DSM-5 & the Classification of Mental Disorders; Questions and Answers 100% Correct

DSM -5 & the Classification of Mental Disorders ; Questions a nd Answers 100% C orrect Diagnostic Classification Correct answer --Classification is central to all sciences. -Assignment to categories based on shared attributes or relations -Psychiatric diagnosis, using the DSM -5, defines what our profession considers normal vs. abnormal. Characteristics of Abnormal Behavior Correct answer --Atypical (statistically uncommon) -Violates social/cultural norms -Causes personal discomfort (distress) -Maladaptive (impairment) Defining "Mental Disorder" Correct answer -"A syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental function ing" (p. 20). "Mental disorders are usually associated with significant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important activities" (p. 20). Exclusions: -Culturally sanctioned responses DSM -5 & the Classification of Mental Disorders ; Questions a nd Answers 100% C orrect -"Socially deviant behavior and conflicts between an individual and society...unless...the deviance or conflict results from a dysfunction in the individual..." (p. 20) -Note that diagnosis of mental disorder is NOT synonymous with need for treatment. -Also note that anything we identify as a mental disorder must meet the definition on page 20 as well as the various diagnostic criteria. Clinical Significance Correct answer -Most diagnoses require that "the disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning" (p. 21). What about the environment? Correct answer -In DSM -5, the focus is on the individual. -The syndromes are assumed to occur in an individual. This makes many psychologists uncomfortable because environmental factors receive less emphasis. Should ask if there are any environments in which the symptoms don't occur. Categories, Dimensions, and Prototypes Correct answer -Classical (or pure) categorical approach