PRAC 6635 FINAL EXAM PREP PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND DIAGNOSTICS REASONING PRACTICUM ANSWERED 2026/2027 (18pages)

1. What are the four main categories of psychopathology according to the DSM-5? How are they distinguished from each other? - The four main categories of psychopathology are neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, bipolar and related disorders, and depressive disorders. They are distinguished by the onset, duration, severity, and impact of the symptoms on the person's functioning and well-being. - Answer: Neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, bipolar and related disorders, depressive disorders. 2. What is the difference between a mental disorder and a mental health problem? Give an example of each. - A mental disorder is a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning. A mental health problem is a broader term that encompasses any issue that affects a person's mental health or well-being, such as stress, grief, or trauma. A mental disorder may be a type of mental health problem, but not all mental health problems are mental disorders. - Answer: Examples may vary. A possible example of a mental disorder is major depressive disorder. A possible example of a mental health problem is bereavement. 3. What are some common sources of data for diagnostic reasoning in psychopathology? What are some advantages and limitations of each source? - Some common sources of data for diagnostic reasoning in psychopathology are clinical interviews, psychological tests, behavioral observations, self-reports, collateral reports, and biological markers. Each source has its own advantages and limitations. For example, clinical interviews can provide rich and detailed information about the person's history, symptoms, and context, but they may also be influenced by the interviewer's bias, the person's memory, or the rapport between them. Psychological tests can provide standardized and objective measures of various aspects of psychopathology, but they may also have cultural or linguistic biases, require interpretation by trained professionals, or have low ecological validity. - Answer: Sources may vary. A possible answer is clinical interviews, psychological tests, behavioral observations, self-reports, collateral reports, biological markers.