Abnormal Behavior or Psychological Disorders

What is Normal? In your small group, determine whether or not the person in your case study has a psychological disorder.

Defining Psychological Disorder There is no one absolute definition of psychological disorders A continuum exists between mental health and pathology Some proposed definitions may include: (from sample textbooks) Pathology Health

Defining Psychological Disorder A pattern of behaviors or psychological symptoms that cause significant personal distress, causes them to harm others, and/or impairs the ability to function in daily life.

Defining Psychological Disorder A syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation or behavior. This is from our book and is adapted from the DSM-V

Defining Psychological Disorder Let’s go back to your choices. Significant disturbance in cognition? . . . in emotional regulation? . . . in behavior? Disturbed or dysfunctional behavior that is interfering with day-to-day life?

Historical Perspectives on Abnormal Behavior Ancient Greece Hippocrates - (460-377 BCE) believed that mental illness was the result of natural, as opposed to supernatural causes Galen – (130-200 BCE) divided the causes of mental disorders into physical and psychological causes Ancient China Chung Ching - (200CE) stated that both organ pathologies and stressful psychological events were causes of mental disorders

Historical Perspectives on Abnormal Behavior Medieval Europe - abnormal behavior was viewed as a demonic possession. Treatment might include prayer, laying on of hands and/or exorcism performed by the clergy. Possibly witch hunts? Islamic Countries - known for humane hospitals for mentally ill (Baghdad 792 CE).

The Renaissance- brings reemergence of the scientific approach to mental illness Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) a Spanish nun established a conceptual framework that suggests the mind can be sick Johann Weyer (1515-1588) of Germany used scientific skepticism to refute the concept of demonic possession

Humanitarian Reforms of 18th-19th centuries Philippe Pinel (France)-pioneered compassionate medical model for the treatment of the mentally ill William Tuke (England)- introduced trained nurses for the mentally ill Benjamin Rush (United States) founder of American psychiatry and established hospitals for the mentally ill Dorothea Dix (United States) advocated for reforms to allow for humane treatment of mentally ill in institutional settings

Deinstitutionalization Occurred due to scientific advances of the 20th century Psychopharmacology Medical advances including imaging devices (CT, MRI, PET) Release of patients back into their usual community using out-patient care

How are disorders described? It depends on who is describing them

Medical Model This model holds that diseases (in this case psychological disorders) have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and in most cases, cured, through therapy, medication, or treatment in a hospital. As we have seen, in most cases there is more to people’s behavior than just biology.

Psychological Model Freud’s psychodynamic model explains disorders as the result of repressed thoughts, memories, or concerns in the unconscious mind. Behaviorists explain disorders as learned behaviors. Cognitive psychologists explain disorders being the result of irrational thinking – like blowing things out of perspective or being driven by “shoulds, oughts, and musts.”

Biopsychosocial Model Behavior, whether what is called normal or abnormal, is an interaction of nature and nurture. Diathesis-Stress Model: The diathesis, or predisposition, interacts with the subsequent stress response of an individual.

Biopsychosocial Model Different cultures have different stressors Not all disorders are culture-bound Depression Schizophrenia

Biopsychosocial Model

Classifying Disorders Classification creates order Diagnostic classification goals: Describe a disorder Predict its future course Imply appropriate treatment Stimulate research into its causes DSM-V lists diagnosis criteria

Assignment With a partner, read through the “Psychological Diagnosis …” article. Identify dangers of labeling Come up with three recommendations to help guide the use of labels

Tomorrow we will look more closely at classifying disorders. Review with Crash Course AP students: review the first 12 vocabulary words from p. 71 (research unit) before Tuesday.