Defining Mental Disorder: The 4 Ds
The four Ds of mental disorder
Real World
Hearing voices (hallucinations) in schizophrenia meets all four Ds: it deviates from the norm, impairs daily functioning (dysfunction), causes personal suffering (distress), and can pose danger — illustrating why multiple criteria strengthen a diagnosis.
Exam Focus
When applying the 4 Ds to a scenario, address each D explicitly and explain how it applies — vague references without elaboration will not score AO2 marks.
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