PSYC 1030H Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Streptococcal Pharyngitis, Major Depressive Disorder, Problem Gambling

• School: Trent University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1030H
• Professor: Parker James

Document Summary

A topi(cid:272) like this (cid:272)a(cid:374) (cid:271)e (cid:448)e(cid:396)(cid:455) (cid:862)fuzz(cid:455)(cid:863) Widely held beliefs and standards for acceptable behavior: e. g. , anti-social personality disorder. Acute change from previous level of functioning: e. g. , depressive disorders, anxiety disorders. Impairs the ability to function in important areas of life: relationships, family, work, education, e. g. , pathological gambling. Surprising or out-of-proportion responses to environmental stressors can be considered abnormal: e. g. , an anxiety disorder, may be diagnosed when the anxiety is unexpected and out of proportion to the situation. Dangers of looking at symptoms in isolation: (without criteria) Risk of o(cid:448)e(cid:396)esti(cid:373)ati(cid:374)g a(cid:373)ou(cid:374)t of (cid:373)e(cid:374)tal ill(cid:374)ess (cid:894)(cid:862)pathologizi(cid:374)g(cid:863) normal behavior) Benefits of classification: cornerstone of clinical care and treatment, facilitates communication among professionals, advances research on causes and treatments. Diagnostic terms (increasing levels of understanding about pathology and causes: symptom (no implied pathology, observable behavior or state. Yet diagnostic system is based on a medical model. Risks: medicalization + overmedication of life experiences and social problems.