PSY 282 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Mental Health Professional, Psychopathology, Construct Validity
23 Jan 2020
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Document Summary
A psychological disorder or abnormal behavior is a psychological dysfunction within an individual that is associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected. Psychopathology is the scientific study of psychological disorders. Within this field are specially trained professionals, including clinical and counseling psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers, and psychiatric nurses, as well as marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. Psychiatrists earn an md in medical school and then specialize in psychiatry training that lasts 3 to 4 years. Psychiatric social workers typically earn a master"s degree in social work. Psychiatric nurses have advanced degrees like a master"s or phd. Many mental health professionals take a scientific approach to their clinical work and therefore are called scientist-practitioners. Scientist-practitioners may keep up with the latest scientific developments in their field and therefore use the most current diagnostic and treatment procedures.
