Week 1: Conceptualization of Mental Disorder

Question 1

What is the 1983 Mental Health Act (England and Wales, amended in 2007)?

Answer 1

Mental disorder is ‘any disorder or disability of the mind’

Question 2

What is a ‘Mentally-Disordered Offender’ according to the Crown Prosecution Service?

Answer 2

A person who has a disability or disorder of the mind and has committed or is suspected of committing a criminal offense.

Question 3

Code of Practice of Mental Health Act?

Answer 3

Gives a list of clinically-recognized conditions which could fall within the Act’s definition of mental disorder. That includes affective disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, etc.

Question 4

How are mental disorders identified in England and Wales?

Answer 4

If 3 professionals agree that a mental disorder is present and other criteria are met, then someone can be detained in the hospital and treated against their will.

Question 5

How is Mental Disorder seen as an Administrative Construct?

Answer 5

• Identify mental disorder
• Count mental disorder
• Calculate the burden of mental disorder
• Access specific services and benefits
• Diagnostic function

Question 6

What is the current authoritative book on mental disorders?

Answer 6

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Question 7

What information does the term ‘mental health problem’ convey?

Answer 7

• Careful use of language
• There is a spectrum of difficulties
• Avoids ‘illness’ language

Question 8

What is WHO’s definition of Mental Health?

Answer 8

Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make contributions to his or her community

Question 9

3 Explanations of Madness in the Ancient World

Answer 9

1) A disorder of the brain
2) A reaction to circumstances/moral weakness or failing
3) Spiritual or demonic possession

Question 10

What is Psychodynamics?

Answer 10

Is a psychological approach that emphasizes the underlying, often unconscious, forces that influence human behavior, feelings, and emotions.

It suggests that past experiences, particularly those from childhood, can have a significant impact on our present thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Question 11

What did John Locke (Associationism) write about Mental Disorders / Madness?

Answer 11

‘Madmen do not appear to have lost the faculty of reasoning; but having joined together some ideas very wrongly, they mistake them for truths and they err, as men do that argue right from wrong principles.’

Question 12

What did Daniel Freeman and colleagues write about Mental Disorders / Madness?

Answer 12

‘Individuals with persecutory delusions erroneously believe that others are trying to cause them physical, psychological, or social harm. Our psychological conceptualisation is that at the heart of persecutory delusions are unfounded threat beliefs.’

Question 15

This involves using standardized tests to measure psychological constructs such as intelligence, personality, and cognitive abilities.

These tests are designed to be reliable and valid, meaning they consistently measure what they intend to measure.

Answer 15

Psychometric Testing

Question 16

This involves evaluating a person’s cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, problem-solving, and executive functions. This can be done through standardized tests, clinical interviews, or observations.

Answer 16

Cognitive Function Assessments

Question 17

These are standardized tools used to assess the risk of harm that an individual poses to themselves or others. These assessments typically involve a series of questions that evaluate various factors such as past violence, current symptoms, and social support.

Answer 17

Structured Risk Assessments

Question 18

These theories dominated the late 19th Century and led to sterilization and euthanasia as public policies.

Answer 18

Degeneration Theories

Question 19

Study of genes / DNA sequence

Answer 19

Genetics

Question 20

Study of how environmental factors and behaviors can cause changes in gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.

Answer 20

Epigenetics

Question 21

This theory suggests that deviant behavior is not inherent to an individual but rather a result of societal labeling.

When individuals are labeled as deviant, they may internalize this label and engage in further deviant behavior.

Answer 21

Labelling Theory (Thomas Scheff)

Question 22

It is a state of normlessness or social disorganization.

It occurs when individuals are unable to find clear guidelines or expectations for behavior within society.

This can lead to feelings of confusion, alienation, and frustration.

Answer 22

Anomie

Question 23

He wrote about Suicide and Anomie

Answer 23

Emile Durkheim

Question 24

Is a type of social organization where individuals are isolated from the wider society and subjected to a strict routine and control. Examples include prisons, mental asylums, military barracks, and monasteries.

Answer 24

The Total Institution (Erving Goffman)