Summary notes for Alevel Edexcel clinical psychology. Notes consist of A01, A02, A03 and Ao3CA points. Description of point, evidence for point, evaluation and evaluation of the counterargument. Summary points include required studies and led to me achieving an A in Alevel Psychology.
Content in...
Clinical Psychology- Theories and applied studies
*Diagnosis*
A01
o Deviance- the extent that behaviour and emotions are unusual and deviate from social
norms/ statistical norms
o Dysfunction- when the individual has a reduced chance of survival due to MHD
o Distress- the extent that the individual experiences negative feelings
o Danger- how dangerous the individual is to themselves or others
o [Duration]- how long the individual has experienced the symptoms (Davis 2009)
A03
o Consideration of all 4 Ds is more likely to increase validity
o Highly subjective interpretation- affecting validity and reliability (interviews-
semi/unstructured) =Patients may lie/abstain from full truth
o Deviation- Social norms vary between cultures/over time shown with homosexuality –
criminals often deviate yet don’t label them all as mentally ill
o Thomas Szasz and ‘symbolic recapture’- like to label those with unpredictable behaviours
o RD laing- mental health issues is normal response to modern pressures
o Distress- Subjective interpretation of distress/what it is to suffer- some exaggerate/show
non at all e.g psychopathy
o Dysfunction/danger- some behaviours seen as self-expression yet wouldn’t label as mentally
ill e.g bungee jumping/boxing
o
A03CA
o Some standardised tests e.g eat-26 which creates quantitative data
o Jahoda- measure of ideal mental health- free from MHD, ability to be rational and
introspective, self-actualisation, realistic view of world, self-esteem and autonomy
o Hard to diagnose as no physical measure
*Classification systems*
A01
o ICD- European/international system, free, categorised according to similarities in symptoms
(f), digit represents family of MHD e.g F32- depression F31- bipolar. Decimal place
determines type of depression
o DSM IVR- American based system, paid for, multi axial system(5)
o DSM V 2013 - groups disorders to go from general diagnosis to specific one. Section2-
diagnostic criteria and codes. Section3- possible diagnosis’ that aren’t medicalised e.g
caffeine use disorder. Made to harmonise more with ICD (increased standardisation) greater
sensitivity to cultures
A03
, o ICD- allows clinicians to move from general diagnoses to specific ones with a focus on
symptoms in a standardised way. Subjective interviews (symptoms may overlap between
disorders).
o DSM5- self assesment which may cause lack of truth due to stigmas in cultures. More
specific diagnoses e.g eating disorder=> binge eating than DSM4. Does not link to biological
influences. Interpretation of social norms from clinician and subjectivity.
o Interviews- subjective, doesn’t represent symptoms experienced all the time, may lack
insight from patient
o Co-morbidity- overlap of symptoms and diagnosis- if manifest in similar ways
o Andrews 1999- only 68% agreement between ICD and DSM on 1500 pps
A03CA
o DSM5- US bias, culture dominated
o ICD-.assumptions about aetiology (causes) are made (unlike DSM)
o Evans 2013- 51% used ICD compared to 44% for DSM
o Allen Frances- chair of DSM4- argued DSM5 will create many type 1 errors (false positive)
Clinical reliability and validity
A01
o Interrater reliability- different researchers come to the same conclusion
o Test/retest reliability- if repeating the experiment would result in the same conclusion
(same symptoms=same diagnosis)
o Aetiological validity- if you know the cause you can make a more valid conclusion
o Concurrent validity- same diagnosis with different diagnostic tools (ICD/DSM)
o Predictive validity- if diagnosis can accurately make prognosis (treatments work with same
disorder)
o Patient factors- different information/lack of insight/minor symptoms at time of interview
o Clinician factors- subjective interpretation based on background/training/expertise.
Symptom overlap with diagnoses (high comorbidity)
A03
o Big pharma- funded by pharmacological industry, more likely to diagnose= 87% of MHD
treated by medication in 2014
o Circular argument- hearing voices due to schizophrenia yet schizophrenia causing person to
hear voices- overly reductionist
o Labelling- may lower distress as gives reason for behaviour yet individuals may act
accordingly to it based on stereotypes
o Kupfer- biomarkers= biological signs that aren’t related just be chance, depression cant fully
be caused by genes
o ‘Shopping list’ of ticking off symptoms
o Culture bound syndrome- MHD not recognised universally across cultures
e.g KORO- mainly in men, fear of sexual organs disappearing inside body causing death
JINN- spiritual belief in Islam causing schizophrenic symptoms
- may cause overcompensation for certain cultures
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