DSM-IV-TR

Abstract

The DSM divides the mental disorders into three categories: mental disorders due to a general mental condition, substance related mental disorder, and primary mental disorders. As social workers it important to know the difference between whether a client is suffering from a mental disorder or not.

Introduction

This podcast spoke about the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and how it is used in the field of social work. Questions pertaining to the DSM will also be on the social work exam, the exam will ask questions about mental disorders that happen to be listed in the manual in an effort to see how familiar a worker is with mental disorders and  symptoms or signs that may show that a client may be suffering from a mental disorder or not.

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Mood disorders are mental disorders characterized by periods of depression, sometimes alternating with periods of elevated mood. Paranoid Personality Disorder, Axis I - A pattern of pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent Individuals with his disorder assume other people will exploit harm or deceive them, even if no evidence exists to support it. They are preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of their friends and associates. They read hidden meanings that are demeaning and threatening into benign remarks or events. When a client comes in with this type of signs and symptoms its important that the worker either look into it to see if it could be a serious mental issue or just simply an issue a person needs to deal with in order to change.

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While a considerable part of mental disorders, are at least partially conditioned by the culture in which they are found, some disorders are more culture-specific than others. A culture-specific syndrome, folk illness or culture-bound syndrome is a mixture of psychiatric and somatic symptoms that are considered to be a familiar disease only within a particular society or culture. There is no objective biochemical or structural alterations of body organs or functions, and the disease is not recognized in other cultures.

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 A systematic method used to identify the unknown is known as the Differential diagnosis. Differential diagnosis allows the physician to understand the condition or state of the client’s disorder, eliminate any imminently life-threatening conditions, plan treatment or intervention for the condition, assess reasonable prognosis, and enable the patient and the relatives to incorporate the clients’ condition into their lives, until the condition improves or if it improves.

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Major mental disorders are the mental disorders in the DSM. However it does not include those caused by a medical condition and or some substance. Before a worker or physician can diagnose a primary mental disorder such as obsessive compulsive disorder the worker must rule out the possibilities that a client symptoms are directly caused by a general medical condition or a substance. Ones culture is also an important factor when determining whether or not a client has a mental disorder or not because sometime client’s symptoms will reflect beliefs, behaviors or experience that are particular to their culture or religion.

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 When dealing with clients who look to have some type of mental disorder you find that there are clients that seek services after having abused some type of substances, which intern caused them to have some type of mental disorder. On the other hand when dealing with children or teen during their child hood life some are face with an anti social personality disorder however they cannot be identify once the child reaches 18 years of age,  it is only when the client is under the age of 18 that they can effectively identify if a adolescent is truly suffering  from antisocial personality. It is always good to get test early is the client or parent of the client believes they are suffering from some type of disorder.

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What a lot of people fail to realize is that it is very common for suicide victims to suffer from a mental disorder that comes from bipolar depression and/ or depression. They actually happen to be the most common along with alcoholism and schizophrenia. In most cases a client will become suicidal a couple months after they are diagnosed or have been suffering from the disorder, we even find that even when a client seems to be getting better they may relapse back into their depression mood, when a client falls back they tend to be more at risk of being suicidal because unfortunately they have already gone through the steps they just never went through with committing suicide.    

What is most interesting about this podcast?

The most interesting part of this podcast to me was the topic about the importance of diagnosing clients before it is too late, because certain disorders cannot be “considered” a mental disorder once you reach adulthood. Which seems crazy but had the client been tested earlier in life it’s a wonder what how different their life could have been or if it would of made a difference at all.

What can you share with other students about this podcast?

After listening to the podcast I believe I would share with other students how important it is to familiarize yourself with common disorders and how important it is to follow up with clients who suffer from depression and other disorders that may in time lead to suicide. You never want to be that worker who failed to take the time out to double check on that client who relapsed back into depression and committed suicide. Even when things seem to be going right with that client, it’s always important and necessary to check on the client and make sure they are doing okay and things are still looking up.

Reference

Clinical Diagnosis & the DSM-IV-TR. Association of Social Work Boards, Audio.