Understanding Psychological Disorders: Classification and Diagnosis

  • Introduction to Psychological Disorders

    • Classification of psychological disorders aims to understand and categorize various mental health conditions.
    • Objective:
    • Describe the classification process for psychological disorders
    • Discuss effects of diagnosing individuals with psychological disorders

  • Distinction Between Abnormal Behavior and Psychological Disorder

    • Psychological Disorder:
    • Defined as a pattern of behavior that
      • causes distress to the individual or others,
      • leads to harm,
      • interferes with daily functioning.
    • Abnormal Behavior:
    • Subjectively defined behavior that deviates from societal norms.
    • Not all abnormal behavior indicates a psychological disorder; disorders require a significant disruption in daily life.

  • Classification of Psychological Disorders

    • The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV):

    • Created by psychologists to provide a structured approach for diagnosing psychological disorders.

    • Consists of five axes, where

      • Axis I and Axis II diagnose disorders,
      • Axes III to V provide supplemental personal information.

    • Axes Overview:

    • Axis I:

      • Most common psychological disorders, including:
      • Childhood disorders
      • Mood Disorders (e.g., depression)
      • Anxiety Disorders (e.g., PTSD)
      • Psychotic Disorders (e.g., schizophrenia)
      • Eating Disorders

    • Axis II:

      • Personality Disorders (e.g., antisocial personality, narcissistic personality)
      • Mental Retardation (intellectual disabilities)

    • Axis III:

      • General Medical Conditions (e.g., diabetes, arthritis) that affect mental health.

    • Axis IV:

      • Psychosocial and Environmental Problems, e.g.,
      • Stressful life events (loss of job, death of loved one)

    • Axis V:

      • Global Assessment of Functioning (0-100 scale)
      • 100 indicates superior functioning,
      • 10 indicates severe danger to self or others.

  • Myths About Psychological Disorders

    • Common myths:
    • Disorders are incurable (many manageable through treatment).
    • Individuals with disorders are inherently dangerous (violent tendencies often related to substance abuse).
    • All individuals with disorders exhibit visible odd behaviors (many lead normal lives).

  • Subjectivity in Diagnosis

    • Identification can be subjective, leading to varied interpretations.
    • David Rosenhan's Study:
    • Eight healthy individuals feigned hearing voices and were misdiagnosed.
    • Showed that context and diagnosis could warp perceptions of typical behavior.

  • Effects of Diagnosing Psychological Disorders

    • Understanding Labels:
    • Labels are descriptive identifiers, with potential positive or negative implications.
    • Consequences of Labeling:
    • Labels can lead to stigma, stereotypes, and discrimination.
    • Stigma creates shame or disgrace, affects personal identity, e.g.,
      • Using terms like "schizophrenic" reduces individual to illness rather than recognizing them as a person.
      • Leads to social isolation and self-fulfilling prophecies (e.g., beliefs in helplessness).
    • Benefits of Labeling:
    • Can provide clarity in diagnosis and treatment
    • Allows standardization in communication and understanding among mental health professionals.

  • Media Influence on Perceptions of Psychological Disorders

    • Media portrayals can reinforce stigma
    • Typically focus on violent behaviors linked to mental illness, skewing public perception.
    • Positive portrayals (e.g., "A Beautiful Mind") contrast negative portrayals (e.g., "Silence of the Lambs").

  • Conclusion

    • Understanding psychological disorders requires careful consideration of classification, myths, labels, and the pervasive influence of societal perceptions.
    • Diagnosing disorders has both benefits and ramifications, affecting both the individual and broader society.