Deck 1: Mental Health and Mental Illness

Question 1

Explain the concepts of incomprehensibility and cultural relativity.

Answer 1

Elements related with individual's perception of mental illness:
There is no universal concept of mental illness, since such a concept is influenced by a number of cultural factors. However, in spite of the cultural factors, there remain definite elements which are related with an individual's perceptions of mental illness. In the year 2002, Horwitz categorized two of these elements as incomprehensibility and cultural relativity.
Incomprehensibility:
Incomprehensibility can be referred to as the incapability of the general people to comprehend the motivation or stimulation behind the behavior. When this general population fails to understand the comprehensibility or sense of behavior, they are probably to tag such behavior as mental illness. According to Horwitz, people attribute various labels of mental illness, when the rules, principles and considerations that they use to interpret behavior fail to conclude on any understandable stimulus behind an action.
Cultural relativity:
Cultural relativity deems that the rules, principles and understandings as mentioned by Horwitz, are pictured within an individual's specific culture. On the basis of one's cultural or social standards, behavior can be classified into either "normal" or "abnormal". Thus, a behavior which is identified as a confirmation of mental illness in a particular society may be considered normal in another society and the other way round.

Question 2

Define mental health and mental illness.

Answer 2

Mental health
Mental health is the state of an individual with respect to their psychological and physiological comfort. It is the condition of an individual which is relative rather than complete or absolute.
According to Townsend, mental health is the thriving version to stressors from both the external and internal environment, confirmed by thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behaviors of individuals that are age-suitable and similar to local and cultural standards.
Mental Illness:
Mental illness is the state which affects an individual's thoughts, feelings and behavior and his or her capability to connect to others and the environment.
According to Townsend, mental illness can be defined as the maladaptive reactions to stressors from the external or internal environment, confirmed by the thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behaviors that are similar to the cultural and local standards and meddle with the social, professional and physical functioning of an individual.

Question 3

Three years ago, Anna's dog Lucky, whom she had had for 16 years, was run over by a car and killed. Anna's daughter reports that since that time, Anna has lost weight, rarely leaves her home, and just sits and talks about Lucky. Anna's behavior would be considered maladaptive because

A) it has been more than 3 years since Lucky died.
B) her grief is too intense over just the loss of a dog.
C) her grief is interfering with her functioning.
D) people in this culture would not comprehend such behavior over the loss of a pet.

Answer 3

The responses that occur when an individual is not able to progress satisfactorily through the stages of grieving to achieve resolution are called maladaptive responses. In such stage, the individual usually gets fixed in denial or anger stage of grief process.
Maladaptive behavior is seen as being unable to perform activities of daily living because of a loss.
Hence, choosing option 'a' would be incorrect.
Intensity of the grieving process is not correlated to having a maladaptive behavior.
Thus, 'b' is incorrect.
Culture is not associated with the grieving process and of having a maladaptive behavior.
Therefore, selecting 'd' would render a wrong answer.
A has not been able to overcome the grieving process. She is manifesting a maladaptive response in which she is not able to function well with her daily activities due to the loss of her dog.
Therefore, the correct answer is option (c).

Question 4

Describe some symptoms of panic anxiety.

Question 5

Discuss cultural elements that influence attitudes toward mental health and mental illness.

Question 6

Based on the information in Question 1, Anna's grieving behavior would most likely be considered to be
A) delayed.
B) inhibited.
C) prolonged.
D) distorted.
(Reference Question 1)
Three years ago, Anna's dog Lucky, whom she had had for 16 years, was run over by a car and killed. Anna's daughter reports that since that time, Anna has lost weight, rarely leaves her home, and just sits and talks about Lucky. Anna's behavior would be considered maladaptive because

A) it has been more than 3 years since Lucky died.
B) her grief is too intense over just the loss of a dog.
C) her grief is interfering with her functioning.
D) people in this culture would not comprehend such behavior over the loss of a pet.

Question 7

Jane was involved in an automobile accident in which both her parents were killed. When you ask her about it, she says she has no memory of the accident. What ego defense mechanism is she using?

Question 8

Identify physiological responses to stress.

Question 9

Anna is diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. She is most likely fixed in which stage of the grief process?

A) Denial
B) Anger
C) Depression
D) Acceptance

Question 10

In what stage of the grieving process is the individual with delayed or inhibited grief fixed?

Question 11

Discuss the concepts of anxiety and grief as psychological responses to stress.

Question 12

Anna, who is 72 years old, is of the age when she may have experienced many losses coming close together. What is this called?

A) Bereavement overload
B) Normal mourning
C) Isolation
D) Cultural relativity

Question 13

Anna, age 72, has been grieving the death of her dog, Lucky, for 3 years. She is not able to take care of her activities of daily living and wants only to make daily visits to Lucky's grave. Her daughter has likely put off seeking help for Anna because

A) Women are less likely than men to seek help for emotional problems.
B) Relatives often try to "normalize" the behavior rather than label it mental illness.
C) She knows that all older people are expected to be a little depressed.
D) She is afraid that the neighbors "will think her mother is crazy."

Question 14

Anna's dog Lucky got away from her while they were taking a walk. He ran into the street and was hit by a car. Anna cannot remember any of these circumstances of his death. This is an example of what defense mechanism?

A) Rationalization
B) Suppression
C) Denial
D) Repression

Question 15

Lucky sometimes refused to obey Anna and indeed did not come back to her when she called to him on the day he was killed. But Anna continues to insist, "He was the very best dog. He always minded me. He always did everything I told him to do." This represents the defense mechanism

A) sublimation.
B) compensation.
C) reaction formation.
D) undoing.

Question 16

Anna has been a widow for 20 years. Her maladaptive grief response to the loss of her dog may be attributed to which of the following? Select all that apply.

A) Unresolved grief over loss of her husband
B) Loss of several relatives and friends over the last few years
C) Repressed feelings of guilt over the way in which Lucky died
D) Inability to prepare in advance for the loss

Question 17

For what reason would Anna's illness be considered a neurosis rather than a psychosis?

A) She is unaware that her behavior is maladaptive.
B) She exhibits inappropriate affect (emotional tone).
C) She experiences no loss of contact with reality.
D) She tells the nurse, "There is nothing wrong with me!"

Question 18

Which of the following statements by Anna might suggest that she is achieving resolution of her grief over Lucky's death?

A) "I don't cry anymore when I think about Lucky."
B) "It's true. Lucky didn't always mind me. Sometimes he ignored my commands."
C) "I remember how it happened now. I should have held tighter to his leash!"
D) "I won't ever have another dog. It's just too painful to lose them."