How do psychiatrists differentiate between what is mental illness and what is normal human reaction to stress?
Now that I’ve been around people from various cultures and seen the different attitudes towards mental illness, I’m wondering if there’s a worldwide standard followed by the medically trained.
noname said,
Wrote on December 4, 2010 @ 9:39 am
before they differentiate they ask shit load of questions
Ryan M said,
Wrote on December 4, 2010 @ 9:51 am
Standards differ from country to country. In the US psychiatrists and psychologists diagnosis mental disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM for short. The latest edition is the DSM-IV-TR). Although requirements for diagnosis obviously differ from disorder to disorder, the common criteria is that the disorder must cause the person who has it either mental anguish/stress or interfere with their daily life (which includes job, school, and relationships). Most of the time one or both of these conditions are going to be met. However, if neither are then the person cannot be diagnosed with a disorder, even if its painfully obvious that they have one.
daiconharuko said,
Wrote on December 4, 2010 @ 10:05 am
I really think it varies by culture. Every culture has different standards for medical practices. While normal human reactions to stress can make one feel extremely mental, there are other symptoms and causes to mental illness that a trained medical professional should be able to figure out. Personally I don’t want to think that there is any “normal” reaction to stress, as I’d like to think that normal people don’t react to stress like I do. Anyway, I’m sure it varies by culture.
skanktale said,
Wrote on December 4, 2010 @ 10:43 am
Psychiatrist use the DSM Criteria for Mental Illness to diagnose patients.
Mental illness expresses itself in very distinct patterns of symptoms and it is possible to distinguish the different illnesses from simple reaction to stress.
baghdadcatcash said,
Wrote on December 4, 2010 @ 11:39 am
hullo
if they are properly qualified,then they should have the same attitude toward mental illness.
human reaction to stress vary in between people and cultures,we call it trans-cultural psychiatry,anyhow normal reaction in general must end in a problem solving result,otherwise it will lead frustration and breakdown.
Dr solo
darlene g said,
Wrote on December 4, 2010 @ 11:59 am
ryan m. answered this most correctly. it has to cause “marked distress” every day, most of the day for more than 2 weeks.