Question

Describe the criteria of psychological disorders:

1. Clinically significant syndrome
2. Distress and impairment
3. Dysfunction
4. If any response given to the stressor is accepted as a response to that situation is not considered a sign of a mental disorder.
5. Socially or culturally deviant behaviour is not a sign of a mental disorder.

Answer the following question in 80 to 100 words with the help of the given points:

Describe the criteria of psychological disorders:

Points:

1. Clinically significant syndrome
2. Distress and impairment
3. Dysfunction
4. If any response given to the stressor is accepted as a response to that situation is not considered a sign of a mental disorder.

Answer 1

According to the present DSM-5, the five criteria for psychological disorders are:

1. Clinically significant syndrome: A clusters of symptoms together is called a syndrome. Psychologists rely on these syndromes to diagnose the disorder.
2. Distress and Impairment: There is a presence of distress and/or impairment. The pain may arise from negative feelings like sadness, fear, inadequacy, restlessness or irritability. It may also be due to stress. Impairment is inability or difficulty to perform appropriate duties and roles in personal, social and work related situations.
3. Dysfunction: If the symptoms lead to an underlying psychological, biological or developmental dysfunction, it leads to the diagnosis of a mental disorder. Examples: inability to remember, inability to learn, inability to concentrate, etc.
4. Any behaviour which is deviant but does not produce dysfunction is not considered a sign of a mental disorder: If the behaviour is only deviant or conflicting with society but does not produce dysfunction or distress or disability, then it does not become a sign of a mental disorder. E.g. in certain societies, homosexuality is considered abnormal behaviour. However, according to DSM 5, it is not considered a sign of the disorder.
5. The response was given to stressors or losses and culturally relevant behaviour is not considered a sign of mental disorder: A response that is normally given to common stressors and losses (e.g. sadness due to the death of a loved one) or a culturally sanctioned response to a particular event (e.g. trance state in certain religious rituals) should not be considered as signs of mental disorder.