This tutorial provides information about mental illness including definitions, prevalence, explanations for lack of treatment, stigma, relationship to violence, treatment methods including psychotherapy and medications, and factors influencing treatment effectiveness. The tutorial discusses myths around mental illness, explains different treatment approaches, and aims to help users understand mental illness and treatment options as well as evaluate the relationship between mental illness and violence and factors influencing psychotherapy outcomes.

1. A Chapter 15 Tutorial
C re a t e d b y : P r o f e s s o r Ho ke r s o n
A m e r i c a n R i ve r Co l l e ge
L a s t U p d a t e d : S p r i n g 2 0 1 3

2. Using this Tutorial
 Use the navigation buttons at the bottom of the
screen.
 Click on hyperlinks when prompted.
 Have fun and learn!

3. Table of Contents (TOC)
 Objectives
 Module E Objectives #xx
 Action Items
 Understanding Mental Illness
 Stigma
 Mental Illness and Violence
 Treating Mental Illness
 Effectiveness of Psychotherapy
 Medicating Mental Illness
 In Conclusion

4. By the end of this tutorial you will be able to…
#13 – Discuss the myths about mental illness and issue of stigma
#34– Evaluate the relationship between violence and mental illness
#53 – Explain the factors that influence the effectiveness of psychotherapy

6. Understanding Mental Illness
 Question: What is mental illness?
 Definition: “…a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that
causes significant personal distress, impairs the ability to function in
one or more important areas of life, or both.” (Hockenbury and
Hockenbury, 2013, p. 561)
 Don’t forget! The symptoms of mental illness (also referred to as
psychopathology) must be interpreted in the context of a person’s
social and cultural environments.
 Review: Understanding Psychological Disorders, Chapter 14 (pages 561
– 565)

7. The Prevalence of Mental Illness
 Question: How prevalent are mental illnesses in the U.S.?
 Summary: According to the National Comorbidity Survey Replication
(NCS-R)…
 26% of respondents reported experiencing symptoms of mental illness
during the previous year
 46% of respondents reported experiencing symptoms of mental illness in
their lifetime
 59% of respondents received no treatment during the past year
 Question: If these people had a physical health problem, would they
go to the doctor?

8. Explanations
 Question: Why don’t people who suffer from mental
illness seek out help?
 Access
 Many lack insurance that covers mental health
 Availability of health care providers in rural areas
 Lack of education about psychological disorders
 Stigma!
 Video: Watch this video that explores the prevalence of
mental illness and emphasizes the need to de-stigmatize it.

9. Stigma
 Question: What are the most commonly diagnosed
mental illnesses in the U.S.?
 Read: Here is a list of the most common disorders.
 Activity: Pick on of the disorders listed and think about
the stereotypes of the people with that disorder-what types
of behaviors would you expect from them? What type of
people are they?
 Read: Follow this link and read about how mental illness
is portrayed in the media.

10. Mental Illness and Violence
 Fact: One of the most prevalent myths about mental
illness is that it is inextricably linked to violence.
 Review: Are people with a mental illness as violent as the
media portray them? Review the Critical Thinking box in
Chapter 14 (page 562)
 Think about it! How is the Sandyhook Connecticut
school shooter story relate to mental illness and stigma?
 Read: Here is a blogger’s perspective.

11. Treating Mental Illness
 Read: Chapter 15 (pages 610-628) presents various types of
psychotherapy that are used to treat mental illness,
including:
 Psychoanalytic Therapies
 Humanistic Therapies
 Behavior Therapies
 Cognitive Therapies
 Group, Family, and Couples Therapies
 Activity: After reviewing these therapies you should be
able to differentiate their approach to treating mental
illness.

12. Effectiveness of Psychotherapy
 Read: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Psychotherapy, Chapter 15
(pages 629 – 633).
 Tip 1! “There is little or no difference in the effectiveness of
different psychotherapies.” (page 630)
 Tip 2! “All of these psychotherapy approaches have in common the
fact that they are empirically supported treatments.” (page 630)
 Read: Here is another perspective on the effectiveness of
psychotherapy.
 Activity: Is psychotherapy effective?

13. Medicating Mental Illness
 Read: Biomedical Therapies, Chapter 15 (pages 635 644).
 Activity: Identify how each of the following types of
medications treat mental illness and which illnesses they
are prescribed to treat.
 Antipsychotic Medications
 Antidepressant Medications
 Antianxiety Medications
 Electroconvulsive Therapy

14. Therapy or medicine?
 Read: Comparing Psychotherapy and Antidepressant
Medication, Chapter 15 (page 642)
 Read: What about children? Should we be diagnosing them
with mental illness? If so should we be medicating them to
treat their symptoms? Take a closer look at the issue of
children and mental health here.
 Question: Which is more effective at treating mental
illness – psychotherapy or medications?

15. In Conclusion
 Mental illness is a real and serious issue in the U.S.
 Although some may experience symptoms of mental illness not everybody
requires help in remedying those symptoms.
 There are many different approaches to treating mental illness.
 Psychotherapy has been empirically supported.
 Medications allow for individuals to successfully manage their illness and
continue with their daily activities.
 There are many factors which influence the success of treating
mental illness.
 The characteristics of the client as well as the therapist are important determinants in sucdess.
 Video: Here is a great TedTalk which nicely sums up this tutorial.

16. By the end of this tutorial you should now be able to…
#13 – Discuss the myths about mental illness and issue of stigma
#34– Evaluate the relationship between violence and mental illness
#53 – Explain the factors that influence the effectiveness of psychotherapy