Issues and Debates on Diagnostics and Medication in Mental Health

Practitioners such as nurses, counsellor’s and psychotherapists need to be able to communicate with psychiatrists, other members of mental health teams and medical staff in primary care and other medical settings. In addition practitioners are often required to give opinions in a legal context. Furthermore the psychological literature uses diagnostic classification as the basis for empirical research.

It is therefore imperative that practitioners are able to make use of diagnostic classifications in order to communicate accurately and use the literature to inform practice. Practitioners will also regularly come into contact with clients who are taking or may require a joint medication and psychological psychotherapeutic approach.  It is therefore important that a working knowledge of prescribed medications and psychopharmacology (the study of drug-induced changes in mood, sensation, thinking, and behaviour) is acquired.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to critically analyse:

• the use of ICD 10 and DSM 4 (diagnotic classifications) in order to identify a range of psychological and emotional disorders
• the modes of action and interactions of commonlyused medications for psychopathology
• the aetiology and treatment of specific psychopathologies.

Topics covered can include:

• Diagnostic classification (ICD and DSM)
• Diagnostic reliability and validity
• Strengths and limitations of diagnostic classification
• Psychiatric medications, i.e. antidepressants, anti-psychotics (standard and atypical), tranquillisers, hypnotics, beta-blockers
• Common medications used in chronic physical health problems eg diabetes, cardiac conditions, cancer
• Drug interactions and side effects.