Psychopathology, Clinical Psychology

Psychopathology, Clinical Psychology

Questions

Question No. 1

Psychoanalyst Dr. Neil Altman was the first one to introduce a Three-Person Model in 1995 as opposed to the existent one and two person psychology. The third person over here is the social context. He takes a postmodern approach on the topic and argues that, for decades, class, race and culture have not been included into psychoanalytic thinking. The Three Person Model takes into account the relationship of the patient and analyst with the social class set up they belong to. It also deals with the assumptions that they will form about each other and their selves. Altman points out that all kinds of clinicians have difficulty in working with people that belong to diverse social contexts, especially with those that have less material resources than the clinicians (Raymond, 2009).

Question No. 2

The terms equifinality and multifinality were laid down by Stephen Hinshaw. Equifinality is a concept that states that multiple pathways can lead to similar resulting states in patients. Various individuals that are going through a particular mental disorder do not typically suffer from it due to the same reasons or by following the same pathways. Hence, people can start from different places but end up functioning in the same manner after going through life experiences (Beauchaine & Hinshaw, 2008). For example, person A can suffer from depression due to severe life loss while person B can suffer from depression due to heritable risk.

On the other hand, the concept of multifinality points out that, individuals can start from different places but end up in the same psychological condition. This means that not everyone who experiences similar life experiences will wind up having the same outcome state (Beauchaine & Hinshaw, 2008). For example if, as children, A and B, both had ineffectual parents, A might end up with a conduct disorder while B could be completely normal.

Question No. 3

Depression, anxiety and conduct disorders are prevalent in an alarming number of children across the globe. They are often not diagnosed on time and sometimes even misdiagnosed. The main symptoms for depression are anger, social withdrawal, appetite and sleep changes, sensitivity and crying, sadness and low energy, thoughts of suicide as well as body aches that do not get healed with treatment (www.webmd.com). The symptoms for anxiety are irritability, extreme restlessness and difficulty in concentration, low academic performance and physical signs like upset stomach or headaches (www.childrensanxietydisorder.com). While symptoms of conduct disorder include aggressive behavior, breaking rules, destroying property, heavy drug use, running away and not attending school.

Depression and anxiety are comorbid with each other, and both are associated with other mental disorders. They normally coexist with chronic medical conditions like heart conditions, cancer or asthma. (Aina & Susman, 2006). The comorbidities for conduct disorder is attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as antisocial personality disorder. There is also high comorbidity with academic failure and learning disabilities (Bernstein, 2012).

Question No. 4

Temperament is the behavior displayed by children or infants after being exposed to ...