what is diagnosis and treatment of people with psychological disorders

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What should you do when you read about psychological disorders?

First, remember that psychological disorders represent extremes of inner experience and behavior. If, while reading about these disorders, you feel that these descriptions begin to personally characterize you, do not worry—this moment of enlightenment probably means nothing more than you are normal.

What is a psychological disorder?

It is important to remember that a psychological disorder is not what a person is; it is something that a person has —through no fault of his or her own. As is the case with cancer or diabetes, those with psychological disorders suffer debilitating, often painful conditions that are not of their own choosing.

What are mental health disorders and how are they treated?

Mental health disorders are patterns of symptoms — psychological, behavioral, or both — that cause distress and can have negative effects on your personal, social, or work life. Mental health disorders are characterized by issues regarding mood, thoughts, and behavior.

What can a doctor do to diagnose mental illness?

Your doctor will try to rule out physical problems that could cause your symptoms. Lab tests. These may include, for example, a check of your thyroid function or a screening for alcohol and drugs. A psychological evaluation. A doctor or mental health professional talks to you about your symptoms, thoughts, feelings and behavior patterns.

Who can diagnose and treat people with psychological disorders?

Psychiatrist, a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats mental illnesses. Psychotherapist, such as a psychologist or a licensed counselor.

What kind of treatment is best for people with psychological disorders?

Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is the therapeutic treatment of mental illness provided by a trained mental health professional. Psychotherapy explores thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and seeks to improve an individual's well-being. Psychotherapy paired with medication is the most effective way to promote recovery.

What is used to diagnose psychological disorders?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the handbook used by health care professionals in the United States and much of the world as the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders. DSM contains descriptions, symptoms and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders.

What deals with the study of diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders?

Thus from the above-mentioned points, it is clear that clinical psychology deals with the study, diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.

What is psychological treatment?

Psychological treatment is the specific purview of trained mental health professionals and incorporates diverse theories and techniques for producing healthy and adaptive change in an individual's actions, thoughts, and feelings.

What are the two main types of treatment for psychological disorders?

Two types of therapy are psychotherapy and biomedical therapy. Both types of treatment help people with psychological disorders, but use different methodologies.

What is diagnosis in psychology?

diagnosis (Dx) the process of identifying and determining the nature of a disease or disorder by its signs and symptoms, through the use of assessment techniques (e.g., tests and examinations) and other available evidence.

What is diagnostic test in psychology?

A psychological test is used to measure an individual's different abilities, such as their aptitude in a particular field, cognitive functions like memory and spatial recognition, or even traits like introvertedness. These tests are based on scientifically tested psychological theories.

How do psychologists diagnose a disorder and why are Diagnostics important?

What Do Psychological Diagnostic Tests Tell Psychologists? Psychological diagnostic testing helps in the diagnosis of mental disorders. The psychologist analyzes the scores the patient has obtained in the tests. If they think the patient may have a mental health issue, they consult other health professionals.

What is the meaning of psychological disorders?

The term psychological disorders is sometimes used to refer to what are more frequently known as mental disorders or psychiatric disorders. Mental disorders are patterns of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas of life. These disorders create distress for the person experiencing the symptoms.

What are the procedures and treatment techniques of psychological disorders?

Types of psychological treatmentAcceptance and commitment therapy. ... Cognitive analytic therapy. ... Cognitive behaviour therapy. ... Dialectical behaviour therapy. ... Family therapy. ... Group therapy. ... Interpersonal therapy. ... Mentalisation-based therapy.More items...

Why is diagnosis important in mental health?

An awareness of the benefits and drawbacks of receiving a mental health diagnosis is important to understand how best we can support people. For some, having a mental health diagnosis is helpful and can enable better understanding of themselves, their symptoms and treatment options.

What is the DSM-5?

The defining symptoms for each mental illness are detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association. This manual is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental conditions and by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.

What is brain stimulation?

Brain-stimulation treatments are sometimes used for depression and other mental health disorders. They're generally reserved for situations in which medications and psychotherapy haven't worked. They include electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation.

What is the difference between psychotherapy and talk therapy?

Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, involves talking about your condition and related issues with a mental health professional. During psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your moods, feelings, thoughts and behavior. With the insights and knowledge you gain, you can learn coping and stress management skills.

How long does it take to get psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy often can be successfully completed in a few months, but in some cases, long-term treatment may be needed. It can take place one-on-one, in a group or with family members.

What to do before a doctor appointment?

Before your appointment, make a list of: Any symptoms you or people close to you have noticed, and for how long. Key personal information, including traumatic events in your past and any current, major stressors. Your medical information, including other physical or mental health conditions.

What happens if you can't stop using drugs?

Problems with substance use commonly occur along with mental illness. Often it interferes with treatment and worsens mental illness. If you can't stop using drugs or alcohol on your own, you need treatment. Talk to your doctor about treatment options.

How to help someone with mental illness?

Learn about your mental illness. Your doctor or therapist can provide you with information or may recommend classes, books or websites. Include your family, too — this can help the people who care about you understand what you're going through and learn how they can help.

Why is the ICD used?

The ICD is used primarily for making clinical diagnoses and more broadly for examining the general health of populations and monitoring the international prevalence of diseases and other health problems. While the DSM is also used for diagnostic purposes, it is also highly valued as a research tool.

How has the DSM changed?

The DSM has changed considerably in the half-century since it was originally published. The first two editions of the DSM, for example, listed homosexuality as a disorder; however, in 1973, the APA voted to remove it from the manual (Silverstein, 2009). Additionally, beginning with the DSM-III in 1980, mental disorders have been described in much greater detail, and the number of diagnosable conditions has grown steadily, as has the size of the manual itself. DSM-I included 106 diagnoses and was 130 total pages, whereas DSM-III included more than 2 times as many diagnoses (265) and was nearly seven times its size (886 total pages) (Mayes & Horowitz, 2005). Although DSM-5 is longer than DSM-IV, the volume includes only 237 disorders, a decrease from the 297 disorders that were listed in DSM-IV. The latest edition, DSM-5, includes revisions in the organization and naming of categories and in the diagnostic criteria for various disorders (Regier, Kuhl, & Kupfer, 2012), while emphasizing careful consideration of the importance of gender and cultural difference in the expression of various symptoms (Fisher, 2010).

How to describe psychopathology?

By the end of this section, you will be able to: 1 Explain why classification systems are necessary in the study of psychopathology 2 Describe the basic features of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) 3 Discuss changes in the DSM over time, including criticisms of the current edition 4 Identify which disorders are generally the most common

What is the second classification system?

A second classification system, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), is also widely recognized. Published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the ICD was developed in Europe shortly after World War II and, like the DSM, has been revised several times. The categories of psychological disorders in both the DSM and ICD are similar, as are the criteria for specific disorders; however, some differences exist. Although the ICD is used for clinical purposes, this tool is also used to examine the general health of populations and to monitor the prevalence of diseases and other health problems internationally (WHO, 2013). The ICD is in its 10th edition (ICD-10); however, efforts are now underway to develop a new edition (ICD-11) that, in conjunction with the changes in DSM-5, will help harmonize the two classification systems as much as possible (APA, 2013).

Which is more important, the DSM or the ICD?

A study that compared the use of the two classification systems found that worldwide the ICD is more frequently used for clinical diagnosis, whereas the DSM is more valued for research (Mezzich, 2002). Most research findings concerning the etiology and treatment of psychological disorders are based on criteria set forth in the DSM (Oltmanns & Castonguay, 2013). The DSM also includes more explicit disorder criteria, along with an extensive and helpful explanatory text (Regier et al., 2012). The DSM is the classification system of choice among U.S. mental health professionals, and this chapter is based on the DSM paradigm.

What is the DSM?

The DSM is the classification system of choice among U.S. mental health professionals, and this chapter is based on the DSM paradigm.

How many DSM-5 are there?

The 5th and most recent edition, the DSM-5, was published in 2013. The diagnostic manual includes a total of 237 specific diagnosable disorders, each described in detail, including its symptoms, prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidity.

How long do psychotic disorders last?

There are different types of psychotic disorders, including: Schizophrenia: People with this illness have changes in behavior and other symptoms -- such as delusions and hallucinations -- that last longer than 6 months. It usually affects them at work or school, as well as their relationships.

How long do schizoaffective symptoms last?

Schizophreniform disorder: This includes symptoms of schizophrenia, but the symptoms last for a shorter time: between 1 and 6 months. Find out more on schizophreniform disorder symptoms to look for.

What type of therapy is used for a person with a psychotic disorder?

Psychotherapy: There are different types of counseling -- including individual, group, and family therapy – that can help someone who has a psychotic disorder. Most people with psychotic disorders are treated as outpatients, meaning they don’t live in institutions.

What is a psychotic disorder?

Psychotic disorders are a group of serious illnesses that affect the mind. They make it hard for someone to think clearly, make good judgments, respond emotionally, communicate effectively, understand reality, and behave appropriately. When symptoms are severe, people with psychotic disorders have trouble staying in touch with reality ...

What is the treatment for psychotic disorders?

Most psychotic disorders are treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy, which is a type of counseling. Medication: The main type of drug that doctors prescribe to treat psychotic disorders are “antipsychotics.”.

What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

Schizoaffective disorder: People have symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Learn more about the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder.

Why do doctors prescribe newer antipsychotics?

Doctors usually first prescribe the newer ones because they have fewer and more tolerable side effects than older antipsychotics.

What is psychoanalytic therapy?

The psychoanalytic approach to therapy, associated with Sigmund Freud, is commonly referenced in popular culture but is not widely practiced anymore. The more modern approaches covered in this lesson continue the emphasis on helping the client develop insight into emotions and interper-sonal patterns, but the therapist is much more active than a classical psychoanalyst and the treat-ment takes substantially less time.

What is bright light therapy?

Bright light therapy consists of sitting and work-ing or engaging in another activity near a box of bright, specially-designed fluorescent lights for a specified pe-riod each day. The mechanism by which this treatment works is not well understood. A rare but serious side effect is a hypomanic state. Originally thought to be useful primarily for depression with onset in the fall or winter, recent research suggests this treatment is useful for non-seasonal depression.

What is the effect of ECT on the brain?

When ECT was originally introduced, the approach was somewhat barbaric. An electrical current was passed through the brain resulting in convulsions. Today, an anes-thetic is administered prior to delivering the shock to make the client more relaxed and to reduce the severity of the convulsions. One of the side effects of this treatment is temporary memory loss of the time period immediately preceding the treatment. This treatment is used only as a last resort for patients who are severely depressed.

What age group is most likely to be prescribed psy-choactive medication?

The vast majority of studies of medication focus on the broad group of adults ages 19 or so through 55-60 or so, and most of the generalizable statements about treatment broadly apply to this group. Children/adolescents and older adults are less commonly included or addressed in treatment studies, yet developmental considerations are very important. Broad examples follow:Children and adolescents may be prescribed psy-choactive medications, although for many medications the potential impact on the developing brain has not been established. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have developed practice guidelines to help physicians reach treatment deci-sions about children and teens. These guidelines also reference psychological interventions when they are preferred. Unfortunately for physicians, the two organi-zations’ guidelines aren’t always in agreement. For ex-ample, the current (2016) AAP guidelines for the treat-ment of ADHD include the recommendation that the first-line intervention for children under six should be evidence-based  behavioral treatment. The current AA-CAP guidelines are not as clear.

What is the best medication for anxiety?

the best-known medication from this class is Prozac (fluoxetine). SSRIs are widely used because they are reasonably effective in treatment of depression and side effects are not as severe as they are with the MAOIs and TCAs. SSRIs also are used to treat panic disorders (Hol-lander & Simeon, 2003) and an array of other conditions characterized by anxiety.

What is the first generation of antipsychotics?

This class of drugs currently is commonly divided into two broad categories, “first-generation” (also known as neuroleptics or typical antipsychotics) and “second-gen-eration” or atypical antipsychotics. These medications help to reduce serious symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions, paranoia) of schizophrenia in particular. These medications are moderately successful in reduc-ing hallucinations and similar serious expressions of altered behavior.

How do cognitive therapies help people?

Cognitive therapies are designed to help people change the way that they think about their problems. People can deal with problems by learning to change their thoughts or cognitions. Early cognitive therapies evolved from two perspectives: rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT, Ellis) and cognitive therapy (CT, Beck). Recently there has been much diversification, and now there are many cognitive treatments that do not have much at all in common with these origins. Examples include the ‘third-wave’ and mindfulness treatments, which have integrated Eastern thought and practice, and which focus much more on acceptance than on direct questioning of irrational thinking.

What are the three critical concepts of assessment?

The assessment process involves three critical concepts – reliability, validity, and standardization . Actually, these three are important to science in general. First, we want the assessment to be reliable or consistent. Outside of clinical assessment, when our car has an issue and we take it to the mechanic, we want to make sure that what one mechanic says is wrong with our car is the same as what another says, or even two others. If not, the measurement tools they use to assess cars are flawed. The same is true of a patient who is suffering from a mental disorder. If one mental health professional says the person suffers from major depressive disorder and another says the issue is borderline personality disorder, then there is an issue with the assessment tool being used (in this case, the DSM and more on that in a bit). Ensuring that two different raters are consistent in their assessment of patients is called interrater reliability. Another type of reliability occurs when a person takes a test one day, and then the same test on another day. We would expect the person’s answers to be consistent, which is called test-retest reliability. For example, let’s say the person takes the MMPI on Tuesday and then the same test on Friday. Unless something miraculous or tragic happened over the two days in between tests, the scores on the MMPI should be nearly identical to one another. What does identical mean? The score at test and the score at retest are correlated with one another. If the test is reliable, the correlation should be very high (remember, a correlation goes from -1.00 to +1.00, and positive means as one score goes up, so does the other, so the correlation for the two tests should be high on the positive side).

Why are some disorders not included in the main body of the APA?

Additionally, some disorders were not included within the main body of the document because they did not have the scientific evidence to support their widespread clinical use, but were included in Section III under “Conditions for Further Study” to “highlight the evolution and direction of scientific advances in these areas to stimulate further research” (APA, 2013).

When was the DSM revised?

The Herculean task of revising the DSM began in 1999 when the APA embarked upon an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the DSM in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) Division of Mental Health, the World Psychiatric Association, and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

When was the DSM 5 published?

3.2.2.1. A brief history of the DSM. The DSM-5 was published in 2013 and took the place of the DSM IV-TR (TR means Text Revision; published in 2000), but the history of the DSM goes back to 1944 when the American Psychiatric Association published a predecessor of the DSM which was a “statistical classification of institutionalized mental patients” and “…was designed to improve communication about the types of patients cared for in these hospitals” (APA, 2013, p. 6). The DSM evolved through four major editions after World War II into a diagnostic classification system to be used psychiatrists and physicians, but also other mental health professionals. The Herculean task of revising the DSM began in 1999 when the APA embarked upon an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the DSM in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) Division of Mental Health, the World Psychiatric Association, and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). This collaboration resulted in the publication of a monograph in 2002 called A Research Agenda for DSM-V. From 2003 to 2008, the APA, WHO, NIMH, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) convened 13 international DSM-5 research planning conferences “to review the world literature in specific diagnostic areas to prepare for revisions in developing both DSM-5 and the International Classification of Disease, 11th Revision (ICD-11)” (APA, 2013).

What are the two types of observation?

3.1.3.1. Observation. In Section 1.5.2.1 we talked about two types of observation – naturalistic, or observing the person or animal in their environment, and laboratory, or observing the organism in a more controlled or artificial setting where the experimenter can use sophisticated equipment and videotape the session to examine it at a later time. One-way mirrors can also be used. A limitation of this method is that the process of recording a behavior causes the behavior to change, called reactivity. Have you ever noticed someone staring at you while you sat and ate your lunch? If you have, what did you do? Did you change your behavior? Did you become self-conscious? Likely yes, and this is an example of reactivity. Another issue is that the behavior made in one situation may not be made in other situations, such as your significant other only acting out at the football game and not at home. This form of validity is called cross-sectional validity. We also need our raters to observe and record behavior in the same way or to have high inter-rater reliability.

What is predictive validity?

Predictive validity is when a tool accurately predicts what will happen in the future. Let’s say we want to tell if a high school student will do well in college. We might create a national exam to test needed skills and call it something like the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). We would have high school students take it by their senior year and then wait until they are in college for a few years and see how they are doing. If they did well on the SAT, we would expect that at that point, they should be doing well in college. If so, then the SAT accurately predicts college success. The same would be true of a test such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and its ability to predict graduate school performance.

How does a mental health professional assess a client?

For a mental health professional to be able to effectively help treat a client and know that the treatment selected worked (or is working), he/she first must engage in the clinical assessment of the client, or collecting information and drawing conclusions through the use of observation, psychological tests, neurological tests, and interviews to determine the person’s problem and the presenting symptoms. This collection of information involves learning about the client’s skills, abilities, personality characteristics, cognitive and emotional functioning, the social context in terms of environmental stressors that are faced, and cultural factors particular to them such as their language or ethnicity. Clinical assessment is not just conducted at the beginning of the process of seeking help but throughout the process. Why is that?

What are the barriers to diagnosing depression?

Barriers to diagnosing and treating depression include stigma; patient somatization and denial; physician knowledge and skill deficits; limited time; lack of availability of providers and treatments; limitations of third-party coverage; and restrictions on specialist, drug, and psychotherapeutic care.

How common is depression?

Depressive disorders are common in the general population, with a point prevalence of about 2% to 4% for major depressions 2 and about a 20% lifetime risk for the development of major depression or dysthymic disorder. 3, 4 The rate of depression among women is 2 to 3 times that of men. 5 These findings are based on large community surveys using structured interviews. Of those seeking help for depression in the United States, nearly three fourths go to a primary care physician rather than to a mental health professional. The most common presentation in primary care is not dysphoria but rather complaints of sleep disturbance, fatigue, or pain. 6 Overall, 5% to 10% of ambulatory primary care patients and 10% to 14% of medical inpatients suffer from major depression. 7 One study in a general internal medicine practice treating a diverse population found that 10% of the patients had diagnosable depressive disorders, while 11% had a disorder with depressive symptoms that did not fit into any standard diagnostic categories 8; this underscores the high prevalence of depressive complaints that do not fit into current diagnostic schemes.

How does depression affect health care?

Depression occurs commonly, causing suffering, functional impairment, increased risk of suicide, added health care costs, and productivity losses. Effective treatments are available both when depression occurs alone and when it co-occurs with general medical illnesses. Many cases of depression seen in general medical settings are suitable for treatment within those settings. About half of all cases of depression in primary care settings are recognized, although subsequent treatments often fall short of existing practice guidelines. When treatments of documented efficacy are used, short-term patient outcomes are generally good. Barriers to diagnosing and treating depression include stigma; patient somatization and denial; physician knowledge and skill deficits; limited time; lack of availability of providers and treatments; limitations of third-party coverage; and restrictions on specialist, drug, and psychotherapeutic care. Public and professional education efforts, destigmatization, and improvement in access to mental health care are all needed to reduce these barriers.

How is depression diagnosed?

As with most psychiatric disorders, it is made on the basis of a careful clinical interview and mental status examination. Considerable evidence suggests that such an interview is comparable in sensitivity and specificity to many radiologic and laboratory tests commonly used in medicine. The criteria in the DSM-IV ( Table 1) are generally considered the standard diagnostic approach. Major depression is a syndromal diagnosis: on the basis of the patient's medical history and physical examination, it may be appropriate to consider other psychiatric disorders (obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, bulimia nervosa, dementia), general medical conditions, medications, or a substance use disorder as etiologic and to pursue relevant diagnostic investigations.

What are the tasks of a physician during an office visit?

In addition, physicians often have a multiplicity of tasks during an office visit, such as assessment and ongoing management of known general medical problems, prevention and health maintenance, and paperwork. Limited remuneration for the time spent on assessing depression may influence the outcome.

How much does depression cost?

Costs of depression in the United States have been estimated at $43 billion per year.14Only 30% of the cost is from direct medical care; the remainder is from premature death and impaired workplace productivity. The economic cost to employers is estimated at $6,000 per depressed worker per year.15.

What are the burdens of depression?

Among the well-known burdens caused by depression are patient suffering, family distress and conflict, impaired cognitive development of young children in cases of postpartum depression,11and the strikingly increased risk of suicide.

What is the most common eating disorder in the United States?

Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Like bulimia, it involves eating a great deal of food in one sitting. Unlike bulimia, there is no purging involved with this disorder.

How many phases does OCD come in?

This mental health disorder comes in two phases, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Both must be present in order for the OCD label to apply.

How to get rid of OCD obsessions?

In a push to remove or resolve those obsessions, people with OCD may: Wash up or clean aggressively and repetitively. Check and recheck household items for safety, such as light switches, door locks, or oven handles. Repeat behaviors, such as saying a phrase or walking through a door.

What is the blue mood?

1.Depression. This mental health issue is typically described as a “blue” mood that lasts and lasts without ceasing. People who have depression may work hard to hide the issue, but the National Institute of Mental Health says breakthrough symptoms that families might notice include:

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?

In general, bipolar symptoms include: Mania, or feelings of increased grandeur and importance, demonstrated by increased energy, reduced need for sleep, rapid speech, and expressions of self-praise.

What causes PTSD?

This mental illness is typically sparked by an event in which the person was the victim of, or witness to, trauma – often, this trauma involves fear of death. War experiences, terrorist attacks, physical violence, rape, transportation accidents, or natural disasters could all start the PTSD process in motion.

How many people have mental health issues?

The organization Mental Health America estimates that 54 million Americans have some form of mental health issue in any given year. For some people, the emergence of the illness is caused by something that can be spotted and addressed, such as an addiction. For others, the illness is caused by something deep-set, such as genetics. For still others, the issue emerges due to some sort of crisis or circumstance.

Diagnosis

• To determine a diagnosis and check for related complications, you may have: 1. A physical exam.Your doctor will try to rule out physical problems that could cause your symptoms. 2. Lab tests.These may include, for example, a check of your thyroid function or a screening for alcohol and drugs. 3. A psychological evaluation.A doctor or mental health ...

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