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Summary Notes from psychopathology
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PsychopathologySecond Edition
From Science to Clinical Practice
Edited by Louis G. Castonguay, Thomas F. Oltmanns, and Abigail Powers Lott
Chapter 1 Chapter 1,
General Issues in Understanding and Treating
Psychopathology
Page 1:
• Mental health professions (clinical psychology, counseling psychology, psychiatry,
social work) rely on recognizing and conceptualizing mental disorders.
• Regardless of their professional background, therapists must understand the
various manifestations of psychopathology.
• They need to grasp different forms of vulnerability contributing to the
development and persistence of common mental disorders.
• Mental disorders are a significant cause of disability globally, with
neuropsychiatric disorders being the leading cause in the United States (Murray et al.,
2013; Whiteford et al., 2015).
• This book's chapters offer unique reviews of specific psychopathological conditions,
authored by experts in treatment and scientific study.
• The chapters synthesize information on the disorder's nature (e.g., symptoms, course,
epidemiology, and etiology) and its treatment implications (assessment, case
formulation, and principles of change).
• These chapters exemplify the integration of science and practice, where clinical
experience generates research questions, and scientific evidence informs improved
treatment procedures.
• The opening chapter sets the foundation for subsequent chapters addressing specific
psychopathological types.
Page 2:
Defining Mental Disorders
• Defining Mental Disorders:
- Defining mental disorders is essential for understanding psychopathology.
- Questions to consider:
• Should mental disorders be seen as diseases, character flaws, deficits, or
problems of living?
• How are mental disorders distinguished from idiosyncratic behaviors or
cultural preferences?
• These definitions influence how mental health professionals approach clients and
treatment decisions.
• Various attempts to define abnormal behavior exist, but none are universally
satisfactory.
• Wakefield's influential definition (1992, 2010) proposes two criteria for mental
disorders:
, 1. The condition results from the dysfunction of an internal mechanism
(mental or physical). E.g., malfunctioning emotion regulation or
distinguishing real from imagined auditory sensations.
2. The condition causes harm to the individual within their cultural context.
Measured by subjective distress or impaired social and occupational
functioning.
• Mental disorders are termed "harmful dysfunctions" based on Wakefield's
definition.
• This definition incorporates an objective evaluation of behavior and
acknowledges the disruption of cognitive, emotional, perceptual, and
motivational processes.
• Not all dysfunctions result in disorders; only those causing significant harm are
considered disorders.
• Mental disorders harm a person's:
• adjustment,
• impacting family relationships,
• education,
• and occupational success.
• Harm associated with mental disorders includes subjective distress (e.g., anxiety,
depression) and tangible outcomes (e.g., suicide).
• DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) in the
United States adopts similar criteria for defining abnormal behavior.
• DSM-5 Definition of Mental Disorder:
• Mental disorder is defined as a syndrome characterized by significant
disturbances in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior.
• These disturbances reflect dysfunction in psychological, biological, or
developmental processes underlying mental functioning.
• Mental disorders are associated with subjective distress or impairment in social
functioning.
• Excluded from consideration as mental disorders:
1. Expectable or culturally sanctioned responses to specific events (e.g., grief).
2. Socially deviant behavior (e.g., actions of minority groups).
3. Conflicts between the individual and society (e.g., expressions of
individuality).
• Emphasis on Consequences:
• Mental disorders are defined by clusters of persistent, maladaptive
behaviors.
• These behaviors are linked to personal distress (e.g., anxiety, depression) or
impairment in social functioning (e.g., job performance, relationships).
• This definition recognizes dysfunction and identifies harmful
consequences.
• Practical Boundaries of Abnormal Behavior:
• The DSM provides a practical explanation of abnormal behavior.
, • Abnormal behavior aligns with descriptions of mental disorders in the
diagnostic manual.
• However, a comprehensive understanding of mental disorders should
consider:
• clinical features,
• course,
• prevalence,
• comorbidity,
• and vulnerability factors.
• Moving Beyond DSM-5:
• Researchers are exploring empirical approaches, moving away from
categorical diagnoses.
• Hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology (HiTOP) is a dimensional
model covering various mental disorders.
• HiTOP includes a general factor of psychopathology (p factor), shared
across all dimensions.
• Three broad domains in HiTOP:
• internalizing disorders,
• externalizing disorders,
• and thought disorder.
• Personality is considered fundamental to understanding HiTOP.
• Network theory suggests mental disorders arise from causal interactions
between symptoms within a network.
Concept of Mental Disorders as Hypothetical Constructs:
• Mental disorders are considered "hypothetical constructs."
• They are abstract, explanatory devices.
• In the case of behavioral disorders, they are internal events inferred from
observable behaviors and context.
• These constructs cannot be directly observed but are tied to observable events.
Utility of Hypothetical Constructs:
• Mental disorders are defined beyond diagnostic criteria.
• Their utility depends on relationships with other constructs and observable events.
• Comprehensive assessments and case formulations involve consideration of
nonsymptomatic factors associated with the disorder.
Complementing Diagnostic Evaluation:
• Clinicians should complement DSM-based diagnostic evaluation with consideration of
associated factors.
• Aims to provide a more complete understanding of the disorder and potential
intervention targets.
Focus of the Book:
• Authors focus on describing mental disorders, their impact, factors that provoke and
maintain them, and evidence-based clinical interventions.
• Does not delineate specific diagnostic criteria from official manuals like DSM-5 and
ICD-11.
, • Encourages readers interested in criteria to refer to the manuals directly.
Epidemiology and Understanding Mental Disorders:
• Understanding mental disorders requires data on their frequency.
• Epidemiological information informs clinical, organizational, and social decisions.
• Insights into factors like:
• geographic variation,
• gender,
• ethnicity,
• and socioeconomic status.
• Used for:
• resource allocation,
• professional training,
• treatment facilities,
• and research.
• Provides insights into risk factors for specific disorders.
Prevalence Data:
• The National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) conducted between 2001 and
2003.
• Key source of data on the prevalence of various forms of abnormal behavior.
• Provides essential information for understanding the frequency of mental disorders.
NCS-R Study Overview:
• The NCS-R study collected data on the prevalence of mental disorders.
• Included various major forms of mental disorders in a large group of individuals.
• National representative sample of about 9,000 individuals in the continental United
States.
• Questions related to some major disorders in DSM-IV (APA, 1994).
• Found that 46% of participants had at least one lifetime diagnosis.
• Onset of symptoms usually occurred in childhood or adolescence.
• Indicates that mental disorders affect a substantial portion of the population.
12-Month Prevalence Rates:
• Major depression (17%) and alcohol abuse (13%) were the most prevalent
disorders.
• Anxiety disorders were relatively common.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder had lower prevalence rates
(approximately 2%).
• These rates align with data from other studies on mental disorder prevalence.
Severity of Cases:
• NCS-R investigators rated cases based on symptom magnitude, number, and level of
impairment.
• 40% of cases were mild, 37% moderate, and 22% severe on average for disorders
in the past 12 months.
• Mood disorders were often rated as severe (45%), while anxiety disorders were less
likely to be severe (23%).
• Clinical implications:
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