abnormal psych: classification systems

Question 1

what are the three classification systems?

Answer 1

1) dsm
2) icd
3) ccmd

Question 2

what are the roles of classification systems?

Answer 2

to provide checklists of effective behavioural, cognitive and somatic symptoms that guide the diagnostic process

Question 3

what is the icd?

Answer 3

the classification system produced by the world health organisation

Question 4

what is the dsm?

Answer 4

the classification system produced by the american psychiatric association

Question 5

what is the ccmd?

Answer 5

the chinese classification of mental disorders - contains disorders specific to chinese cultures

Question 6

what are the limitations of using classification systems in diagnosis?

Answer 6

1) ethnocentrism: psychiatrists don’t consider social or cultural factors that may be relevant
2) reductionist: may be considered an oversimplification
3) stigmatising: concept of mental illness is ‘medicalized’ which may lead to stigma
4) over-diagnosis: people are labelled with addiction due to new additions to the guide

Question 7

what are the advantages of using classification systems?

Answer 7

1) reliability: the same patient diagnosed by different psychiatrists should get the same diagnosis
2) serves to minimise bias in diagnosis
3) validity of diagnosis can be checked
4) provides operationalised definitions of disorders which enables research into treatments