PSYC.2720 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Mental Disorder, Differential Diagnosis
Document Summary
Why classify? to look for commonalities regarding course and outcome to help in the search for causes and risk factors to help in the search for effective treatments. Categorical vs dimensional: distinguishing between classification and diagnosis: description versus explanation, diagnosis in medicine is critical why, diagnosis in mental health is in fact classification: it offers no explanation and therefore no explicit guide to treatment. Limitations of diagnosis : mental disorders as constructs, with no tangible existence whose presence can be confirmed (szasz, no laboratory tests; opinion-based, stigma and negative stereotypes, altered perceptions and self-fulfilling prophecies, lost information, blaming the victim. The dsm concept of mental disorder : mental disorder as syndrome: multiple variations, causes unknown, treatment not specified, diagnosis based on observable signs and symptoms; no objective tests, exclusions: Cultural appropriateness and acceptance religious practices and beliefs. Judging dsm: reliability, validity, overlap and differential diagnosis, co-morbidity, variations within any one disorder, reification (avoid uppercase first letters, remember the naming fallacy.
