a. True
*b. False
107. Discuss why the following criteria taken individually are not completely satisfactory in defining abnormality, psychological dysfunction, personal distress, and “not typical or culturally expected” behavior.
ANSWER: Sample Answer: Psychological dysfunction is not completely satisfactory because behavior is on a continuum, and a milder version of impairment would not meet the criteria for a disorder. As for personal distress, by itself, this criterion does not define abnormal behavior because distress can be a normal reaction to a traumatic situation. Also, for some of the psychological disorders, by definition, suffering and distress are absent. Not typical or culturally accepted are insufficient when they refer to someone such as a person with an exceptionally high IQ who is not typical but not disordered. Culturally unacceptable is not sufficient because what may be culturally unacceptable in one culture is perfectly acceptable in another.
108. Describe the process of becoming a mental health professional. Include a discussion of the differences among the following: psychologist, psychiatrist, psychiatric social worker, psychiatric nurse. For each profession, list the credentials, the educational background, and the professional responsibilities.
ANSWER: Sample Answer
Clinical and counseling psychologists receive a Ph.D. (or sometimes an Ed.D., doctor of education, or Psy.D., doctor of psychology) and follow a course of graduate-level study, lasting approximately five years, that prepares them to conduct research into the causes and treatment of psychological disorders and to diagnose, assess, and treat these disorders. Counseling psychologists tend to study and treat adjustment and vocational issues encountered by relatively healthy individuals, and clinical psychologists usually concentrate on more severe psychological disorders. Psychologists with other specialty training, such as experimental and social psychologists, investigate the basic determinants of behavior but do not assess or treat psychological disorders.
Psychiatrists first earn an M.D. in medical school and then specialize in psychiatry during residency training that lasts three to four years. Psychiatrists also investigate the nature and causes of psychological disorders, make diagnoses, and offer treatments. Many psychiatrists emphasize drugs or other biological treatments, although most use psychosocial treatments as well.
Psychiatric social workers typically earn a master’s degree in social work as they develop expertise in collecting information about the social and family situation of the individual with a psychological disorder. Social workers also treat disorders, often concentrating on family problems.
Psychiatric nurses have advanced degrees and specialize in the care and treatment of patients with psychological disorders, usually in hospitals as part of a treatment team.
109. Compare and contrast humoral theory and ancient Chinese approaches to explaining abnormal behavior.
ANSWER: Humoral theory and Chinese approaches to explaining abnormal behavior compare in that they focused on an internal, bodily-based source of disorders. Humoral theory focused on blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm. Chinese approaches focused on yin and yang. They concurred that imbalance in the condition of the body was the contributing factor to the various disorders and both developed methods to reestablish balance in the body. Bloodletting and vomiting was used in humoral approaches and acupuncture was used to reduce blockage and restore proper “flow” inside the body in Chinese methods. They contrast in that Galen focused on physically present fluids in the body while the Chinese approach focused on the movement of air or “wind” throughout the body.
110. Describe the development of biological treatments.
ANSWER: In the early 1900s electric shock and brain surgery were often used. Electroconvulsive shock therapy, insulin shock therapy, and drugs like opium were used to treat patients with disorders. Later, reserpine, neuroleptics, bromides, and benzodiazepines were used to treat patients with disorders with mixed results and concerns about the side effects of the drugs.
Later, reserpine, neuroleptics, bromides, and benzodiazepin
111. Describe the development of moral therapy.
ANSWER: Moral therapy focused on improving the living circumstances of patients. Institutionalized patients were treated as normal as possible and social interaction was encouraged. Relationships were nurtured, individualized attention, and emphasis on positive consequences for appropriate interactions were promoted. Restraint and seclusion were eliminated. Increases in immigration and institutionalization led to a lack of human and economic resources to meet the rising needs of patients. Additionally, the biological model suggested that mental illness was caused by brain pathology and, therefore, was incurable leaving little support for moral therapy focused institutions.