Classifying Psychological Disorders

5.3.A: Describe the approaches used to define behaviors and mental processes as psychological disorders.
5.3.B: Explain how psychological perspectives define psychological disorders.
5.3.C: Explain how interaction models define psychological disorders.

Understanding psychological disorders involves multiple factors:
- Level of Dysfunction: The degree to which behavior interferes with daily functioning.
  - Example: Inability to maintain employment due to severe anxiety.
- Perception of Distress: An individual’s experience of emotional or psychological pain.
  - Example: Feeling persistent sadness or hopelessness.
- Deviation from Social Norms: Behavior that deviates significantly from societal expectations.
  - Example: Extreme aggression or withdrawal from social interactions.
These factors help clinicians assess and diagnose psychological disorders comprehensively.

Diagnosing psychological disorders has both positive and negative consequences.
- Positive Consequences:
  - Access to appropriate treatment and support.
    - Example: Receiving medication and therapy for depression.
- Negative Consequences:
  - Potential for stigma and discrimination.
    - Example: Being labeled and treated differently by others.
  - This can affect self-esteem and social interactions.
Cultural/Societal Norms: Influence the perception and treatment of psychological disorders.
- Example: Different cultures have varying views on mental health.
- Highlights the need for culturally sensitive diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnosing psychological disorders requires specialized tools and training.
- Example: Psychologists and psychiatrists undergo years of study and supervised practice.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM):
- Developed by the American Psychiatric Association to classify mental disorders.
- DSM-5 is the latest edition; it provides standardized criteria for diagnosis.
International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD):
- Developed by the World Health Organization.
Both the DSM and ICD are updated based on new research; this helps ensure relevance and accuracy in diagnosis.
Most psychologists use an eclectic approach to diagnose and treat clients.
- The eclectic approach combines multiple psychological perspectives.
- Example: Integrating different forms of therapy and/or psychopharmacology.

The behavioral perspective focuses on learned associations as causes of mental disorders.
- Focus: Maladaptive learned associations between stimuli and responses.
  - Example: Phobias developed through classical conditioning.
- Understanding this perspective helps in developing behavioral interventions for treatment.
The psychodynamic perspective emphasizes unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences.
- Focus: Unconscious thoughts and experiences, often from childhood.
  - Example: Repressed memories influencing adult behavior.
- This perspective informs therapeutic techniques like psychoanalysis to uncover and address unconscious issues.

The humanistic perspective focuses on social support and fulfilling one’s potential.
- Focus: Lack of social support and inability to fulfill potential.
  - Example: Feeling isolated and unfulfilled leading to depression.
- Humanistic therapy aims to provide support and help individuals achieve self-actualization.
The cognitive perspective focuses on maladaptive thoughts and beliefs.
- Focus: Maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or emotions.
  - Example: Negative self-talk leading to anxiety and depression.
- Cognitive therapy helps individuals identify and change harmful thought patterns.
- Note: Research has shown that cognitive therapies have the highest treatment rates (although all therapies can be enhanced through psychopharmacology).

The evolutionary perspective examines behaviors that impact survival.
- Focus: Behaviors and mental processes that reduce survival likelihood.
  - Example: Fear responses that may be excessive in modern contexts.
- This perspective helps understand why certain behaviors persist and how they can be managed.
The sociocultural perspective focuses on social and cultural influences on mental health.
- Focus: Maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics.
  - Example: Cultural stigma around mental illness affecting treatment-seeking behavior.
- Understanding sociocultural factors is crucial for culturally sensitive diagnosis and treatment.

The biological perspective examines physiological and genetic causes of mental disorders.
- Example: Neurotransmitter imbalances leading to depression.
- Biological treatments include medication and other medical interventions.
The biopsychosocial model integrates multiple factors in understanding psychological problems.
- It assumes psychological problems involve a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
  - Example: Depression influenced by genetic predisposition, negative thinking patterns, and social isolation.
- This model highlights the need for multi-factorial approaches to mental health.

The diathesis-stress model explains how genetic vulnerability and stress contribute to psychological disorders.
- Psychological disorders develop due to a genetic vulnerability (diathesis) combined with stressful life experiences (stress).
  - Example: A person with a genetic predisposition for anxiety developing the disorder after a traumatic event.
- It emphasizes the interaction between genetics and environment.
- This model helps in identifying risk factors and potential interventions for mental disorders.Examining behaviours that impact survival. Focuses on behaviours and mental processes that reduce survival likelihood. Example. Fear responses that may be excessive.