PSYC 2490 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Mental Disorder, Mania, Disability Insurance
19 Jun 2018
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DIAGNOSIS AND SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
Chapter 3 – Classification and Diagnosis
In Chapter 3 (Dozois textbook) you are only required to read p 49-52 including the
sections on
Why do we need a classification system for mental disorders
The perfect diagnostic system
Characteristics of strong diagnostic systems
The history of classification of mental disorders
Classification is essential to science. In biology, we need to divide the world into different
species in order to study and understand them. That doesn’t mean different categories
are completely different. Dogs and cats are clearly different species that mate and
reproduce separately, but overall they are more biologically alike than different (e.g.,
they are both mammals).
A diagnosis is simply a form of classification. In medicine and health care we use
diagnosis to differentiate disorders that may have different causes, prognosis, and
treatment. Diagnostic categories may overlap in that some symptoms may be common
to many diseases (e.g., think of all the medical diseases that might have a simple cough
as a symptom).
WHY DO WE DIAGNOSE MENTAL DISORDERS?
The first step to treating a problem as a health care professional is to decide to give it a
diagnosis. There has always been some controversy around diagnosis, as we are
labelling people (and labelling certainly has dangers).
Is it important to diagnose an emotional problem, a psychological or psychiatric problem,
or a mental disorder (these terms are used interchangeably)? The reasons to do so are:
1. To create a common set of concepts such that professionals can communicate
with one another.
2. To consider if intervention is required. Sometimes it is not. For example, a person
might act depressed two weeks after the death of their spouse, but this is normal
grief and likely not depression. Grief is a normal emotional state when one has
lost someone with whom one had a close attachment. Grief is not considered to
be a mental disorder unless it is excessively prolonged and probably is best not
treated in the early stages (the first few months of bereavement) as this can
undermine the person’s own coping mechanisms. So diagnosis also tells us to
consider some behaviours as normal and not to treat them.
3. To match an effective treatment to the disorder. Psychologists use different
treatment approaches for different disorders. Even cognitive-behavioural
treatments may vary for depression, general anxiety (worry), obsessive-
compulsive disorder, personality disorders, etc. Similarly, a psychiatrist may
prescribe different medications for different disorders.
4. To ensure the safety of the individual or others by assessing whether there are
suicidal tendencies or violent tendencies and to determine if the individual needs
to be hospitalized.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
In chapter 3 (dozois textbook) you are only required to read p 49-52 including the sections on. Why do we need a classification system for mental disorders. In biology, we need to divide the world into different species in order to study and understand them. That doesn"t mean different categories are completely different. Dogs and cats are clearly different species that mate and reproduce separately, but overall they are more biologically alike than different (e. g. , they are both mammals). A diagnosis is simply a form of classification. In medicine and health care we use diagnosis to differentiate disorders that may have different causes, prognosis, and treatment. Diagnostic categories may overlap in that some symptoms may be common to many diseases (e. g. , think of all the medical diseases that might have a simple cough as a symptom). The first step to treating a problem as a health care professional is to decide to give it a diagnosis.
