Lecture on Psychopathology and Mental Health

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture notes about psychopathology, mental health, and the evolution of diagnosis and treatment.

What are the three layers of the mind according to Freud?

Conscious, preconscious, and unconscious.

What is the difference between the preconscious and unconscious mind?

The preconscious can easily be accessed and brought to awareness, while the unconscious holds drives and desires that are inaccessible.

What does the id represent in Freud's theory?

The id is part of the unconscious mind that governs desire and impulse without regard for reality.

How is personality described in Freud's model?

Personality is dynamic and develops through early childhood experiences and psychosexual stages.

According to the biomedical model, how is psychopathology understood?

Psychopathology is seen as a medical condition that can be understood in terms of biological abnormalities.

What does the term psychopathology encompass?

The study of abnormal states of mind, including definitions and categorizations of mental health difficulties.

What are the two types of psychopathology mentioned in the lecture?

Descriptive psychopathology and experimental psychopathology.

How does the DSM categorize depression?

The DSM includes various depressive disorders defined by specific criteria that a person must meet to be diagnosed.

What is the PHQ-9 used for in mental health?

The PHQ-9 is a patient health questionnaire used to assess the severity of depression.

What is a significant limitation of the current understanding of anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders often overlap with depression, making distinct diagnosis challenging.

What historical perspective influenced the understanding of madness and mental health?

The view that madness could be understood through medical rather than supernatural explanations, as proposed by Hippocrates.

What is the primary critique of the biomedical model in understanding mental health?

It tends to reduce complex mental and emotional phenomena to biological bases, ignoring social and environmental factors.

What does 'maladaptiveness' refer to in the context of mental health?

Behavior or experiences that significantly interfere with a person's life and functioning.

What is the key problem with the medicalization of mental illness?

It can lead to people being diagnosed based on social norms rather than objective criteria.

What role do cultural norms play in defining abnormality in psychology?

Cultural norms influence the understanding of what constitutes abnormal behavior and the criteria for diagnosis.

How has the classification of depression evolved over time?

It has shifted from historical notions of melancholia to various categorical classifications in modern diagnostic manuals.