Clinical Psychology Overview - PSYC 2020

PSYC 2020 Notes

• Historical background of psychology includes research, assessment, and diagnosis of mental health and related disorders. DSM-5-TR is a key reference for mental illness.

Clinical Psychology

• Clinical Psychology focuses on researching, diagnosing, and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral issues.
• Psychological Disorders are associated with distress and impairment in functioning, not considered typical or culturally expected responses.
• Psychological Dysfunction is a breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning that can vary in intensity.
• Diagnosis is important for increased access to support and services.

Clinical Psychologist Career

• Clinical Psychologist careers typically include a PhD in Clinical Psychology, or sometimes PsyD; followed by 6-7 years of graduate school, supervised practice.
• Controlled acts in Clinical Psychology include diagnosis and psychotherapy.
• Scientist-practitioners in clinical psychology maintain expertise in the field and conduct research.

Presenting Problems

• Presenting problems are the ways a diagnosis or challenge is evident in a patient's daily life.
• Diagnosis is not the only concern. The way the problem manifests in the patient's daily life is important.

Disorder Statistics

• Lifetime prevalence is the frequency of a disorder in a population over a lifetime.
• Incidence refers to the number of new cases within a specific period.
• Sex ratio is the comparison of males and females experiencing the disorder.

Section 1: Historical Context of Psychopathology

• Supernatural Tradition, historically believed that psychological disorders were due to people being possessed.
• Treatment in the middle ages and before, included rest, sleep, and other natural measures. Some were more invasive and painful.
• Astrology had influence in the Middle Ages and before—it was believed the position of the stars affected psychological functioning.
• Biological Tradition, linked functioning to four bodily fluids (humors); Hippocrates suggested that psychological disorders were treatable like other diseases.
• Treatment in biology tradition included rest, sleep, baths, and other similar therapies.

Section 2: Freud and Breuer

• Psychanalytic Model is a model of the mind's structure with three components: id, ego, superego, and defence mechanisms.
• Defense mechanisms come into play when there is conflict between the id and superego.
• Psychosexual development is a theory about how conflicts arise from seeking pleasure during the different stages.

Section 3 - Biopsychosocial Model

• Emphasizes the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.
• Bio factors are genetic predispositions and brain structure.
• Psych factors include thoughts, beliefs and behaviors.
• Social factors include culture, family and relationships.

Section 4- Research Basics

• Hypothesis is an educated guess.
• Research design specifies how to perform a test of the hypothesis.
• Independent variable is the factor that influences; Dependent variable is influenced by the other.
• Validity: the internal validity assesses whether the independent variable is causing the change in the dependent variable. The external validity assesses if findings can be generalized to an outside setting or group.

Section 5 - Research Basics 2

• The methods to study genetic influences—different types of research, such as twin, and adoption studies.
• Genotype is the genetic makeup, and Phenotype is the observable traits and behaviors.

Section 6- Clinical Assessment

• Assessment is a systematic evaluation to measure different factors including biological, psychological and social issues.
• Techniques for gathering information for assessment (e.g. interviews, questionnaires) and evaluating tools for reliability and validity.

Section 7 - Comprehensive Assessment

• Cognitive assessment focuses on thinking, problem-solving, and working memory.
• Academic assessment measures abilities in reading, writing, and math.
• Diagnostic interviews are used for classifying disorders.
• Questionnaires and inventories are used in assessment.

Section 8 - Clinical Diagnosis

• DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is the reference manual for diagnosis in North America.
• ICD-11 is the international standard for diagnosis.
• Screening is the initial process for identifying disorders.

Section 9 - Anxiety and Panic Disorders

• Anxiety is a feeling of worry and apprehension about the future, often accompanied by physical symptoms; vs Fear, which is a reaction to immediate danger.
• Different types of anxiety disorders—generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorders.
• Etiology—biological and social factors contribute to the development of anxiety disorders.

Section 10 - Obsessive-Compulsive and Eating Disorders

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - Intrusive thoughts and compulsions.
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)- preoccupation with perceived or imagined physical flaws.
• Hoarding disorder - Difficulty discarding possessions.

Subsection 1: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

• The different types of obsessions, compulsions and traits—the way they appear in each type of OCD.
• Diagnosis—DSM criteria and types of OCD.