Psychopathology - Introduction to Psychopathology

Question 1

What is the history of mental health illnesses?

Answer 1

• All classification systems stem from the work of Kraepelin in 1883.
• Groups of symptoms need to occur together to be called a disease or syndrome.
• Mental illnesses are distinct from other illnesses with their own origins, symptoms, course and outcome.

Question 2

What is the DSM?

Answer 2

• The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM) is the handbook used by health care professionals in the United States and Europe.
• The authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders.
• DSM contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders.
• It provides a common language for clinicians to communicate about their patients.
• Establishes consistent and reliable diagnoses that can be used in the research of mental disorders.
• DSM-1 was first published in 1952, last updated in May 2015 (DSM-5).

Question 3

Why is the DSM updated?

Answer 3

• They are regularly updated and show how disorders change over time.
• Homosexuality 1973 DSM-1 a mental disorder; DSM-3 ‘ego dystonic homosexuality; DSM-3 T-R 1987 ‘sexual disorder not otherwise specified’.
• 2013 DSM-5, removed homosexuality as a mental disorder.

Question 4

What are the three most common mental disorders?

Answer 4

in 2017 in the UK

• Phobias = 2.6%
• Depression = 2.6%
• OCD = 1%

Question 5

What does behavioural mean?

Answer 5

the way people act

Question 6

What does emotional mean?

Answer 6

the way people feel

Question 7

What does cognitive mean?

Answer 7

the way people perceive, think and believe