PSY401 Complete Handouts

LESSON 01

MENTAL HEALTH TODAY: A QUICK LOOK OF THE PICTURE!!

A recent national study of psychiatric disorders in America found that,

Approximately 30% of adults or 70 million people were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder. 10 million people are suffering with mood disorder and major depression 15 million people with Anxiety disorders. 1 million people with schizophrenic disorder. 500,000 people with eating disorder and most of them are women.

Clinical psychologists are on the front line in the treatment of these mental health problems.

WHAT IS CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY?

Clinical psychology is an exciting and growing field that encompasses both research and practice related to psychopathology and to mental and physical health. Understanding, treating and preventing mental health problems and their associate effect is the business of clinical psychology.

Clinical psychologists play a central role in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental health problems.

Through the use of psychological tests, interviews, observations of behavior, various forms of psychological treatment (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, marital and family therapy) clinical psychologists are on the front line in the treatment of mental health problems.

They are increasingly involved in the treatment of behavioral and psychological factors that are related to physical diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma and chronic pain etc.

They are also involved in the delivery of programs to prevent mental health problems and to promote positive mental and physical health.

As a result, clinical psychologists engage in work in which the stakes are high and the opportunities are great to bring meaningful changes in the lives of others.

The word “Clinical”, derived from the Latin and Greek words for Bed, suggests the treatment of individuals who are ill. But clinical psychology has come to mean a broader area than just mental illness of individuals. Among the ultimate aims of clinical psychology are the psychological well-being and beneficial behavior of persons; therefore, it focuses on internal psychobiological conditions and on external social and physical environments within which individuals function.

Clinical psychology is the largest single specialty within psychology that deals with principles and skills applied outside the laboratory, it is by no means all of applied psychology, which includes industrial, educational, organizational, military and several other specialties.

DEFINITION OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

In a recent attempt to define and describe clinical psychology, J.H. Resnick (1991) has proposed the following definition and description of clinical psychology:

“The field of clinical psychology involves research, teaching, and services relevant to the applications of principles, methods and procedures for understanding, predicting and alleviating intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social and behavioral maladjustment, disability and discomfort, applied to a wide range of client population”.

OTHER DEFINITIONS OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Clinical Psychology is a branch of psychology devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of people with mental illnesses and other psychological disorders.

Clinical psychology is the scientific study, diagnosis, and treatment of people who have psychological problems adjusting to themselves and the environment. Clinical psychologists deal with both normal and abnormal behaviors. They administer and interpret psychological tests, and assist in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. They also study the structure and development of personality.

psychological distress, disability, dysfunctional behaviors, and health-risk behaviors, and to the

Clinical psychology includes both scientific research, focusing on the search for general principles, and clinical service, focusing on the study and care of clients, and information gathered from each of these activities influences practice and research.

Clinical psychology is a broad approach to human problems (both individual and interpersonal) consisting of assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, program development, administration, and

families, groups, and disadvantaged persons.

Clinical psychology focuses on the assessment, treatment, and understanding of psychological and behavioral problems and disorders. In fact, clinical psychology focuses its efforts on the ways in which the human psyche interacts with physical, emotional, and social aspects of health and dysfunction.

According to the American Psychological Association, clinical psychology attempts to use the principles of psychology to better understand, predict, and alleviate "intellectual, emotional, psychological, and behavioral disability and discomfort" (American Psychological Association, 1981).

Clinical psychology is "the aspect of psychological science and practice concerned with the analysis, treatment, and prevention of human psychological disabilities and with the enhancing of personal adjustment and effectiveness" (Rodnick, 1985).

Thus, clinical psychology uses what is known about the principles of human behavior to help people with the numerous troubles and concerns they experience during the course of life in their relationships, emotions, and physical selves. For example, a clinical psychologist might evaluate a child using intellectual and educational tests to determine if the child has a learning disability or an attentional problem that might contribute to poor school performance. Another example includes a psychologist who treats an adult experiencing severe depression following a recent divorce. People experiencing alcohol addiction, hallucinations, compulsive eating, sexual dysfunctions, physical abuse, suicidal impulses, and head injuries are a few of the many problem areas that are of interest to clinical psychologists.

To summarize, Clinical psychology is a broad approach to human problems (both individual and interpersonal) consisting of assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, program development, administration, and families, groups etc.

Clinical psychologists work with a broad range of populations, including the following: individuals (infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly); couples (regardless of gender composition); families (traditional, multigenerational, and blended families); groups; organizations; and systems.

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONS THAT ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO CLINICAL

Many people are unaware of the similarities and differences between clinical psychology and related fields, e.g. a popular question is, what is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist, or between a clinical psychologist and a counseling psychologist.. Since almost all of the mental health disciplines share certain activities such as conducting psychotherapy, understanding differences between these fields can be very challenging.

Before we examine the nature of activities that are done by clinical psychologists, let us briefly review some of the other major professions in the mental health field.

Major professions in the mental health field other than Clinical Psychology include the following:

1. PSYCHIATRISTS · 2. COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGISTS · 3. PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS · 4. REHABILITATION PSYCHOLOGISTS · 5. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS · 6. HEALTH PSYCHOLOGISTS · 7. PSYCHIATRIC NURSES · 8. PARAPROFESSIONALS · 1. THE PSYCHIATRISTS

The psychiatrics are physicians. Psychiatry is rooted in the medical tradition and exists within the framework of organized medicine. Because of the medical training, they may prescribe medications, treat physical ailments and give physical examination.

In addition to their concentration on psychotherapy and psychiatric diagnosis, they make extensive use of a variety of medications in treating their patients' psychological difficulties. Furthermore, their medical training makes them potentially better able to recognize medical problems that may be contributing to the patient’s psychological distress.

EDUCATION &TRAINING OF A PSYCHIATRIST

Specific training in psychiatry begins only after a physician receive his/her MBBS or MD degree and takes the 4 years residency training in psychiatry with further specialized training following the completion of residency.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND PSYCHIATRIST

Before receiving psychiatric training, a psychiatrist complete four years of the medical degree and the general medical internship. In contrast to psychiatrists, a clinical psychologist typically receives no training in medicine, receives more extensive training in human behavior and formal assessment of psychological functioning and receives extensive training in scientific research methods.