PSYCHOPATHOLOGY EXAM 1 STUDY
GUIDE
explain the 2 "boxes" that psychopathology is often labeled as - Correct Answers --no
diagnosis=sane/normal
-diagnosis=insane/abnormal
explain Rosenhan's experiment - Correct Answers --patients without diagnosis came to
mental facility and complained of hearing voices
-had no history of mental illness
-had distant family member with scizophrenia
-difficult concentrating, anxious upon admission, but good relationship
-showed that diagnosis is often not valid, and the stigma of diagnosis
What did rosenhan mean that a diagnosis is a self-fulfilling prophecy - Correct Answers
-we act based on what we are labeled as
what does it mean that mental health is on a continuum. what are the consequences of
this? - Correct Answers --who decides when something becomes a disorder is very
broad
-what people think is normal drives treatments
-what is seen as normal in one culture may not be in another (cultural relativism)
what are the 4 Ds of psychopathology - Correct Answers --distress (physical, emotional,
behavioral subjective stress)
-dangerousness
-deviance (violation of social norms, may change based on culture and change over
time like homophobia)
-dysfunction (impairment in occupation, interpersonal functioning)
what are the pros of diagnosing psychopathology? - Correct Answers --first step in
research (helps identify causes and symptoms, establish base rates, and develop
treatment)
-improve communication between providers (describing different symptoms can become
convoluted)
-personal understanding, can make you feel better
what are the cons of diagnosing psychopathology? - Correct Answers --labeling can
lead to stigma
,-everything people do is seen as symptoms of a disorder (can't see the forest for the
trees)
-mental health is on a continuum, but diagnostic system is not reflective of that
-pathologizing normal behaviors (DSM 5 has many normal behaviors as disorders)
describe the process of how labeling can lead to stigma - Correct Answers --people with
disorder is seen as crazy
-people with disorder is othered/separated as different types of groups
-people with disorder are seen as dangerous
-systemic and interpersonal discrimination (don't want to build hospitals for "crazy"
people)
-intellectual disability has come through a history of different names, each one has been
called out (idiot/moron/retard)
is the DSM 5 categorical or dimensional - Correct Answers --mostly categorical as there
are specific diagnostic criteria (do you have anxiety or do you not)
-also dimensional because it has cross cutting symptoms and severity measures
what approach is this: proposes a set of continua, assumes that people differ by degree
alone; would use psychometric scales - Correct Answers -dimensional
what approach is this: proposes a set of discrete type, assumes that people differ in
kind; would use diagnostic criteria - Correct Answers -categorical
how have psychiatric classifications historically been made? - Correct Answers -using a
categorical approach
how do categorical approach and dimensional approach differ in the context of
explaining disorder etiology - Correct Answers --categorical: particular causal factor
shared by all people who have a certain condition
-dimensional:no single causal factor because there is no true categorical difference
between people, instead multiple causal factors combine to determine the degree or
severity of the interest
what is nosology? - Correct Answers -a set of conditions that are organized in a
systematic way
how is research incorporated into the DSM 5 - Correct Answers -research about the
onset, differential diagnosis, prevalence rates about different disorders is included
what are cultural issues with the DSM 5 - Correct Answers -doesn't account for how risk
factors and symptom manifestation may change within cultures, which could lead to
different treatments and misdiagnosis
what are 4 cons of the DSM 5 (hint: overpathologizing) - Correct Answers --too many
diagnosis (makes it easier to get some diagnosis, but overpathologizing)
, -too specific (doesn't recognize when symptoms overlap, instead have a lot of different
disorders and high comorbidity)
-categorical focus
-big pharma influence
what are 4 things that should be included in future classification systems - Correct
Answers --dimensional system
-comorbidity
-within diagnosis heterogeneity
-high use of unspecified (unspecific means that you dont meet the specific criteria of
diagnosis, but have concerning treatment)
what is the HiTOP (hierarchical taxonomy of psychoapthology) system? what are its
pros and cons - Correct Answers --dimensional classification system that internalizes
set of symptoms rather than multiple disorders
-includes spectra: variables that encompass multiple symptoms
-pros: clinically supported, flexibility with assessments
-cons: more research needed for application, doesn't include cut off points for treatment
(like IQ_, difficult to transition to this system
What are the two core symptom DSM-5 domains for autism - Correct Answers --social
communication and social interaction deficits
-repetitive and restricted behaviors
what are 3 deficit areas in social communication deficits for autism - Correct Answers --
social emotional reciprocity
-nonverbal communication
-social relationships
explain the three parts of social emotional reciprocity (autism) - Correct Answers --
theory of mind: don't have awareness of someone else's perspective
-complex social cues-don't understand the social aspect of communication (not
nonverbal but more of verbal part)
-impaired back and forth interactions
explain the three parts of nonverbal communication (autism) - Correct Answers --
integrating verbal and nonverbal communication
-joint attention (spontaneous expressions)
-personal space (knowing what is appropriate)
why is joint attention so important for autism? - Correct Answers -helps with early
diagnosis
-physical component of theory of mind and a critical milestone in children (they are able
to look at something through other person's perspective)
-considered nonverbal because you are focused on finger pointing
GUIDE
explain the 2 "boxes" that psychopathology is often labeled as - Correct Answers --no
diagnosis=sane/normal
-diagnosis=insane/abnormal
explain Rosenhan's experiment - Correct Answers --patients without diagnosis came to
mental facility and complained of hearing voices
-had no history of mental illness
-had distant family member with scizophrenia
-difficult concentrating, anxious upon admission, but good relationship
-showed that diagnosis is often not valid, and the stigma of diagnosis
What did rosenhan mean that a diagnosis is a self-fulfilling prophecy - Correct Answers
-we act based on what we are labeled as
what does it mean that mental health is on a continuum. what are the consequences of
this? - Correct Answers --who decides when something becomes a disorder is very
broad
-what people think is normal drives treatments
-what is seen as normal in one culture may not be in another (cultural relativism)
what are the 4 Ds of psychopathology - Correct Answers --distress (physical, emotional,
behavioral subjective stress)
-dangerousness
-deviance (violation of social norms, may change based on culture and change over
time like homophobia)
-dysfunction (impairment in occupation, interpersonal functioning)
what are the pros of diagnosing psychopathology? - Correct Answers --first step in
research (helps identify causes and symptoms, establish base rates, and develop
treatment)
-improve communication between providers (describing different symptoms can become
convoluted)
-personal understanding, can make you feel better
what are the cons of diagnosing psychopathology? - Correct Answers --labeling can
lead to stigma
,-everything people do is seen as symptoms of a disorder (can't see the forest for the
trees)
-mental health is on a continuum, but diagnostic system is not reflective of that
-pathologizing normal behaviors (DSM 5 has many normal behaviors as disorders)
describe the process of how labeling can lead to stigma - Correct Answers --people with
disorder is seen as crazy
-people with disorder is othered/separated as different types of groups
-people with disorder are seen as dangerous
-systemic and interpersonal discrimination (don't want to build hospitals for "crazy"
people)
-intellectual disability has come through a history of different names, each one has been
called out (idiot/moron/retard)
is the DSM 5 categorical or dimensional - Correct Answers --mostly categorical as there
are specific diagnostic criteria (do you have anxiety or do you not)
-also dimensional because it has cross cutting symptoms and severity measures
what approach is this: proposes a set of continua, assumes that people differ by degree
alone; would use psychometric scales - Correct Answers -dimensional
what approach is this: proposes a set of discrete type, assumes that people differ in
kind; would use diagnostic criteria - Correct Answers -categorical
how have psychiatric classifications historically been made? - Correct Answers -using a
categorical approach
how do categorical approach and dimensional approach differ in the context of
explaining disorder etiology - Correct Answers --categorical: particular causal factor
shared by all people who have a certain condition
-dimensional:no single causal factor because there is no true categorical difference
between people, instead multiple causal factors combine to determine the degree or
severity of the interest
what is nosology? - Correct Answers -a set of conditions that are organized in a
systematic way
how is research incorporated into the DSM 5 - Correct Answers -research about the
onset, differential diagnosis, prevalence rates about different disorders is included
what are cultural issues with the DSM 5 - Correct Answers -doesn't account for how risk
factors and symptom manifestation may change within cultures, which could lead to
different treatments and misdiagnosis
what are 4 cons of the DSM 5 (hint: overpathologizing) - Correct Answers --too many
diagnosis (makes it easier to get some diagnosis, but overpathologizing)
, -too specific (doesn't recognize when symptoms overlap, instead have a lot of different
disorders and high comorbidity)
-categorical focus
-big pharma influence
what are 4 things that should be included in future classification systems - Correct
Answers --dimensional system
-comorbidity
-within diagnosis heterogeneity
-high use of unspecified (unspecific means that you dont meet the specific criteria of
diagnosis, but have concerning treatment)
what is the HiTOP (hierarchical taxonomy of psychoapthology) system? what are its
pros and cons - Correct Answers --dimensional classification system that internalizes
set of symptoms rather than multiple disorders
-includes spectra: variables that encompass multiple symptoms
-pros: clinically supported, flexibility with assessments
-cons: more research needed for application, doesn't include cut off points for treatment
(like IQ_, difficult to transition to this system
What are the two core symptom DSM-5 domains for autism - Correct Answers --social
communication and social interaction deficits
-repetitive and restricted behaviors
what are 3 deficit areas in social communication deficits for autism - Correct Answers --
social emotional reciprocity
-nonverbal communication
-social relationships
explain the three parts of social emotional reciprocity (autism) - Correct Answers --
theory of mind: don't have awareness of someone else's perspective
-complex social cues-don't understand the social aspect of communication (not
nonverbal but more of verbal part)
-impaired back and forth interactions
explain the three parts of nonverbal communication (autism) - Correct Answers --
integrating verbal and nonverbal communication
-joint attention (spontaneous expressions)
-personal space (knowing what is appropriate)
why is joint attention so important for autism? - Correct Answers -helps with early
diagnosis
-physical component of theory of mind and a critical milestone in children (they are able
to look at something through other person's perspective)
-considered nonverbal because you are focused on finger pointing
