Intro Class

Question 1

What are synonyms for Psychopathology?

Answer 1

Psychological Disorder
*Mental Disorder
*Mental Health Problem

Question 2

What is a psychological disorder?

Answer 2

A psychological dysfunction associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected

Question 3

Explain the main criteria for psychological disorders:

1. Personal distress / Impairment

Answer 3

Personal distress is a big criteria

• But now much distress? We all feel distress
• At what pt do we consider it psychological
• At some point the amount of distress crosses the line (and intervenes in daily life)

Question 4

Explain the main criteria for psychological disorders:

2. Atypical / Not expected

Answer 4

Something that deviates from the cultural norm

Also depends on what context you exibit this behaviour in
(screaming during a concert is okay, but in a meeting it’s odd)

Question 5

Explain the main criteria for psychological disorders:

3. Statistical deviancy

Answer 5

How much do you deviate on the normal curve

(are you feeling an extreme)

After a certain percentile you are considered atypical

(can be good or bad - ex. Einstein was at the extreme high end of intelligence and “not normal”)

Question 6

Explain the main criteria for psychological disorders:

4. Unpredictability

Answer 6

This person may not think they have an issue

• It may make others around them uncomfortable (and we auto make judgement that something is wrong with them)

Question 7

Explain the main criteria for psychological disorders:

5. Dangerousness

Answer 7

Often towards self (like self harming - which is non life threatening)

Question 8

How does the DSM-5 define a mental disorder?

Answer 8

A syndrome that is present in an
individual and that involves clinically
significant disturbance in behavior,
emotion regulation, and cognitive
functioning

Syndrome with many diff symptoms

Question 9

What is important to remember about the DSM-5?

Answer 9

It is a work in progress!

Question 10

Explain how we change our perspectives on mental health over time?

Answer 10

We change opinions/thoughts/description of stuff

Ex. Hysteria
- Thought women got it cuz uterus moving
- Got reclassified as a personality disorder

Ex. Gender identity disorder
- Changed to gender dysphoria

Question 11

Explain the critique around over medicalization and the DSM-5?

Answer 11

medicalize normal human experiences and lead to
overdiagnosis

Question 12

Explain the critique around over debated diagnoses and the DSM-5?

Answer 12

The DSM-5 includes several diagnoses that have been
met with controversy. Some of the most debated
diagnoses include Disruptive Mood Dysregulation
Disorder, Mild Neurocognitive Disorder, and
Gender Dysphoria

Question 13

Explain the critique around over the pharmaceutical industry and the DSM-5?

Answer 13

Concerns have been raised about the potential influence
of the pharmaceutical industry on the DSM-5 revisions,
with some noting the high percentage of task force
members with ties to the industry

Question 14

Explain how there are culturally specific disorders?

Answer 14

• Amok: A dissociative state of rage, often involving violence, found in
  Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.
• Koro: The intense fear that one’s genitals are retracting into the body,
  and death will result when they are completely absorbed. Often seen in
  parts of Asia

Question 15

Explain how there is cultural differences in the experience of mental disorders? (the experience of depression)

Answer 15

Nigeria: Depressed individuals complain of heaviness or heat in the head, crawling sensations in the head or legs, burning sensations
in the body, and a feeling that the belly is bloated with water.

North America: Depressed individuals report feeling worthless, being unable to start or finish
anything, losing interest in usual activities, and thinking of suicide

Question 16

What did Thomas Szasz argue about medicalization?

Answer 16

• Argued against the medicalization of mental health problems.
• The diagnosis of medical illness uses objective criteria (e.g., results of blood tests), but for mental illness, subjective judgments are
  required.

Question 17

What are the advantages of a classification system?

Answer 17

1. Provide a common language and “nomenclature” (naming system)
2. Helps us structure mental illnesses (anixety disorders and all that fall under)
3. Helps research (labelling is the first step of learning)
4. Health policy planning (easier to collect info on groups of ppl)
5. Need it so clients with a diagnosis can get therapy reimbursed by insurance

Question 18

Explain how diagnoses are classified?

Answer 18

A depression scale (high vs low = most ppl in the middle)

• 15 is the cut off score for depression
• But how diff is 14 to 15 (probs not so much)

Extremes are the most easy to see (0 vs 25)

Question 19

What is the challenge with categories?

Answer 19

We put ppl in categories and the cut off might be similar
(there is less precision)

You take someones experiences and boil it down to one label

-Simplification = loss of personal details (two ppl might have depression, but they need too be treated differently)

Question 20

What are the Disadvantages of
Classification?

Stigma

Answer 20

Generate negative stereotypes (ex. violent / unpredictable)
- Seen as bad in movies
- Do you tell ur employer u have a mental illness (probs not, cuz will it be a reason to not hire you?)
-Might result in bullying

Question 21

How is prejudice within the description of phobias?

Answer 21

Definition: “irrational fear of ____”
- Very judgemental (irrational) why not use intense

Question 22

What are the Disadvantages of
Classification?

Negative self image

Answer 22

When you are made fun of for ur whole life = no confidence
- Harder for them to heal

Ex. ppl with BPD might be made fun of for this

Question 23

How to reduce stigma?

Answer 23

Mindful about language (not depressed person BUT person with depression)