Summary NURS 3481 Chapter 2 Notes

CHAPTER 2 – MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS


Mental health and mental illness – not specific entities but a continuum
- Dynamic and shifting
- Mild, moderate, severe
Mental health: successful performance of mental functions
DSM-5: official guidebook for categorizing and diagnosing psychiatric mental health disorders
- List of specific diagnostic criteria for each mental disorder
- Deleted the axis of system of diagnosis but still uses the information in an unstructured
manner
Epidemiology – studies the distribution of disorders in humans to identify high risk factors &
groups
Prevalence rate – proportion of a population with a mental disorder at a given time
Clinical epidemiology – studies conducted using groups with particular incidences & results are
included in DSM-5
Psychobiological disorder – caused by a neurotransmitter dysfunction, abnormal brain
structure, genetic factors. Includes:
 Autism
 Schizophrenia
 Bipolar
 Major depression
 OCD, panic disorder
 Anorexia
 PTSD
 ADHD
Factors affecting mental health
1. Biological
2. Spirituality
3. Culture
4. Family
5. Traits
6. Health practices and beliefs
7. Environment
8. Experiences
9. Stressors