Clinical Psychology - Alternatives to the Current Model

Overview

• Recap on diagnosis
• Socio-political aspects of mental health
• Role of clinical psychology
• Solutions

The Medical Model of Mental Health

• Presents mental illness as a physical problem similar to conditions like cancer or diabetes.
• Utilizes medicalized language: terms include symptoms, disorders, illness, and treatment.
• Medicalized practice includes diagnosis, hospitalisation, and medication.
• Engages in medical research focused on genetic and biological 'causes.'
• Conditions like neurotransmitter imbalances, brain structure anomalies, and bacterial/viral infections are often regarded as causes of mental 'illness.'
• Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interpreted as symptoms of underlying physical ailments.

Diagnosis Methodologies

• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
  • Currently in its fifth edition (revised).
  • Lists over 400 mental health disorders and their symptoms to assist in diagnosis.
  • Estimated revenue of $100 million from DSM-IV by APA (Greenberg, 2012).
• International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
  • Currently in version 11, addresses all medical diseases with mental health as a chapter.
  • Differences in diagnostic criteria exist between the DSM and ICD.