Palestine Polytechnic University - Clinical Psychology Lecture Notes PDF

Palestine polytechnic university – PPU Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Course Name: Clinical Psychology \ 2-year Medical students Lecture 2: Mental Health & Mental Illness Fall Semester 2024\2025 Lecturer: Dr.Abed Alkareem Asherah, Clinical Psychology, PhD  Mental Healt...

Palestine polytechnic university – PPU Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Course Name: Clinical Psychology \ 2-year Medical students Lecture 2: Mental Health & Mental Illness Fall Semester 2024\2025 Lecturer: Dr.Abed Alkareem Asherah, Clinical Psychology, PhD  Mental Health Several theorists have attempted to define the concept of mental health. Many of these concepts deal with various aspects of individual functioning. Maslow (1970) emphasized an individual’s motivation in the continuous quest for self-actualization. He identified a “hierarchy of needs,” the lower ones requiring fulfillment before those at higher levels can be achieved, with self- actualization being the fulfillment of one’s highest potential. o An individual’s position within the hierarchy may reverse from a higher level to a lower level based on life circumstances. For example, an individual facing major surgery who has been working on tasks to achieve self-actualization may become preoccupied, if only temporarily, with the need for physiological safety. Maslow described self-actualization as being “psychologically healthy, fully human, highly evolved, and fully mature.” Why mental wellbeing is important o Mental well-being is one of our most valuable assets. o Like any health condition, mental health problems can affect a person’s functioning at work and present substantial costs to workplaces. o Workplaces can actively build resilience and nurture mental well-being. o Workplaces that prioritize mental well-being have better engagement, reduced absenteeism, higher productivity, and competitiveness. What is mental health? “A state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to her or his community.” World Health Organization (2014)  Definition Robinson (1983) has offered the following definition of mental health: a dynamic state in which thought, feeling and behavior that is age-appropriate and congruent with the local and cultural norms is demonstrated. Thus, mental health is viewed as (the successful adaptation). to stressors from the internal or external environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are age-appropriate and congruent with local and cultural norms.”  What is mental wellbeing? It is more than the absence of mental illness and it is more than feeling happy. It is the ability to cope with the day-to-day stresses of life, work productively, interact positively with others, and realize our own potential.  indication for Mental Health An appropriate perception of reality. The ability to accept oneself, others, and human nature. The ability to manifest spontaneity. The capacity for focusing concentration on problem solving. A need for detachment and desire for privacy. Independence, autonomy. An intensity of emotional reaction.  Cont.,, An identification with humankind (gender). The ability to achieve satisfactory interpersonal relationships. A democratic character structure and strong sense of ethics. Creativeness. Mental illness “Same world, different view” Characteristics of poor mental health Do not share feelings “You” messages (blame and escalate) Emotions control behaviors Aggressive and passive Is pessimistic (negative) Depressed Ignores/denies problems Runs from conflict Can not accept change Close-minded Let stress control life Needs to “run” the group What is a mental illness? Patterns of thinking & emotions or behavior, that cause a person significant pain or prevent normal functioning. Illness: a disease or period of sickness affecting the body or mind.  Definition The American Psychiatric Association (APA,2013), in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), defines mental disorder as: a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognitions, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, and developmental processes underlying mental functioning. Cont.,, in keeping with the framework of stress/adaptation, mental illness will be characterized as “maladaptive responses to stressors from the internal or external environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are incongruent with the local and cultural norms, and that interfere with the individual’s social, occupational, and/or physical functioning.”  Psychological Adaptation to Stress All individuals exhibit some characteristics associated with both mental health and mental illness at any given point in time. an individual’s response to stressful situations is influenced by: ✔ his or her personal perception of the event. ✔ and a variety of predisposing factors, such as heredity. ✔ temperament. ✔ learned response patterns. ✔ Developmental maturity. ✔ existing coping strategies. ✔ support systems of caring others. Cont., Anxiety and grief have been described as two major, primary psychological response patterns to stress. A variety of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are associated with each of these response patterns. Adaptation is determined by the degree to which the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interfere with an individual’s functioning. Adaptation: the process of managing taxing circumstances, expending effort to solve personal and interpersonal problems, and seeking to master, minimize, reduce, or tolerate stress or conflict.  Mental illness can occur when the brain (or part of the brain) is not working well or is working in the wrong way.  When the brain is not working properly, one or more of its 6 functions will be disrupted Behavior Thinking Perception Physical Emotion Signaling  Symptoms can include Thinking Extreme Sleep problems difficulties or emotional problems highs and lows focusing attention  When these symptoms significantly disrupt a person’s life, we say that the person has a mental disorder or a mental illness. There is a chemical imbalance in the brain of a person with a mental illness. General Causes of Mental Illnesses Inherited traits. Negative life experiences (traumatic). Environmental exposures before birth. Viruses, toxins, alcohol, or drugs Brain chemistry. Hormonal imbalances  the causes of mental illness are COMPLICATED!! + → Genetics Environment Brain Disorder  Many mental illnesses begin during childhood and persist into adolescence. Some of these include: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). MD, Disruptive mood disorder (Depression). BUT… some illnesses begin during adolescence. The illnesses that most often begin during adolescence include: Major Depression (MD). Schizophrenia. Bipolar Disorder (BD). Panic disorder. Social Anxiety Disorder. Eating Disorders. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Addictions. What do we know about people with mental illnesses? Diagnosis Most people with mental disorders live productive and positive lives while receiving treatments for their mental illness. Some people have severe and persistent mental disorders which respond poorly to current treatments (as in all other illnesses) Mental illness does not respect any boundaries of race, class or geography. The majority of people have a friend, acquaintance or family member who has or Mental health problems can be treated! If you feel VERY sad, stressed or worried, it might help to talk to someone about how you are feeling. Do you ever… Often feel very angry or very worried? Do reckless things that could harm you or others? Feel grief for a long time after a loss or a death? Think your mind is controlled or out of control? Use alcohol or drugs? Exercise, diet, and/or binge-eat obsessively? Hurt other people or destroy property? If you feel any of these things, it might help to talk to a parent, teacher, school counselor or physician.  Anxiety Fears of the unknown and conditions of ambiguity offer a perfect breeding ground for anxiety. Low levels of anxiety are adaptive and can provide the motivation required for survival. Anxiety becomes problematic when the individual is unable to prevent the anxiety from escalating to a level that interferes with the ability to meet basic needs. Peplau (1963) described four levels of anxiety: mild, moderate, severe, and panic. Health professionals need to be able to recognize the symptoms associated with each level to plan for appropriate intervention with anxious individuals.  Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder (OCD) An uncontrollable need to perform repetitive acts; compulsions are urgent, repeated rituals. The person may not lead a normal life because compulsions become so repetitive.  Schizophrenia A condition of losing touch with reality accompanied by reduced ability to function.: Split Mind. -loses the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality. -signs of tissue shrinkage in the brain. -Some individuals inherit the potential of developing schizophrenia. -Early psychological trauma: Violence, sexual abuse, death, divorce, separation, or other stressors of childhood.  Multiple Personality Disorder (Dissociative Identity Disorder) Two or more separate identities or personality traits Ability to control an individual’s behavior and thinking. Create alters to distance themselves from pain and trauma.  Phobia An extreme, irrational fear of an object or situation.  Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Combination of problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. ADD \ HD Often diagnosed before the age of 7, the typical age. As early as 2 or 3 years old. Chronic interference in more than 1 set. Home life, school work, sports/activities. Signs & Symptoms Inattentive Hyperactive/Impulsive Fails to pay close attention Fidgets or squirms frequently to details Often leaves seat Make careless mistakes Always seems on the go Trouble keeping attention Talks excessively or blurts out answers Difficulty following through on instructions Difficulty waiting turn Problems organizing tasks or activities Interrupts conversations  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) A mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.  Self-Harm The act of attempting to alter a mood state by inflicting physical harm that is serious enough to cause tissue damage to one’s body Common Behaviors Bruising or hitting Cutting Biting Burning Picking of skin Head-banging Pulling of hair Carving Bone-breaking Scratching  Depression | mood disorder Emotional disorders primarily involve sadness, dependency, and depression. hopelessness, inability to feel pleasure or to take interest. Needs medical attention.  Depression Symptoms Withdrawal from family and friends. Drop in grades. Change in eating & sleeping patterns. Large weight gain or loss ((5% per month) Unresolved grief over a loss. Substance use. Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions irritability or angry outburst.  Bipolar Disorder (Mania – Hypomania) Depressive+ hypomania Symptoms: BD 2 Manic Symptoms | BD 1 Loss of energy. Severe changes in mood. Feelings of Increased energy. worthlessness. Decreased need for sleep. Difficulty concentrating Increased talking (too fast or too much). Insomnia. Disregard risk. Loss of interest. Overly-inflated self-esteem. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.  Addiction A physical or psychological craving need for higher and higher doses of a substance that leads to bodily harm, social maladjustment, or economic hardship; dependence on a substance, habit, or behavior.