Prevalence information for specific disorders is crucial so we ...

[Engineer]

Prevalence information for specific disorders is crucial so we know
 
  a. where disorders occur in a population.
  b. where to assign treatment and prevention resources.
  c. how a disorder developed in an individual.
  d. symptoms related to a specific disorder.

Question 2

Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the different methods to assess mood disorders.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[vish98]

Answer to Question 1

b

Answer to Question 2

Student answers should include:

- assessing people with mood disorders often includes structured and unstructured interviews
- structured interviews have diagnostic criteria in them and unstructured interviews provide the assessor an opportunity to examine nonverbal behaviors for symptoms of a mood disorder, but do take significant time
- self-report questionnaires are also available for assessing mood disorders, and are somewhat quicker to administer than an interview
- observations and information from therapist, spouses, partners, children, parents, and others are important for assessing mood disorders, particularly for symptoms involving delusions such as grandiosity
- laboratory assessments for mood disorders include the dexamethasone test, which may provide some insight into what biological treatments would be appropriate, but are costly and time-consuming to administer