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Public perception of mental illness introduction
Public perception of mental illness introduction
Public perception of mental illness introduction
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In the article “An experimental investigation of the impacts of biological versus psychological explanations of the cause of mental illness”, by Danny C.K. Lam, addresses the fact there is tension between the biological and psychological accounts of the causes of mental illness. Additionally, this tension is evident in research, theoretical work and professionals’ distribution of information to both patients and the public. Furthermore, the aim of this study is to use experimental manipulation to evaluate the impact of causal labels on the perception of a number of psychiatric problems. This study was designed to investigate the extent to which psychological and biological explanations of mental disorders would influence the participants’ perceptions
As noted previously, system justification theory suggests that individuals possess a motive to justify and rationalize the status quo. According to the theory, stereotypes are often used to bolster the status quo because they easily explain differences among groups and thereby justify inequalities. The most commonly held stereotypes about mental illness in Western society are that its sufferers are dangerous, incompetent and personally responsible for their illness (Dickstein, Vogt, Handa & Litz, 2010). Not surprisingly, stereotypes like these have resulted in the persistent stigma around mental illness that exists today.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), it defines mental illness as Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. (What Is Mental Illness? (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness). Mental Disorders are a wide range of mental conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. There are a lot of different psychological disorders here is a list of the major psychological disorders and their definitions:
As science has evolved, so have treatments for mental illnesses have over time. The medical model is described as the view that psychological disorders are medical diseases with a biological origin (King, 2010, pg. 413). Abnormal behavior that categorizes some disorders can be impacted by biological factors such as genes, psychological factors such as childhood experiences, and even sociocultural factors such as gender and race (King, 2010). Treatments such as psychosurgery (lobotomy) , drug therapy (pharmaceuticals), electroconclusive therapy, and psychoanalysis are used to treat a wide range of psychological disorders. Back then, the public’s negative views on mental illnesses also went as far to associate with the people who treated it; psychiatrists. “Nunnally (1961) found that the public evaluated professionals who treated mental disorders significantly more negatively than those who treat physical disorders,” (Phelan, Link, Stueve, & Pescosolido, 2000, pg. 189). People back then didn’t see the point in “paying to be told that they were crazy”. However, in today’s society, it is now acceptable to seek help from psychiatric professionals; we are seeing more and more people seek mental health treatment. “In terms of facility-based records of utilization (Manderscheid and Henderson 1998), the data suggest that the rate of utilization of professional mental health services has at least doubled and maybe tripled, between the 1950’s and today,” (Phelan, Link, Stueve, & Pescosolido, 2000, pg. 189). In the 1950’s, neuroleptic drugs like Thorazine were introduced to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia. These drugs block a neurotransmitter called dopamine from getting to the brain, which in turn reduce schizophrenic symptoms, however there are some side effects such as substantial twitching of the neck, arms, and legs, and even dysphoria or lack of pleasure. (King, 2010, pg.
Biological and Psychological Explanations of Anxiety Disorders Research has often concluded that no one biological or psychological theory can provide a sufficient explanation into anxiety disorders such as depression. The diathesis stress model explains psychological anxiety disorders as an interaction between a predisposition to the disorder and environmental stress. In terms of anxiety disorders, predispositions include aspects of biological and psychological factors. Often the main problem found with psychological explanations of anxiety disorders, especially the psychodynamic theory, is that is the theories are more difficult to test. With Freud’s theory, which is largely based on the working of the unconscious mind, it makes it impossible to prove or disprove.
Psychology is portrayed as a noble field where clinicians seek who help clients through the human suffering that they experience from psychiatric issues. There is controversy as to what constitutes human suffering to the extent that therapeutic and pharmacological interventions need to occur. The line between normal functioning or coping with the realities of life and psychiatric illness appears to blur further with every new addition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) from the American Psychiatric Association (APA). An example of this blurring is the proposed addition of Complicated Grief Disorder which has the potential to medicalize and dehumanize an adaptive process that occurs when one is bereft of a relationship. What is deemed abnormal by one generation, in one edition of the DSM can be totally revised in another edition. But what is abnormal and normal in our society at any given period?
Star,S.A.(1955). The public’s ideas about mental illness. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Mental Health.
When patients are labeled with a mental illness they start to believe they actually have that illness. In more severe cases, misdiagnosis can result in the patient’s death or simply taking their own life. According to Dr. Mercola “Diagnostic errors are just one type of error that occurs in the medical field, and you might be surprised at just how common errors occur. While the 1999 IOM report blamed 98,000 deaths a year on hospital errors, a 2013 study in the Journal of Patient Safety projected that medical errors now account for 210,000 to 440,000 US deaths annually”. To better understand the severity of misdiagnosis, imagine a close family member getting diagnosed with a mental disorder that he or she doesn’t have and from that they decide to take their own life due to unnecessary treatment that is harmful to their
There are so many types of mental illnesses that affect people every day. When some people think of mental illnesses they think of the ones that would cause people to have physical symptoms as well, but that’s untrue, there are many more that you would never know anyone has if you were to see them on the street. As defined by the 2008 encyclopedia “a mental illness is any disease of the mind or brain that seriously affects a person’s ability or behavior. Symptoms of a mental illness may include extreme moods, such as excessive sadness or anxiety, or a decreased ability to think clearly or remember well.” A mentally ill person has severe symptoms that damage the person’s ability to function in everyday activities and situations. Every nation and every economic level can be affected by a mental illness. In the United States alone about 3% of the population has severe mental illness and to add to that number about 40% of people will experience a type of mental illness at least once in their lives. Some cases of mental illnesses can go away on their own, but some cases are so severe that they require professional treatment. There is so much more available to help people recover from their symptoms than in the past.
Two major critiques of this model is that it individualizes the disorder to the individual and it depoliticizes, fails to take into account how external influences affects the individual. In the medical model approach there are four assumptions for the explanation of this model. The first assumption is the idea of biological reductionism, which means a mental disorder is a biological condition and it is a disease within the brain. Thus, it is only the body that the doctor looks at, while ignoring the social context behind the occurrence. The second assumption within the medical model approach is the idea of the doctrine of specific etiology, which states that there is specific cause for every disease. Further, this suggests that an individual with a mental disorder does not have the ability to change their own behaviour, there is a reliance on medication to cure the illness and that the doctor is the expert in diagnosing and treating the disorder. The third assumption, is one of the mind-body dualism, which means the mind is separate from the body. One of the implications of the mind-body dualism is that there is an ability to treat the brain without engaging the mind. Another implication is that the voice of the patient is less important than locating the illness within the body. The last assumption within the medical model approach to mental illness deals with seeing the body as
Mental health and mental ill health is a wide subject that includes many different categories of mental health problems. According to the organisation Mind, mental health problems affect one in four people in Britain (Mind, 2013). Although, that is a big number it still is a sensitive topic for many people.
Would You Rather? is a popular game among children, teenagers, and even adults. The game simply gives players two choices and asks them which they would rather. However, what would a player choice if they picked up a car and it read, “Would You Rather… have a mental illness or a physical illness?” You could easily say that mental diseases are worse and name all of the aspects that are terrifying about them; however, you could also say that physical illnesses are worse and list the gory realities of it as well. But what about them both, side by side, with all of their painful characteristics and facts. Mental and physical diseases are no worse than one another because they both disarray daily lives and activities, both
The actual causal factors are still not yet clear; there has been some suggestion that genetics could be a causal factor. There has been a major concern about this argument regarding the parents’ “responsibility” in causing the condition (Craig, Kwame, & Paul, 2008). Consequently, various families of those who suffer from psychosis have been blamed, stigmatized, negatively labeled and thus, have been left feeling hurt (Craig, Kwame, & Paul, 2008). Psychosis can also result into pervasive changes in the individual and...
There is no greater time to create a platform to discuss the overhaul of a system of care such as the mental health system in America. Over the past 2 decades, the increase of violent acts in our communities have been attributed to the untreated and abandoned individuals who suffer from mental illness. Despite the government’s best efforts, the lapse in judgement has proven to be devastating to our community and change is a necessary component for intervention and prevention. The purpose of this manuscript’s existence is to bring to light to this overlooked correlation and identify solutions that will be effective and practical.
Samouilhan, T., & Seabi, J. (2010). University students' beliefs about the causes and treatments of mental illness. South African Journal of Psychology, 74-89 .
In some cases the causes of mental illness primarily found inside the individual. Some of them have been associated with an abnormal balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. If they are out of balance the communication between nerve cell in the brain disrupted (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of psychiatrist, 2005). Hence, leading to symptoms of mental illness like depression, schizophrenia. On the other hand, genetics also plays a significant role to acquire mental disorder, which is passed...