Unit 5 - Lesson 2
AP Psychology Lesson: Diagnosing and Explaining Psychological Disorders
Unit: Mental and Physical Health | Lesson: 2 of 8 | Topic: Standards for Diagnosing and Approaches to Explaining Psychological Disorders
AP Exam Weighting: 15%–25%
Instructions: Complete this lesson during class by filling in the blanks and answering questions. All information needed is provided or will be researched in class. This lesson prepares you for the AP Psychology exam by exploring how disorders are diagnosed and explained. Use the provided spaces to write your answers clearly, focusing on applying concepts critically.
Warm-Up
Purpose: Get you thinking about how disorders are identified and explained.
Questions:
- Why might someone’s behavior be labeled as a psychological disorder?
- How could biology or environment contribute to mental health issues?
Your Answers: Write a short response (1–2 sentences) for each question.
Key Concepts
Instructions: Read the information below and answer the questions to learn core AP concepts. For definitions, write them in your own words based on the content or look up a different definition if directed by your teacher (e.g., via apa.org or Google Scholar).
Content: The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) provides criteria for diagnosing psychological disorders based on symptoms and duration. The biopsychosocial model explains disorders through biological (e.g., genetics), psychological (e.g., thoughts), and social (e.g., stress) factors. The diathesis-stress model suggests genetic predispositions (diathesis) interact with stressors to trigger disorders. Example: A person with a genetic risk for depression develops symptoms after a job loss. Reliability ensures consistent diagnoses, while validity ensures accurate identification of disorders. Cultural factors influence diagnosis (e.g., differing views on emotional expression). These approaches guide treatment and understanding of behavior.
- Define DSM-5 in your own words: _______________________________
- Define biopsychosocial model in your own words: _______________________________
- Define diathesis-stress model in your own words: _______________________________
- Explain how the DSM-5 influences diagnosis, using a specific example:
- Explain how the biopsychosocial model explains a disorder, using a different example:
- How does the diathesis-stress model account for mental health issues?
- Why is reliability important in diagnosing disorders?
- How could cultural factors affect the validity of a diagnosis?
Guided Activity
Instructions: Work in pairs to complete the two tasks below. Write your answers and be prepared to share one key point from each task with the class.
Task 1: Scenario Analysis: Scenario: A student is diagnosed with depression after persistent sadness and a family history of the disorder. Analyze how the DSM-5 and diathesis-stress model contribute to this diagnosis. For example, consider how criteria or genetic-stress interactions guide the process.
Your Response for Task 1: Explain the role of each concept in the diagnosis.
Class Share for Task 1: Note one point you’ll share.
Task 2: Case Application: Imagine a person develops anxiety due to work stress and a genetic predisposition. Apply the concepts of biopsychosocial model and reliability to explain their diagnosis. For example, evaluate how multiple factors or consistent criteria affect the outcome.
Your Response for Task 2: Apply the concepts to explain the diagnosis.
Class Share for Task 2: Note one point you’ll share.
Class Assignment: Refer to the assignment file for this lesson
Instructions: Complete the tasks below to deepen your understanding of diagnosing and explaining disorders.
Study Summary 1: A 2018 study found that the DSM-5 improved diagnostic reliability for anxiety disorders but faced challenges with cultural variations.
Question 1: How does this study demonstrate the role of the DSM-5 in diagnosis, and what might address cultural challenges?
Study Summary 2: A 2020 study showed that the biopsychosocial model explained higher rates of depression in urban environments due to social stressors.
Question 2: Evaluate how this study illustrates the biopsychosocial model’s role in explaining disorders, and suggest one limitation of its findings.
AP Exam Connection: This practices analyzing and evaluating research, a key skill for FRQs.
AP Exam Practice
Instructions: Answer the question below. We’ll review answers as a class to learn exam strategies.
Free-Response Question (FRQ):
Explain how the DSM-5, biopsychosocial model, and diathesis-stress model interact to influence the diagnosis of a specific psychological disorder (e.g., depression or anxiety). Provide one example for each factor (DSM-5, biopsychosocial model, diathesis-stress model) and analyze how they interact to shape the diagnosis.
Closure
Instructions: Write a brief summary (2–3 sentences) of two key ideas you learned today about how psychological disorders are diagnosed and explained.
Extended Practice
Instructions: Complete the tasks below based on today’s lesson to reinforce AP skills.
- Review your answers from this lesson.
- Write a detailed paragraph (5–7 sentences) applying today’s topic to a real-life scenario (e.g., how a disorder is diagnosed in a friend or family member). Include references to the DSM-5, biopsychosocial model, and diathesis-stress model, and explain their interaction.
- Find a short article or study on diagnosing psychological disorders (e.g., via apa.org) and write 2–3 sentences summarizing its relevance to today’s lesson. Cite the source (e.g., website or article title).