PSY 503

• 1. Rule our Substance Abuse Etiology
• 2. Rule out Etiology due to General Medical Condition
• 3. Determine the Specific Primary Disorder
• 4. Differentiate Adjustment Disdorder from NOS category
• 5. Establish the Boundary with no Mental Disorder
• 6. Rule out Factitious Disorder or Malingering

• I. Clinical Disorder
• II. Personality Disorders and MR
• III. Medical Conditions
• IV. Psychosocial and Environental problems
• V. GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale)

• Categorical
• Heterogenous

A mental disorder is conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress, disability, or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom.

• Yes.
• Use the NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) category to indicate multiple, concurrent etiologies.

• No.
• Psychological tests do not cover the criteria content (the specific criteria for a DSM diagnosis).

Mental Retardation and Personality Disorders

• Learned/not organic
• Little or no response to medication
• Ego syntonic (consistent with sense of self) vs. dystonic

• Odd/Eccentric
• Dramatic/Emotional
• Anxious/Fearful

There is no absolute timeframe; it is mostly a matter of clinical judgment. A timeline of 1-3 years of pervasive symptoms can be helpful, but only when considered along with detailed history and content.