CMH 302

1.1 The main types of mental ill health according to the psychiatric (DSM/ICD) classification system are as follows;

According the fourth edition diagnostic manual of mental disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2000), the category psychotic disorders (Psychosis) include Schizophrenia, paranoid (Delusional), disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated, residual type. Other clinical types include Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Affective Disorder/Manic depression, mania, Psychotic depression, delusional (paranoid) disorders. These are mental disorders in which the thoughts, affective response or ability to recognize reality, and ability to communicate and relate to others are sufficiently impaired to interfere grossly with the capacity to deal with reality; the classical and general characteristics of psychosis are impaired reality testing,

However, American psychologists contributed to the development of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) which classify personality disorders into a number of categories (Shedler, Beck, Fonagy, Gabbard & Gunderson, 2010). The DSM-5 identifies 10 personality disorders into three categories called clusters. The first cluster consists of three disorders; the avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders (Griggs, 2014). Griggs reports that these disorders show highly anxious or fearful behaviour patterns (2014). The second cluster also involves three disorders; the paranoid, schizoid, and the schizotypal personality disorders. According to Griggs, people who are in the second cluster show eccentric or odd behaviours. There are four personality disorders in the last cluster; the antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic disorders. They show excessively dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviour patterns (Griggs,

Psychotic depression occurs when a depressive illness also includes hallucinations, delusions or the patient feeling removed from reality. Psychotic depression affects approximately one in four people admitted to the hospital for depression.

Psychosis is a state of being profoundly out of touch with reality. Psychotic individuals may experience hallucinations and/ or delusions (p.393). Psychosis can occur in many mental disorders, and is most

Schizophrenia is the most commonly diagnosed psychotic disorder (Steel, 2012), affecting 1 out of every 100 hundred people on average (Taurier & Wykes, 2004). Symptoms of the disorder include positive symptoms, which are auditory and visual hallucinations, as well as disordered patterns of thought such as delusions (Taurier & Wykes, 2004). Auditory hallucinations are the most common positive symptom, and often come in the form of voices (Steel, 2012). Delusions, which are the most common symptom of schizophrenia, involve a false belief that exists despite evidence being available that suggests otherwise (Steel, 2012).

The distinctive characteristic of schizophrenia are disruptions in perception, language, and thinking. Psychotic symptoms include delusions and hallucinations. Delusions are strange or false beliefs that a person has even when they are shown that their beliefs are not

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD), first initiated in Paris, is the official world classification used by health practitioners across the world to record the diagnoses of all patients seen in psychiatric care where official statistics are collected (Tyrer, 2014). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the official classification in the USA used mainly by psychiatrists for clinical diagnosis (Tyrer, 2014).

Schizophrenia is classified as a psychotic disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, in order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, an individual must present two (or more) of the following symptoms for a significant portion of time during a one-month period: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, catatonic behavior, or negative symptoms (such as diminished emotional expression or avolition). The DSM-5, however, has a continuum (schizophrenia spectrum) of disorders that may be similar to schizophrenia disorder but not as severe or persistent.

Psychosis is a mental illness that may be related to other mental health issues. This condition is triggered by drugs of abuse, alcoholism and several disease conditions. This suggest that numerous pathological devices within the brain are shared by individuals affected by these conditions. One of the pathological features of psychosis is hallucination which may involve seeing, hearing, smelling or tasting something that is not present. Another pathological feature is delusional thinking or believing something that is not real or true. Delusions may manifest and display in two forms, paranoid delusions or delusions of grandeur.

Out of ten classified personality disorders, borderline personality disorder stands out as the most commonly diagnosed, among the most complex, one of the most studied, and is seen as one of the most devastating of the personality disorders (Gunderson, 2011). Borderline personality disorder in essence, “is a pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Personality disorders can be grouped into one of three different clusters based on their descriptive similarities. Borderline personality disorder falls into Cluster B, which includes antisocial, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders as well. Individuals diagnosed with a disorder from this cluster set all have traits of appearing dramatic, emotional, or erratic (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Psychotic depression (delusions and hallucinations) is a severe depression accompanied by hearing or seeing things that others cannot see or hear.

DSM-IV TR, which stands for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition), Text Revision was published by the American Psychiatric Association in 2000 and serves as a guide book for many health professionals to diagnose a patient with a mental disorder. It also helps health professionals to determine what types of treatment could be carried out to help the patient. The latest DSM is widely used, especially in the USA and many European countries.1However, it may not be completely followed by health professionals as they know that there are some weaknesses of the latest version of DSM as well. This essay will discuss the strengths and

Psychosis (Psyche – Greek for the mind or soul; -osis referring to abnormal condition) is a general umbrella term for mental states traditionally characterised by a loss of contact with reality, during which sufferers may experience episodes of hallucinations and delusional thinking, distorted thoughts or behaviours, even personality changes. Current criteria for diagnosis includes experiencing one or more symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behaviour, negative symptoms; disturbed social cognition and functioning, bizarre behaviour, emotional labiality (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

Psychosis is a symptom included in many psychological diseases. In the premature stages of psychoses, it is problematic to diagnose the patient with a specific type of psychosis.