what is mental health & mental illness

week 1

What is mental health?

Psychological and emotional well-being.

What is mental illness?

A mental disorder or psychopathology (abnormal psychology).

What does "Deviance" mean in the Four D’s?

Thoughts or behaviors that differ from cultural norms.

What does "Distress" mean in the Four D’s?

Behaviors or emotions that cause the person suffering (though not always present).

What does "Dysfunction" mean in the Four D’s?

When symptoms impair daily functioning like work, school, or social life.

What does "Danger" mean in the Four D’s?

Behaviors that are harmful to self or others (e.g., self-neglect, suicide risk).

What was Thomas Szasz’s 1961 view on mental illness?

He argued mental illness is a myth and called issues "problems in living."

Does being eccentric always mean someone is mentally ill?

No—eccentric or unusual people are not necessarily mentally ill.

What point does Sanah Ahsan make about suffering and mental illness?

She argues suffering often comes from unlivable conditions, not from "defective individuals."

What treatment was used in the Stone Age for mental problems?

Trephination (drilling a hole in the skull to release spirits).

How did Ancient Egypt and China explain mental problems?

They blamed spirits and used exorcism rituals.

What was Hippocrates’ approach in Greek/Roman times?

He explained problems by humours and recommended diet, exercise, and bloodletting.

How were mental problems viewed in the Middle Ages (500–1400)?

As demon possession or witchcraft.

What changed in the Renaissance regarding care for the mentally ill?

Asylums (like "Bedlam") were used, often with poor conditions.

Who promoted more humane treatment in the 19th century?

Philippe Pinel promoted humane treatment despite later prejudice.

Name three 20th-century developments in mental health.

Freud’s psychoanalysis, Kraepelin’s classification system, and the introduction of psychiatric medications (1950s) and lobotomy.

What are recent trends in mental health care?

Deinstitutionalization, rise of Mad Pride activism, and more specialized treatments.

Is therapy generally effective compared to no therapy?

Yes—therapy is better than no therapy.

Why are placebo effects important in therapy research?

Because some improvement may come from expectations rather than specific techniques.

What are "common factors" in therapy?

Client characteristics plus the therapeutic relationship that contribute to improvement.

Why is the client-therapist relationship important?

Trust and empathy in the relationship strongly influence therapy outcomes.

What features matter in the first therapy meeting?

Establishing trust, showing empathy, and forming a safe connection.

List core empathy skills for therapists.

Warmth, active listening, non-verbal cues, restating, and naming emotions.

What is the Biological perspective on mental illness?

Mental disorders involve brain chemistry, neurotransmitters, and hormones.

What is the Psychodynamic perspective?

Problems arise from unconscious conflicts and early trauma (id/ego/superego concepts).

What is the Behavioural perspective?

Mental problems result from faulty learning like classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and modeling.

What is a behavioural therapy technique for anxiety?

Systematic desensitization (gradual exposure combined with relaxation).

What is the Cognitive perspective?

Mental illness comes from distorted thinking

Give an example of a cognitive distortion.

Overgeneralization (drawing broad negative conclusions from a single event).

Who are two founders associated with cognitive ideas?

Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck.

What is the Humanistic perspective?

Focus on self-actualization and positive human potential (Maslow, Rogers).

What therapy is associated with Rogers?

Client-centered therapy using unconditional positive regard.

What is the Humanist view of people?

Generally positive—people strive toward growth and self-actualization.

What does the Sociocultural perspective emphasize?

The influence of family, friends, culture, social identity, and social conditions on mental health.

How can childhood maltreatment affect mental health according to sociocultural views?

It increases risk for later mental health problems.

What therapy formats reflect sociocultural approaches?

Group therapy, family therapy, and couples therapy.

What are macro-social influences on mental health?

Social identification within groups and social connection or isolation.

What is the purpose of clinical assessment?

To evaluate symptoms, plan treatment, and monitor progress.

What makes a good assessment tool?

It should be standardized, normed, reliable, and valid.

What is a clinical interview and its limitation?

A conversation (structured or unstructured) to gather info

What are projective tests and a key limitation?

Tests like the Rorschach that aim to reveal unconscious material

What are personality inventories and a potential problem?

Standardized tests like the MMPI

What are neurological/neuropsychological tests used for?

Assessing brain function with tools like fMRI and tests of memory and attention.

What is naturalistic observation and its limitation?

Watching behavior in real settings

What does DSM-5 (and DSM-5-TR) provide?

Diagnostic criteria, symptoms, cultural/gender trends, prevalence, and course for 500+ disorders.

How does DSM present diagnostic information?

Both categorically (disorder yes/no) and dimensionally (severity levels).

Name two criticisms of DSM-style classification.

It can be culturally biased and can pathologize normal behavior.