L10: Mental health issues: Diagnosis and Treatment

Question 1

How is mental illness defined using the medical model?

Answer 1

• described as an impairment of normal functioning that interrupts or modifies vital functions,
• characterized by specific signs and symptoms, and influenced by environmental factors, infective agents, genetic anomalies, or their combinations

Question 2

What are some of the criteria used in the current practice to diagnose mental illness?

Answer 2

• statistical abnormality
• dysfunction
• distress
• impairment
• deviation from social norms as criteria to diagnose mental illness

Question 3

What was the purpose of the Operational Definition introduced in the DSM-III (1980)?

Answer 3

• aimed to create reliable and valid diagnoses by using clinical features, empirical data, and an atheoretical approach, leading to an operationalized system of classification

Question 4

What are the definitions of mental disorder according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 2020)?

Answer 4

• ICD-10 defines a mental disorder as a clinically recognizable set of symptoms or behaviours associated with distress or interference with personal functions
• APA (2020) defines it as a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome associated with distress, disability, or increased risk of suffering

Question 5

What are some criticisms of the DSM-5 and ICD-11 classification systems?

Answer 5

• lack of consistent link between classification and origin
• poor reliability and validity of diagnoses
  high comorbidity
• lack of specificity for treatment
• overemphasis on biological understanding
• leading to potential discrimination and stigmatization

Question 6

What is the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) paradigm and why was it developed?

Answer 6

• RDoC is a research framework developed to address problems with heterogeneity, comorbidity & limited representation in mental health research
• adopts dimensional conceptualizations & incorporates neurobiological science findings into diagnostic systems to understand full spectrum of mental health and illness

Question 7

What are some examples of anxiety disorders and their key characteristics?

Answer 7

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• characterized by intense, uncontrollable feelings of tension and worry, Specific Phobias ( which involve irrational fears of specific objects or situations, and Panic Disorder, involving recurring and regular panic attacks)

Question 8

What are some contributing factors to anxiety disorders?

Answer 8

• genetic vulnerability
• conditioning leading to increased fear responses
• early relationships linked to anxiety problems
• cognitive vulnerabilities like preferential attention to anxiety-provoking stimuli and rumination

Question 9

What is the lifetime prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and what are some key diagnostic criteria?

Answer 9

• MDD has a lifetime prevalence of 17%
• Diagnostic criteria include experiencing 5 or more operational criteria nearly every day for at least a 2-week period - incl. a depressed mood/loss of interest (anhedonia) and other symptoms like changes in appetite, fatigue, and recurrent thoughts of death

Question 10

What are some etiological factors contributing to Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

Answer 10

-origins of MDD may include
- genetic vulnerability
- gene-environment interactions
- chemical imbalances involving neurotransmitters like serotonin and noradrenaline
- Abnormalities in the immune system may also play a role

Question 11

What is Beck’s Cognitive Triad, and how does it relate to the development of depression?

Answer 11

• a theory describing cognitive vulnerabilities that can trigger depression
• involves negative views of the self, the world, and the future, which can precipitate neurochemical changes and increase the chances of experiencing negative events

Question 12

What are some major forms of treatment and therapy for mental health conditions?

Answer 12

• Brain Stimulation (e.g., Electroconvulsive Therapy and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)
• Psychotropic Drugs (medications)
• Precision Medicine
• Psychological Therapies

Question 13

What is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?

Answer 13

• a form of brain stimulation used to treat severe depression and other mental illnesses
• It involves administering electrical currents to the brain to induce controlled seizures, leading to improvements in symptoms

Question 14

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

Answer 14

• a form of psychological therapy based on the idea that thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are interconnected
• aims to help clients become aware of and change self-defeating thought patterns to improve mental health

Question 15

What is the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)?

Answer 15

• a type of cognitive therapy that focuses on challenging irrational or unproductive beliefs
• therapist actively disputes the client’s illogical beliefs to help them develop more rational thinking.

Question 16

How do therapists evaluate the efficacy of psychological therapies?

Answer 16

• case studies, surveys, and randomized clinical trials
• they examine endpoints, distinguish between placebo and treatment effects, and consider factors like therapist competence and the therapeutic alliance

Question 17

What are the two dominant psychiatric classification systems?

Answer 17

• DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) published by the American Psychiatric Association
• ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) published by the WHO

Question 18

What is the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

Answer 18

• lifetime prevalence of 17%, with 50% of cases being severe. It is a leading cause of disability
• the average age of onset is mid/late 30s

Question 19

What is the treatment-resistant depression rate?

Answer 19

a 30.9% 12-month prevalence among people with depression

Question 20

What is the Precision Medicine approach to treatment?

Answer 20

• involves using genetic & neurobiological research findings to understand the full spectrum of mental health & illness
• aims to tailor treatments based on individual characteristics and needs

Question 21

What are the Behavioural Models of Psychological Therapy?

Answer 21

• based on learning theory and aim to alter maladaptive behaviours through classical/operant conditioning
• focus on learned patterns of unwanted behaviour & use techniques like exposure and operant conditioning

Question 22

What are the major issues related to evaluating psychotherapeutic efficacy?

Answer 22

• choosing appropriate endpoints
• distinguishing between placebo and treatment effects
• considering different psychotherapies for different disorders
• assessing therapist competence
• the therapeutic alliance

Question 23

What is the Multifactorial approach to understanding mental health?

Answer 23

• contextualizes distress and behaviour, acknowledging the complexity of interactions involved in the human experience
• considers various factors, including biological, environmental, and psychological, to understand mental health and illness

Question 24

What are psychotropic drugs?

Answer 24

• medications that target the brain’s neurotransmitters to treat mental illnesses
• they aim to alleviate symptoms & improve mental health

Question 25

What do psychotropic drugs treat?

Answer 25

• a range of mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric conditions

Question 26

How do psychotropic drugs work?

Answer 26

• work by altering the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain e.g. serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine
• they affect mood, emotions, and cognition

Question 27

What are some common types of psychotropic drugs?

Answer 27

• antidepressants
• antipsychotics
• anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications)
• mood stabilizers
• stimulants

Question 28

What are antidepressants used for?

Answer 28

• used to treat depression and some anxiety disorders
• increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, improving mood and reducing symptoms

Question 29

What are antipsychotics used for?

Answer 29

• treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
• help manage hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking

Question 30

What are anxiolytics used for?

Answer 30

• treat anxiety disorders and help reduce excessive worry, fear, and nervousness

Question 31

What are mood stabilizers used for?

Answer 31

• manage mood swings and stabilize the mood in conditions like bipolar disorder

Question 32

What are stimulants used for?

Answer 32

• treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• help improve focus, attention, and impulse control

Question 33

Are psychotropic drugs effective in treating mental illnesses?

Answer 33

• Yes, psychotropic drugs can be highly effective in treating mental illnesses
• have been shown to alleviate symptoms & improve the quality of life for many individuals

Question 34

Can psychotropic drugs have side effects?

Answer 34

• yes
• vary depending on the type of medication & individual response
• common side effects: may include drowsiness, nausea, weight changes, and sexual dysfunction