The medical model of mental disorders is a way of thinking in psychiatry that incorporates medical thinking and methods. The medical model states that psychiatry is a branch of medicine and because of this the use of medical diagnosis should be used in psychiatric diagnosis. This medical model is broken down in to two parts, the minimal claim and the strong claim. Each claim holds the belief of which is the better way to diagnose a mental illness. This essay will address what the medical model of mental disorders is, and the difference between the minimal and strong claim. I will argue that there is good reason to reject both the minimal and strong claim, and that there is an alternative version of the medical model that will balance out the …show more content…
Gauze proposed the medical model of a mental disorder, which as stated above, describes psychiatry as a branch of medicine. The medical model seeks to bring medical diagnostics to psychology and psychiatry. When applying the medical model to psychiatry there are three components. These components consist of (1) a wide range of specific mental illnesses, (2) each with a distinct reaction to treatment, and (3) improved psychiatric understanding through coordinated health care diagnostic testing. This shows that the medical model is less interested in the definitions of disease, and instead interested in how to treat and care for individuals that have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Information that can be drawn from the medical model is the type of medical treatment that should be produced, how to take on psychiatric research and training, and the classification and diagnosis of mental disorders. This medical model was derived from the DSM and is split into two parts, the minimal claim and the strong claim.
The minimal claim of the medical model states, “mental disorders are a collection of symptoms that occur together and unfold in characteristic ways, but makes no commitments about underlying causes of mental illnesses” (Murphy, 2010). The minimal claim is based solely on the symptoms that occur because of the illness, but not the cause of the illness. The minimal claim uses physical symptoms, such as pain in the abdomen, fatigue, fever, and decreased immune
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As expressed above, the problem is that just because there is a symptom does not necessarily mean that it will be diagnosed correctly. In this argument we reject statement 3, because symptoms can have different causes. In the medical field today there are so many things that need to be diagnosed and diagnosis has become more difficult because symptoms are so similar. Even more so, there have become subcategories in illnesses. For example, schizophrenia is divided into different types of schizophrenia and though each one is slightly different, they have similar symptoms. In many kinds the schizophrenic becomes withdrawn, and lacks trust in other people. The classification based solely on symptoms is not a practical or effective way to prescribe treatment. This form of classification can lead to improper prescribing of medications to patients. It puts a lot of pressure on the doctor to determine the problem of the patient when there are so many contributing factors that are so
Consequently, this was attained during a psychiatric evaluation of 44 year old, African
Source B is also a secondary source accounting for a history of mental illness and chosen for the detailed descriptions of cures and theories
Famed psychologist, Sigmund Freud, is perhaps one of the most iconic and influential figures in the sphere of faulty scientific reasoning to date. Though his theories and ideas remain to be integral parts of psychological culture, a large number of them have been wildly disproven by modern scientists, who cite Freud’s misuse of evidence (more specifically, case studies) as a contributing factor to the erroneousness of his claims. Case study, Freud’s preferred method of investigation, extensively examines a single group, person, etc. As a result of this, one cannot use a case study as a dependable source of information, nor can one generalize a case study to a broader population, despite Freud’s multiple attempts to do just that, in a variety of studies dealing with mentally-ill patients. It is outdated and unreliable; a source of evidence that is of little to no scientific value, yet, one that still endures to be staple among discredited scientists and groundless researchers alike.
In the text, Cahalan explained that our medical system typically separates health conditions by identifying them as either organic or inorganic. This distinction in our medical system further perpetuates the idea that mental illness is less real because it is inorganic or in the mind. Learning about this distinction caused me to feel frustrated with our medical system because this distinction can shape the trajectory of an individual's life. For instance, when an individual is diagnosed with an organic illness, they are usually provided with a life-saving treatment and aren’t questioned about if their symptoms are real. In contrast, when someone is diagnosed with an inorganic illness, they face more barriers with access to medication, treatment, and insurance.
Mental illnesses have a high prevalence amongst the United States population. Each year, tens of millions of individuals suffer and are affected by mental illnesses (National Institute of Mental Health, 1). These illnesses range from anxiety disorder, eating disorders, major depression, personality disorder, and many more. Yet, with the existing knowledge, mental providers and professionals, and the DSM-5, mental illness remains a growing mystery to the public. Literature has played a significant role in how mental illnesses are defined, their characteristics, and the portrayal of those who are mentally ill to the public eye.
Throughout recent years, mental illness has become a belittled and “taboo” topic in a multitude of different societies. As a result, a majority of the world’s population isn’t exactly clear as to how one should approach those suffering from mental instability. Unlike physical illness, where an entire system of doctors and hospitals and medical research developed in order to cater to those who were physically ill, mental illnesses do not get nearly as much attention. Some would argue that a physical illness proves to be significantly more detrimental to one’s day to day life. However, observation of mentally ill individuals proves that mental illness can be as equally debilitating (you probably know someone in your life who has died from the
In the book Girl, Interrupted, by Susanna Kaysen, one of the biggest focal points is mental illness. Mental illness can be tough to talk about, simply because the phrase “mental illness” encompasses such a wide range of conditions and conjures up images of deranged people, but it is very important, especially in this book. There is a certain stigma that people who are put into mental hospitals because they have medical problems or are insane and a possible danger to society. While this is sometimes true, it is far more common for patients to need help for a disorder, but just don’t know where to go or what to do, and can end up putting themselves or someone else in danger.
• These classifications do not account for people who have ‘atypical’ symptoms or those that do not clearly follow the ‘script. • Critics claim that categorical systems reduce humans to one-dimensional sources of data rather than encouraging practitioners to treat the whole person. • Critics also see these systems as tools for social control – giving mental health professionals control over people’s lives. 3. Explain two alternative frameworks for understanding mental distress.
1.2 Explain the key strengths and limitations of the psychiatric classification system? The classification of mental disorders is a key aspect of psychiatry and other mental health professions and an important issue for people who may be diagnosed. The key strengths of the psychiatric classification system are the inappropriate behaviours displayed by individuals are dealt with, all disorders are arranged, organised and described in an acceptable manner and order, it is used all over the world so correct diagnoses and treatment are used.
In The Myth of Mental Illness, Thomas S. Szasz argued that mental illness does not exist. He claimed that mental illness is not a literal “thing” and it is only a metaphor for human problems in their daily lives. Therefore, he believed that mental illness is just a myth. However, Szasz claimed that the definition of mental illness should be changed. He believed that we should look into mental illness from a different perspective.
“When we was coming down I looked through one of them windows. I saw the other part of the plane. There were flames coming out of it”(Golding 8). The novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding starts with a group of boys whom their plane is shot down, as the story takes place in World War Two. The British boys are stranded on the island with no adults around.
The Medical Model looks at diagnosing problems they believe can be then medically treated and, further down the road, they look at rehabilitating ‘sufferers’ through medical means. Strengths; • “The most positive thing about the medical model
Mental illness is an important topic that is rarely spoken or taught in today’s society. About half of people in the world have a mental health disorder, yet most people don’t know what it really means to have a serious health problem. There are numerous theories on why these disorders happen; additionally, some disorders in the world are still a mystery to the science community and also millions of people share these personal experiences through writing. What is Mental Health and its comparison to Mental Illness
So I don’t know that I’ve hands. (P1,P2) This essay considers the argument above. If the argument is sound, we must necessarily accept the conclusion that we do not know that we have hands. We ordinarily take having hands to be something we know.
Psychoanalytic Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) is reflected as the forefathers of psychology and founder of psychoanalysis. Based on Freud’s theories, psychoanalytic therapy is a type of treatment that tends to observe at the background from early childhood to perceive if these situations have affected the individual’s life, or to current issues. (Counselling Directory, 2014) This therapy discovers how the unconscious mind empowers thoughts and behaviors, with the purpose of offering insight and resolution to the person seeking therapy. This form of therapy is a long-term treatment whereby it can take duration up to weeks, months or even years depending on the complexity of the patient being explored.