W2 Models of Psychopathology

Clinical assessment

the systematic evaluation and measurement of psychological, biological and social factors in an individual presenting with a possible psychological disorder

Diagnosis

the process of determinining whether the particular problem afflecting meets all critieria for a psychological disorder

Nomothetic

general principles that apply across people to understand broad patterns in psychopathology

Idiographic formulation

detailed, individualised understanding of a person’s unique psychological difficulties

Psychodynamic model

an approach emphasising unconscious processes, early experiences and internal conflicts as causes of psychological symptoms

Neo-Kraepelinian approach

a modern diagnostic approach that emphasises categorical diagnoses, reliability and biological underpinnings

Organic disease model

the view that mental disorders arise from identifiable biological or physiological abnormalities

Atheoretical

not based on any specific theory or model; neutral regarding causes

Multiaxial system

a diagnostic system that assesses individuals on multiple domains or axes (used in DSM-IV)

Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP)

dimensional model of psychopathology organised into spectra, subfactors and symptom components

Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)

framework for research on mental disorders that focuses on dimensions of behavioural and psychological functioning, and neural circuits

Positive valence system

RDoC domain involving motivation, reward responsiveness and approach-related processes

Reliability

consistency of a measurement or diagnostic judgement

Test-retest reliability

stability of a measure or diagnosis when administered to the same person at different times

Validity

the extent to which a test measures what it intends to measure

Standardisation

the process by which a certain set of standards or norms is determined for a technique to make its use consistent across different measurements

Descriptive validity

how well a diagnosis or measure accurately describes symptoms or behaviours

Predictive validity

how well a diagnosis or measure predicts future outcomes or behaviour

Clinical interview

a structured conversation used to assess psychological problems, history and functioning

Mental status exam

systematic observation and assessment of a patient’s appearance, behaviour, thought processes, mood and cognition

Delusions of persecution

false beliefs that one is being targeted, harmed or plotted against

Delusions of grandeur

false beliefs of having exceptional abilities, power, fame or importance

Ideas of reference

belief that unrelated events or external stimuli have special personal significance

Affect

observable expression of emotion

Sensorium

awareness of surroundings, including orientation to person, place and time

Semi-structured clinical interviews

interviews using a predefined set of questions with flexibility to explore responses

Interview schedule

the list or structure of questions guiding a clinical interview

Idiographic strategy

approach focusing on understanding the individual in depth

Nomothetic strategy

approach focusing on identifying general principles or categories that apply across individuals

Classification

the process of grouping psychological symptoms or disorders based on shared features

Taxonomy

the scientific system of classification for psychological or biological phenomena

MMPI

a standardised personality test used to assess psychological functioning and psychopathology

Nosology

classification of diseases or disorders within a system

Nomenclature

the naming system used within a classification framework

Categorical approach

diagnostic method where disorders are treated as distinct, separate categories

Dimensional approach

diagnostic method treating symptoms or traits as existing along a continuum

Prototypical approach

diagnostic method defining disorders by a set of core characteristics, with individual variation allowed

Familial aggregation

the extent to which a disorder appears more frequently in family members than expected by chance

Criterion validity

how well a measure correlates with an external standard or criterion

Content validity

how well a test covers all relevant aspects of the construct being measured

Schizoid personality disorder

a personality disorder marked by detachment from social relationships and restricted emotional expression

Cultural formulation

assessment of how cultural factors influence an individual’s symptoms, experience and presentation

PMDD

severe form of premenstrual syndrome characterised by significant mood and physical symptoms

Syndrome

a cluster of symptoms that tend to occur together and represent a specific condition or disorder