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Mental disorder

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Psychological symptoms or behavioral patterns that reflect an underlying psychobiological dysfucntion, are associated with distress or disability, and are not merely an expectable response to common stressors or losses.

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Mental illness

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A mental health condition that negatively affects a person's emotions, thinking, behavior, relationships with others, or overall functioning.

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What is Abnormal psychology

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the study of the symptoms and causes of behavioral and mental disorders; the objective are to describe, explain, predict and modify distressing emotions and behaviors.

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Psychopathology

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The study of the symptoms, causes, and treatments of mental disorders.

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Mental health professional

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Health care practitioners (such as psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, social workers or mental health counselors) whose services focus on improving mental health or treating mental illness.

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Psychodiagnosis

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Assessment and description of an individual's psychological symptoms, including inferences about what might be causing the psychological distress.

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Treatment plan

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A proposed course of therapy, developed collaboratively by a therapist and client, that addresses the client's most distressing mental health symptoms.

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Etiology

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The cause or causes for a condition.

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Psychotherapy

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A program of systematic intervention with the purpose of improving a client's behavioral, emotional, or cognitive symptoms.

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DSM-5

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The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

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The DSM-5 indicates that a mental disorder has the following components:

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(a) involves a significant disturbance in thinking, emotional regulation, or behavior caused by a dysfunction in the basic psychological, biological or developmental processes involved in normal development; (b) causes significant distress or difficulty with day-to-day functioning; and (c) is not merely a culturally expected response to common stressors or losses or a reflection of political or religious beliefs that conflict with societal norms.

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How do we differentiate between normal and abnormal behaviors?

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-four criteria are used to determine and define abnormality: distress, deviance, dysfunction and dangerousness.

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Four general criteria to define abnormal behavior. (the 4 D's):

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-Distress -Deviance -Dysfunction -Dangerousness

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Criteria #1: Distress

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-Are you in distress? -If not, does that mean there isn't a problem?

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Criteria #2: Deviance

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-Are you breaking norms and rules? -Who decides what the norm and rules are? --Eating insects? --Sleeping on the floor? --Hoarding? How much? --Drinking 6 beers in one night? -What are some behaviors that our culture considers abnormal that may not be considered abnormal in other cultures?

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Criteria #3: Dysfunction

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-Are you having problems with daily living? -What's the standard?

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Criteria #4: Dangerousness

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-Are you a harm to yourself or others? -How do you know if someone is at risk?

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What societal factors affect definitions of abnormality?

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Cultural context and sociopolitical factors can influence definitions of abnormality. Criteria used to define normality or abnormality must be considered in light of community standards, changes over time, cultural values and sociopolitical experiences.

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Culture

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the learned behavior that members of a group transmit to the next generation.

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Cultural relativism

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the belief that lifestyles, cultural values, and worldviews affect the expression and determination of abnormal behavior.

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Cultural universality

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the perspective that symptoms of mental disorders are the same in all cultures and societies.

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psychiatric edipedmiology

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the study of the prevalence of mental illness in a society.

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prevalence

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the percentage of individuals in a targeted population who have a particular disorder during a specific period of time.

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lifetime prevalence

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the percentage of people in the population who have had a disorder at some point in their life.

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stereotype

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an oversimplified, often inaccurate, image or idea about a group of people.

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social stigma

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negative societal beliefs about a group, including the view that the group is somehow different from other members of society.

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prejudice

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an unfair, preconceived judgment about a person or group based on their supposed characteristics.

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discrimination

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unjust or prejudicial treatment toward a person based on the person's actual or perceived membership in a certain group.

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self-stigma

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acceptance of prejudice and discrimination based on internalized negative societal beliefs or stereotypes.

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biological vulnerablility

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genetic or physiological susceptibility

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empowerment

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increasing one's sense of person strength and self-worth

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Prehistoric and Ancient Beliefs

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Supernatural Causes: -Illnesses were attributed to evil spirits that inhabited or controlled the person's body -Exorcism: Coax or force evil spirits out of their victim -Trephining: Hole surgically produced in skull

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Greco-Roman Thought

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-The Greeks and the rise of science -Hippocrates (460 to 360 B.C.) -Set to prove all illness are due to natural causes -Proposed more scientific explanations -Suggested that emotional states are caused by an imbalance among four humors

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Middle Ages: The Dark Ages - 5th to 10th centuries

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-Religious thinking prevailed over scientific thought -Abnormal behavior thought to be caused by supernatural forces -Treatments: Mentally ill taken to shrines, prayed over, sprinkled with holy water, starved and flogged, immersion in hot water -In many cases, the sick were perceived as receiving punishment for sinful or immoral behavior

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Middle Ages: The witch hunts - 15th to 17th centuries

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-Church was increasingly challenged by social and religious reformers -The Pope declared war on witches -People whose behavior offended the church authorities were accused of aligning with the devil and committing heinous acts -Some 100,000 people were killed in witch hunts from 1550-1700 -Some of those were mentally ill (but many were not)

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LUNAtics

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traditional link made in folklore between madness and the phases of the moon. This probably refers to the symptoms of cyclic mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or cyclothymia, the symptoms of which may also go through phases.

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Renaissance - 14th to 16th centuries

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-Resurgence of more naturalistic explanations of abnormal behavior --Mentally ill should be treated as "sick" and not possessed -Prior to the Humanistic Movement: --Mentally ill hospitalized in asylums (since 1400's) --Conditions of mental hospitals ("madhouses") were often terrible --Mentally disturbed were chained, caged, starved, whipped, displayed like animals --Asylums were mostly custodial centers

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Humanistic Movement

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emphasizes human welfare, worth and uniqueness of individuals

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The Reform of Asylums

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-French (most notably Philippe Pinel) and English physicians began to implement more humane treatment in the 18th century -New approach to treatment known as moral therapy, which was designed to treat patients with kindness and reason -Based on the idea that the mentally ill were ordinary people with extraordinary problems -Aimed to restore "morale" by providing an environment to discuss difficulties, live in peace, and do useful work

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The Reform Movement

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-Benjamin Rush - began to direct mental health care towards humane treatments -Dorothea Dix - led the charge in the US for separate and humane facilities specifically for mentally ill -Lead to the opening of many mental hospitals

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How have explanations of abnormal behavior changed over time?

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-Ancient peoples believed in demonology and attributed abnormal behaviors to evil spirits that inhabited the victim's body. Treatments consisted of trephining, exorcism and bodily assaults. -Rational and scientific explanations of abnormality emerged during the Greco-Roman era. Hippocrates believed that abnormal behavior was due to biological causes, such as a dsyfunction or disease of the brain. Treatment became more humane. -With the collapse of the Roman Empire and the increased influence of the church, belief in the supernatural again flourished. During the Middle Ages, some of those killed in church-endorsed witch hunts were people with mental illness. -The 14th through 16th centuries brought a return to rational and scientific inquiry, along with a heightened interest in humanistic methods of treating the mentally ill.

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How common are mental disorders?

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-over the course of a year, approximately 25 percent of adults in the US experience a mental disorder. -among US youth between the ages of 13 and 18, almost half of those surveyed met the criteria for a mental health disorder at some point in their lives.

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Causes of Mental Illness: Early Viewpoints

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-Biological Viewpoint: Focuses on the physical and physiological basis of abnormal behavior -Psychological Viewpoint: Focuses on psychological and emotional factors resulting from person's interaction with the environment

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Biological Viewpoint

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-Emil Kraepelin established a laboratory devoted to the study of psychopathology -Argued for the central role of brain pathology in mental illness -Observed that symptoms clustered together to represent a mental disorder — syndromes -Developed the "Textbook of Psychiatry" --First classification of mental illnesses (similar to the DSM)

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Example: General paresis was a mysterious syndrome involving gradual and irreversible breakdown of physical and mental functioning was linked to advanced case of syphilis

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Neurological research made significant progress in linking syndromes with brain pathologies

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hysteria

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an outdated term referring to excessive or uncontrollable emotion, sometimes resulting in somatic symptoms (such as blindness or paralysis) that have no apparent physical cause

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Josef Breuer and Sigmund Freud

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-Experimented with talking cures -Psychoanalysis — patients cured through gradual understanding and "airing out" (catharsis) of unconscious conflicts

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Modern attitudes typically...

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...combine biological and psychological perspectives and approaches

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The Drug Revolution in Psychiatry

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-Deinstitutionalization movement led to many individuals being discharged from hospitals in the late 1950's -Cost of care and development of phenothiazines contributed to deinstitutionalization movement -Medication rapidly and dramatically decreased symptoms so that the focus could be shifted to therapy

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Managed Health Care

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-Industrialization of health care whereby large organizations in the private sector control the delivery of services -How has this affected the mental health field? --Business interests are exerting increasing control over psychotherapy --Lowering the income of practitioners --Psychologists are being asked to justify use of their therapies

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Multicultural Psychology

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-Culture, race, ethnicity, gender, age, and socio-economic status relevant to understand and treat abnormality -Cultural universality versus cultural relativism -Therapists need to increase their cultural sensitivity -Psychologists should be aware of: --Social conditioning --Cultural values and influences --Sociopolitical influences --Cultural and ethnic bias in diagnosis

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Positive psychology:

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-Study of positive human functioning, and the strengths and assets of individuals, families, and communities -Can provide an alternative to the study of "abnormal" functioning

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Optimal human functioning:

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-Qualities such as subjective well-being, happiness, optimism, resilience, hope, courage, ability to cope with stress -Treatment focuses on strengths rather than weaknesses

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Stigma Against the Mentally Ill

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Mentally ill are frequently stereotyped and stigmatized Common Myths: -Mentally ill are always recognizable by their deviant behavior -Mentally ill have inherited their disorder -Mental illness is incurable -People become mentally ill because they're weak -Mental illness is always a deficit -Mentally ill are unstable and potentially dangerous

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cathartic method

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a therapeutic use of verbal expression to release pernt-up emotional conflicts

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Models of abnormal behavior

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Dimension 1: Biological, Dimension 2: psychological; psychodynamic behavioral, cognitive and humanistic-existential, Dimension 3: social; social-relational and Dimension 4: Sociocultural; Multicutlural.

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Multipath model

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An integrative way of viewing disorders and their causes

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intrapsychic

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psychological processes occurring within the mind

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Biological Viewpoint

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the belief that mental disorders have a physical or physiological basis

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Genetic disposition

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Genes play a role in mental disorders

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Psychological Viewpoint

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the belief that mental disorders are caused by psychological and emotional factors rather than biological influences

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Why is it important to confront the stigma and stereotyping associated with mental illness?

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-Much of the stigma and stereotyping surrounding mental illness is based on inaccurate information, such as beliefs that those with mental illness are prone to violence or cannot make important social, artistic or career-related contributions; those coping with mental illness may internalize and come to believe this inaccurate information. -negative societal attitudes about mental illness and related discrimination produce additional barriers to recovery. - a code of silence about mental illness allows inaccurate stereotypes to continue and may prevent people from seeking help.

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Why were early explanations regarding the causes of mental disorders?

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-in the 19th and 20th centuries, major medical breakthroughs reignited a belief in the biological roots of mental illness. An especially important discovery of this period was the microorganism that causes the symptoms of general paresis. -the uncovering of a relationship between hypnosis and hysteria corroborated the belief that psychological processes could produce emotional difficulties.

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What are some contemporary trends in abnormal psychology?

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-Multicultural psychology, positive psychology, the recovery movement, the drug revolution, managed care, evidence-based practice, and the use of technology have all influenced the field of abnormal psychology.

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The Human Brain

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-two hemispheres control opposite sides of the body: right hemisphere; visual-spatial abilites and emotional behavior Left Hemisphere; language functions

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Human brain has three main parts:

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Forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain

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Forebrain

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Controls all the higher mental functions, such as learning, speech, thought and memory

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Forebrain: Thalamus

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"Relay station," transmits nerve impulses throughout brain

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Forebrain: Hypothalamus

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Regulates bodily drives

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Forebrain: Limbic system

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Experiencing/expressing emotions and motivation

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Midbrain

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-Involved in vision and hearing (along with hindbrain) and controls sleep, alertness and pain -Produces neurotransmitters

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Hindbrain

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controls heart rate, sleep and respiration

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Biochemial Theories of Mental Illness

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-Basic premise: chemical imbalances underlie mental disorders -Neurons: nerve cells that transmit messages (via electrical impulses) throughout the body and brain

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Dendrites

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receives signals form other neurons

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Axons

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send signals to other neurons

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Synapse

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gap between axon of sending neuron and dendrites of receiving neuron

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Neurotransmitters

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Chemicals involved in transmission of neural impulses

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What models of psychopathology have been used to explain abnormal behavior?

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A variety of one-dimensional models have been traditionally used to explain disorders. They are inadequate because mental disorders are multidimensional.

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What is the multipath model of mental disorders?

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The multipath model provides a framework for understanding biological, psychological, social and sociocultural influences on mental disorders; the complexity of their interacting components; and the need to view disorders from a holistic framework.

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How is biology involved in mental disorders?

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Genetics, brain anatomy, biochemical imbalances, central nervous system functioning, and autonomic nervous system reactivity are often involved. Neurotransmitters seem to play a significant role in abnormal behavior, and genetic inheritance and epigenetic factors are associated with many psychopathologies.

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How do psychological models explain mental disorders?

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-Psychodynamic models emphasize childhood experiences and the role of the unconscious in determining adult behavior. -Behavioral models focuson the role of learning in symptoms of mental disorders. Abnormal behaviors are acquired through association (classical conditioning), reinforcement (operating conditioning), or modeling (observational learning). -Cognitive models are based on the assumption that mental disorders are due to irrational beliefs or distorted cognitive processes. -the humanistic-existential models view an individual's reality as a product of personal perception and experience, see people as capable of making free choices and fulfilling their potential and emphasize the whole person.

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What role do social factors lay in psychopathology?

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-Poor-quality or absent social relationships are associated with increased susceptibility to mental disorders. -family systems approaches view abnormal behavior as the result of distorted or faculty communication or unbalanced relationships within the family.

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What sociocultural factors influence mental health?

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-Proponents of the sociocultural approach believe that race, culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious preference, socioeconomic status and other societal variables are powerful influences on the development and manifestation of mental disorders.

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Why is it important to consider mental disorders from a multipath perspective?

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-Focusing on only one theoretical perspective can overlook important aspects of the individual. -The majority ofmental disorders result from complex and reciprocal interactions among biological, psychological, social and sociocultural factors.

PSY 351 Abnormal Psychology: Chapter 1-2 – Flashcards

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