Lecture 12

Question 1

What is mental illness? (6 d)

Answer 1

• Deviance (different than social norm)
• Distress (do they feel something’s wrong)
• Danger (pose a danger to themselves or others)
• Dysfunction (is functioning impaired)
• (more) Days than not
• Doesn’t have other clear reason

Question 2

Self-diagnosis Phenomenon

Answer 2

AKA “Psych student disorder” or “Medical student syndrome”.

Because of confirmation bias

Question 3

Mental illness isn’t black or white, but on a …

Answer 3

Continuum (Healthy, Reacting, Injured, Ill)

Question 4

Anxiety Disorders

Answer 4

Most dominant symptom is excessive / unrealistic worry.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Phobias

Question 5

How common is mental illness?

Answer 5

1 in 10 at the moment, 3 in 10 in their lifetime.

Other estimates at 1 in 5.

Question 6

Gender difference in mental illness?

Answer 6

Roughly equal overall. Varies disorder to disorder.
Men : substance abuse, anti-social
Women : depression, PTSD, eating disorders
- different risk factors
- different treatment seeking
- bias in diagnosis

Question 7

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Answer 7

Excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than for at least 6 months about a number of different activities.
At least 3 (restlessness, easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance)

Question 8

Social Anxiety Disorder

Answer 8

Fear of interacting with others or being in a social situation that might lead to a negative evaluation from others. Can be general (all situations) to specific (public speaking). More common in those who are shy.

Question 9

Panic Attack

Answer 9

Sudden onset of extreme panic with various physical symptoms including racing heart, rapid breathing, out-of-body sensations, dulled hearing and vision, sweating, fear of losing control / dying, and dry mouth

Question 10

Panic Disorder

Answer 10

recurrent panic attacks. Afterwards concern about additional panic attacks or consequences / maladaptive behaviour to avoid panic attacks

Question 11

Specific Phobias

Answer 11

Irrational fear of some object or specific situation, usually accompanied by extreme efforts to avoid the phobic object or situation.

Question 12

What causes mental illness?

Answer 12

Biopsychosocial : disorders are caused by an interaction of psychological (personality, past experiences), social (family, culture), and biological (genetic) factors.
Genetic predisposition for many mental illnesses particularly strong (bipolar, schiz, OCD)