypical of the person and inappropriate within their culture.
• is not a result of a personal conflict with society

Question 7

The biopsychosocial model

Answer 7

• is a way of describing and explaining how biological,
  psychological and social factors combine and interact to influence a person’s mental health.
• Mental health and wellbeing depends on a combination of biological, social and psychological
  factors

Question 8

biological factors

Answer 8

• genes
• sex
• brain chemistry
• nervous system activity
• hormones
• immune system

Question 9

psychological factors

Answer 9

• beliefs and attitudes
• personality traits
• ways of thinking
• learning and memory
• perceptions
• emotions
• coping skills
• psychological response to stress

Question 10

social factors

Answer 10

• interpersonal relationships
• social networks
• lifestyle
• stressors
• access to health care
• poverty
• level of education
• risks of violence
• human rights violations
• cultural values/traditions

Question 11

coping

Answer 11

being able to meet and overcome the challenges
and setbacks we may face. Coping with change and
challenges is a part of life.

Question 12

internal factors

Answer 12

stem from within an individual and relate to biological or psychological functioning

Question 13

external factors

Answer 13

stem from outside an individual and arise from their environment, such as social influences.

Question 14

internal factors, example

Answer 14

• good sleep
• balanced diet
• exercise
• constructive thought patterns

Question 15

external factors, example

Answer 15

• supportive family and friends
• community support groups
• education

Question 16

classifying mental illness

Answer 16

Classifying Mental Illness helps scientists to create solutions when problems arise.
This done through labelling and categorising psychological disorders.

Question 17

diagnosis

Answer 17

to create individual labels for disorders, mental health professionals have had to devise clear descriptions of what each disorder involves in terms of the typical thoughts, feelings, and behaviours an individual with the disorder presents.
Diagnosis occurs when the set criteria for a disorder are met by the individual.

Question 18

benefits of classifying mental illness

Answer 18

• Can provide an individual with a sense of understanding and reassurance with regard to what
  they have been feeling.
• Can assist in devising targeted treatment
• Provides a common language for professionals and researchers to succinctly and accurately
  communicate about psychological disorders.

Question 19

Inter-rater reliability

Answer 19

Studies have shown that when mental health professionals use the same
diagnostic guideline to diagnose and label a psychological disorder, they often make the same
diagnosis

Question 20

limitations of classifying mental illness

Answer 20

• stigmatisation
• self-stigma
• Categories for mental health disorders may be too culturally specific and therefore inaccurate when applied to certain populations.
• Underdiagnoses and overdiagnosis:

Question 21

underdiagnoses

Answer 21

someone may not meet all the criteria for a certain disorder and therefore not receive the label

Question 22

overdiagnoses

Answer 22

someone might fit too easily into a psychological disorder category, providing the label of ‘disordered’ when in fact they are highly functional despite demonstrating some symptoms.

Question 23

DSM - 5

Answer 23

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- The most widely used system with categories of mental disorders that is used for diagnostic purposes

Question 24

DSM - 5 uses

Answer 24

• has 21 categories of psychological disorders.
  -The categories of each psychological disorder include information on the traits and behaviours common to that category.
• Each individual and unique disorder has its own criteria which must be met by a patient in order for a diagnosis to occur.

Question 25

comorbidity

Answer 25

if a disorder occurs simultaneously with another disorder