Psychiatric Disorders Classification (ps2008- week 2)

Classification of Disorders

• Diagnosis relies on two biological models: organic (underlying cause) and functional (no single cause).
• Medical and psychiatric diagnoses are guided by symptoms and signs.
• Researchers haven't found definitive signs to confirm or deny functional psychiatric disorders.
• The DSM and ICD rely on subjective symptoms, not directly related to bodily function.
• Emil Kraepelin proposed treating mental illnesses like physical illnesses.
• The World Health Organization included psychological disorders in 1939.
• The DSM (1952) is influenced by psychodynamic theory and focuses on functional diagnoses.
• Diagnosing quickly and easily is beneficial for patients and research.
• However, overlapping symptoms in disorders can lead to misdiagnosis.
• Reliability issues exist in diagnoses, as different doctors might diagnose the same patient differently.
• Validity is a concern; diagnosis doesn't always identify the cause or effective treatment for a disorder.
• Disorders aren't always distinct (e.g., schizophrenia and bipolar).
• Patients with the same diagnosis can exhibit vastly different characteristics.
• The thresholds for diagnosis may be too low, leading to overdiagnosis.

Classification System Criticisms

• Diagnosis is based on symptoms, not causes.
• Clinical judgment relies on observation vulnerable to bias.
• Disorders are often conceptualized as discrete entities, but may exist on a continuum.
• Diagnoses may oversimplify complex problems resulting in non-distinct issues.
• The DSM-5 is criticized for potential biases and influence from pharmaceutical companies.
• The DSM-5 prioritizes biological interventions, neglecting psychosocial/cultural factors.
• The DSM-5 process is criticized for not having external reviews, unrealistic timelines, and a lack of theoretical grounding.

Alternatives to Diagnosis

• Focus on patient symptoms to guide treatments.
• Develop personalized case formulations to understand causes of symptoms and tailor interventions.

Methods of Assessment

• Clinical Interviews: Flexible, good for rapport, but may be susceptible to bias or misleading information.
• Structured Interviews: Systematic, high inter-rater reliability (e.g., SCID), but rigid.
• Psychological Tests: Personality inventories, projective tests, intelligence tests, neurologically based assessments.
• Clinical Observation: Observation and self-observation. Key is rapport, awareness, and insight.

Formulation

• Formulation-based approaches tailor treatments to specific individuals.
• Manual-based approaches use pre-made treatments, sometimes altered to suit the client.
• Formulation involves identifying the problems, underlying mechanisms, and related factors (predisposing, precipitating, perpetuating, protective).
• Techniques and strategies for treatment plans are formulated, including resources and priorities.

Clinical Practice & Key Principles

• Clinical psychologists help people understand thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• Key principles include reflective practice, self-directed approach, and awareness of bias and ethical issues.
• The scientist-practitioner model is essential for applied psychologists.
• The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) sets standards of conduct and performance for professionals.
• Ethical awareness is necessary for ethical clinical practice.

Explore the complexities of psychiatric disorder classification and diagnosis. This quiz covers the biological models used, the evolution of diagnostic tools like DSM and ICD, and issues surrounding the reliability and validity of psychiatric diagnoses. Test your understanding of how symptoms, signs, and theories influence the classification of mental illnesses.