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Defining Mental Disorders
Judy Bass, MPH, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
Class Objectives
Be able to …
- Describe the Western model of mental illness
-
Define the different common major mental illnesses among
adults and youth
-
Recognize the overlap and interrelationships across many of
these disorders
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Section A
Defining Mental Health
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What Is Mental Health?
Illness is not absence of health
What is considered illness and health is dependent on standards,
roles, and expectations
Question: To what extent are mental health and mental illness
culturally bound?
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Defining “Syndrome”
Syndromes are combinations of signs and symptoms
- Signs: observable
Behavior patterns
Relationships/interpersonal
Symptoms: reportable
-
Emotions/feelings
Cognitions/thoughts
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Defining “Syndrome”
Syndromes are combinations of signs and symptoms
- Signs: observable
Behavior patterns
Relationships/interpersonal
Symptoms: reportable
-
Emotions/feelings
Cognitions/thoughts
7
Conceptualization of Mental Health in West
Syndrome diagnoses
DSM-IV-TR
-
ICD 10
-
Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders, 4th
ed., Text Rev
International
Classification of
Disease: WHO
Structured and specific
Based on certain populations
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