Welcome and Introduction

Question 1

What is the importance of considering context in diagnosing a client?

Answer 1

By looking at symptomology, and the presence or the absence of something in isolation, without considering ones context, situation, emotions, experience’s, social determinants etc. then our outcomes could be severe.

Question 2

What is the one major criticism of the DSM-5 related to scientific validity?

Answer 2

The introduction of new disorders without a clear scientific basis.

Question 3

What is reification in the context of the DSM-5?

Answer 3

Turning abstract mental health concepts, like depression, into tangible entities through categorisation.

Question 4

How has the DSM-5 been critiqued for its composition of the task force?

Answer 4

The task force had conflicts of interest with psychopharmacology entities, raising concerns about diagnostic threshold manipulation.

Question 5

What does it mean that the DSM-5 has a reduced threshold for inter-rater agreement?

Answer 5

There was lower agreement among clinicians in diagnosing disorders like major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

Question 6

Why do we continue to use the DSM-5 despite its imperfections?

Answer 6

It provides a common language and widely recognised criteria for mental health conditions, facilitating global understanding.

Question 7

What is the general definition of psychopathology?

Answer 7

The science or study of mental disorders, focusing on abnormal behaviour and functioning.

Question 8

How does culture influence the understanding of psychopathology?

Answer 8

Different cultures may view the causes and expressions of mental disorders differently, which can impact diagnosis.

Question 9

What is a “syndrome” in the context of mental health?

Answer 9

A collection of symptoms that occur together and are assumed to represent a specific disorder.

This is the basis of the DSM-5’s categories.

Question 10

How does the DSM-5 define a mental disorder?

Answer 10

Through syndrome’s that are characterised by clinically significant disturbances in cognition, emotion regulation, or behaviour; which reflect a dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes that underly mental function.

Question 11

Why is context crucial in understanding psychopathology?

Answer 11

Diagnosis based solely on symptoms without context can lead to incorrect conclusions, ignoring important social, cultural, or emotional factors.

Question 12

What is statistical deviance in understanding psychopathology?

Answer 12

Behaviour that deviates from the statistical norm, though this alone doesn’t necessarily indicate harm or disorder.

Question 13

Why is the violation of social norms not always a reliable indicator of psychopathology?

Answer 13

Some behaviours violate social norms but are not harmful or indicative of a disorder, such as activism or eccentricity.

Question 14

What is subjective distress in psychopathology?

Answer 14

The experience of distress reported by the individual, which can signal psychopathology if it affects daily functioning.

Question 15

Why is insight important in understanding psychopathology?

Answer 15

A person may not realise or admit they are experiencing distress, making it harder to diagnose certain disorders like mania.

Question 16

What is maladaptiveness in psychopathology?

Answer 16

Behaviours or thoughts that inhibit an individual’s ability to adjust to situations, often signalling a disorder.

Question 17

What is the role of symptoms and signs in DSM-5 diagnosis?

Answer 17

They are used to identify a mental disorder.

Symptoms are reported by the person to the diagnostician. (e.g., I feel down all the time)

Signs are observed in the ‘patient’ by the diagnostician. (e.g., this person has slow speech)

Question 18

What are three presentations that would not warrant the consideration of a DSM-5 mental illness?

Answer 18

When it is an expectable and culturally sanctioned response to a particular event (death of a loved one)

socially deviant behaviour (actions of political, religious, or sexual minorities)

Conflicts between an individual and society (voluntary efforts to express individuality)

Question 19

How does the DSM-5 handle cultural factors in mental disorders?

Answer 19

It recognises that all mental disorders are shaped by culture but should not be entirely due to cultural or social factors.

Question 20

What is one limitation of the DSM-5 regarding cultural variations in diagnosing?

Answer 20

Criteria may manifest differently in various cultural groups, leading to potential misdiagnosis if cultural context is ignored.

Question 21

What does epidemiology study in relation to mental disorders?

Answer 21

The frequency and distribution of mental disorders within a population.

Question 22

What is incidence in the context of mental epidemiology?

Answer 22

The number of new cases of a disorder that appear in a population during a specific time period.

Question 23

What is lifetime prevalence in mental health epidemiology?

Answer 23

The total proportion of people from a population who will have a disorder at some point in their lifetime.

Question 24

What is the burden of psychopathology in terms of disability?

Answer 24

Psychopathology accounts for a significant amount of burden and accounts for a large amount of disability:

47% in underdeveloped countries, and 38% in developed.

Despite not being a leading cause of death.

Question 25

What is a differential diagnosis?

Answer 25

The process of distinguishing between two or more conditions that have overlapping symptoms by identifying critical differences.

Question 26

What is comorbidity?

Answer 26

Occurrence of two or more disorders in the same individual at the same time.

Question 27

What is prevalence in epidemiology?

Answer 27

The number of active cases of a disorder in a population during a specific time period.

Question 28

In another view of psychopathology, what are some common definitions of psychopathology associated with Wakefield?

Answer 28

1. That not every such dysfunction leads to a disorder or is ‘harmful’
2. That culture must be considered when interpreting or understanding how function is disrupted.

Question 29

What are some functions that can be disrupted through psychopathology?

Answer 29

Thoughts, feelings, perception, communication, and motivation.

Question 30

What are the seven possible indicators of psychopathology?

Answer 30

1. Statistical Deviance (think about the limitations)
2. Violation of Social norms (think about the limitations)
3. Social Discomfort
4. Subjective distress
5. Maladaptiveness
6. Irrational or unpredictable
7. Dangerousness

Question 31

How does the idea of “dichotomous thinking” relate to the DSM-5?

Answer 31

The absence of something doesn’t mean the presence of something else. If someone is considered ‘healthy’ it does not mean the absence of psychopathology. The DSM-5 encourages and tries to frame the idea that there is a line between ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’.