Download 1165266Intro to Psychological dis 09JS

PSYCHOLOGY
Introduction to
Psychological Disorders
Judging abnormal
behavior?
Rate the following statements on the following
scale:
Rating Scale 1 (Normal) to 5 (Abnormal)
I like to cook.
A wind storm terrifies me.
Evil spirits posses me.
Dirt disgusts me.
I cannot seem to do anything right.
At times I feel like smashing things.
Judging abnormal
behavior?
Groups the judges ones behaviors include:
1. Individual involved
2. Society: Family/Friends/the public
3. Mental Health professionals
Psychological Disorders
Psychological Disorder - a “harmful dysfunction” in
which behavior is judged to be:
1. atypical - differs from the norm
2. disturbing--varies with time, culture,
context of the situation
3. maladaptive--harmful
4. unjustifiable?
Historical Perspective
Historically perceived causes:
• movements of sun or moon
• lunacy--full moon
• evil spirits/demons
Historical Perspective
Ancient Treatments
• exorcism, caged like animals, beaten, burned,
castrated, mutilated, blood replaced with animal’s
blood
• Trephining - drill holes in skull to release demons
P. Pinel & D. Dix -worked to improve treatment of
the mentally ill
2 perspectives
1. Medical Model
• concept that diseases have physical causes
• can be diagnosed, treated, and in most cases, cured
• “mental” illnesses can be diagnosed on the basis of
their symptoms and cured through therapy, which
may include treatment in a psychiatric hospital
2 perspectives
2. Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective
• assumes that biological, sociocultural, and
psychological factors combine and interact to
produce psychological disorders
Psychological Disorders
Classifying Disorders
DSM-IV
 American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
 a widely used system for classifying psychological
disorders
 presently distributed as DSM-IV-TR (text revision)
DSM
Info about the DSM:
1. DSM is used to classify disorders
2. The DSM looks at observable behaviors allowing
it to be more reliable
3. It does NOT explain causes
4. It has been criticized for being too excessively
broad in its range
Classifying Disorders
Spectrum of Mental Illness:
Neurotic ------------------------ Psychotic
Classifying Disorders
Neurotic Disorder
usually distressing but that allows
one to think rationally and function
socially
Classifying Disorders
Psychotic Disorder
loss of contact with reality
experiences irrational ideas & distorted
perceptions
Rates of Psychological
Disorders