Psychopathology

Psychopathology

Section I

Question 1: DSM

The DSM is structured according to the developmental lifespan. DSM is divided into
three basic components: diagnostic categorization, diagnostic criterion sets, and descriptive
language. It is obvious in every chapter and within particular diagnostic categories, with
diseases commonly diagnosed in childhood covered first, followed by disorders diagnosed in
adolescence, adulthood, and later life, as well as in the overall arrangement. Disorders
formerly handled in a single chapter titled "infancy, childhood, and adolescence" have now
been incorporated throughout the whole text.

By adopting a single axis system for the evaluation and diagnosis of mental illnesses,
the authors of the DSM-5 streamlined and simplified the diagnostic procedure for mental
disorders. In this version, information from the first four DSM axes is still considered, but it
is not divided as it was in prior editions of the DSM. Axes 1-3 of the DSM-5 have been
integrated to form an all-encompassing one axis encompassing mental and other medical
illnesses. Psychological illnesses, medical diagnoses, and personality disorders are no longer
classified separately (Kress et al., 2014). Doctors have long challenged the fifth DSM axis for
its lack of consistency and dependability.

Question 2: Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when symptoms are severe for the
developmental age of the patient and cause considerable difficulty in everyday functioning.
The disorder is linked with anxiety and worry over being away from home or loved ones
regularly and excessively. The disorder also shows anxiety over the possibility of losing a

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parent or other loved one due to sickness or a natural calamity (Mayo Clinic, 2018). The
patient is also worried that something horrible would happen, such as being lost or abducted,
resulting in the separation from one's parents or other loved ones. The other symptom is fear
of sleeping away from home without a parent or other loved one nearby, as well as recurring
dreams of being separated from family.

Separation anxiety disorder is normally treated with psychotherapy; however, it may
also be managed with medication in rare instances. Psychotherapy, often known as talk
therapy or psychological counseling, is a collaborative effort between a client and a therapist
to alleviate the symptoms of separation anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is
psychotherapy beneficial for treating separation anxiety disorder. When your kid is in
treatment, they may learn to address and manage concerns associated with separation and
uncertainty.

Question 3: Panic Attack and Panic Disorder

A panic attack is a rapid bout of great dread that results in significant bodily responses
even when there is no genuine threat or obvious reason. Panic attacks may be terrifying
experiences. When panic attacks strike, you may believe that you are losing control, that you
have a heart attack, or that you are about to die. On the other hand, panic disorder is
characterized by sudden and frequent bouts of acute panic accompanied by physical
symptoms such as dizziness, heart palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or
gastrointestinal upset.

Treatment of frequent and regular panic attacks may assist you in reducing the
severity and frequency of your panic attacks and improve your ability to perform your
everyday activities. Psychotherapy and medicine are the two most common treatment
approaches. In certain cases, one or both forms of therapy may be advised based on your

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personal preferences and medical history, the severity of your panic disorder, and if you have
access to mental health professionals who have received specialized training in treating panic
disorders.

Question 4: Dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder (DOCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by a pattern of unwanted
thoughts and anxieties (obsessions) that cause you to engage in repeated actions
(compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions significantly interfere with everyday tasks
and cause severe suffering to the person experiencing them (Cordeiro et al., 2015). The main
symptoms of OCD include symmetry (counting, ordering, and repeating compulsions, and
symmetry obsessions), cleaning (cleaning and washing and cleaning compulsions and
contamination fears), forbidden thoughts (religious, sexual, and aggression compulsions), and
hoarding.

OCD obsessions are recurring, persistent,


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