(1) 5.3 Intro to Psychological Disorders

Psychological Disorder

A disturbance in people’s thoughts, emotions, or behavior that causes distress or suffering and impairs their daily lives.

4 D's of Mental Disorders

Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, Danger; criteria used to define mental disorders.

Deviance

A characteristic of mental disorders that indicates deviation from the norm, being different, extreme, or unusual.

Distress

Unpleasant and upsetting feelings experienced by a person with a disorder.

Dysfunction

Interference in a person's daily life due to mental disorders.

Danger

The risk posed by a mental disorder to the individual or others.

Medical Model

The approach that psychological disorders have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and cured through medical treatment.

Diathesis-stress Model

A theory suggesting that genetic predisposition combines with environmental stressors to influence psychological disorders.

Biopsychosocial Approach

The perspective that psychological disorders result from the interaction of biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors.

DSM-5-TR

The widely used system for classifying psychological disorders that includes diagnostic criteria and codes.

David Rosenhan Study

A 1973 experiment analyzing labeling by admitting healthy subjects to psychiatric hospitals under the pretense of hallucinations.

Advantages of Labels

Facilitate communication about cases, help understand underlying causes, and aid in discerning effective treatment.

Disadvantages of Labels

Can bias perceptions and alter reality regarding the individual with the disorder.