Clinical psychologyLesson 1 of 2 in the course Psychological Disorders

Psychological Diagnosis, Classification, Comorbidity, and Person-Centered Care

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Psychological diagnosis begins with careful attention to significant signs and symptoms. Classification systems help professionals identify patterns, communicate consistently, and plan treatment. This lesson introduces diagnosis and the two major classification systems described in the unit: the DSM and the ICD.

A diagnosis is the process of appropriately identifying and labeling a defined set of symptoms. Mental health professionals consider whether a person’s inner experiences and behaviors form a pattern that meets criteria for a psychological disorder. Diagnosis is not simply matching one unusual experience to a label; it requires systematic assessment of significant symptoms and their context.

All flashcards

Psychological diagnosis
The systematic identification and labeling of a defined pattern of symptoms; it can support communication, research, and treatment planning.
ICD
The International Classification of Diseases, published by the World Health Organization for clinical use and international health monitoring.
Comorbidity
The co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same individual, which can complicate assessment and treatment.
Overpathologizing
Treating common human experiences as mental illnesses, a concern raised when diagnostic criteria are broadened.
Person-first language
Language that describes someone as a person with a condition rather than reducing them to a diagnostic label.

Quiz questions

  1. What does comorbidity mean in mental health?Answer: Two or more disorders occurring in the same individual.
  2. What change did the American Psychiatric Association make in 1973 regarding homosexuality?Answer: It removed homosexuality from the classification of mental disorders.
  3. What does the term overpathologizing refer to in debates about diagnosis?Answer: Treating common human experiences as mental illnesses.
  4. When might sadness or anxiety warrant concern as a possible psychological disorder?Answer: When the experiences become extreme and significantly disrupt a person's life.
  5. Why might a professional assess someone after substance effects and withdrawal have ended?Answer: To distinguish substance-related effects from symptoms of another disorder.

Based on Psychology 2e by Rose M. Spielman, William J. Jenkins, Marilyn D. Lovett (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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