Psychological Disorders

Defining Abnormality THREE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS of MENTAL DISORDER: Hallucinations: false sensory experiences Delusions: disorders of logical thinking Affective Disturbances: inappropriately strong or absent emotional response

Spectrum of Disorders NoMild Moderate Severe DisorderDisorder Disorder Disorder

Models of Pathology Medical Model: Mental disorder is a disease with physical causes Important step in validating pathology as real illness and lifting it from suspicion of demonic possession and similar “lay” theories Psychological Model: Mental disorder is an interaction of biological, cognitive, social and other environmental factors. Considers factors outside of the person (environment, family, stress, etc.)

The Diathesis - Stress Model Diathesis: Pre-disposition to a particular disorder. Stress: Environmental factors that increase the likelihood of a disorder appearing. You can have a pre-disposition to a disorder without ever manifesting it. You can also have very stressful circumstances and never develop a disorder.

The DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Five Axes of assessment Clinical problem Aspects of personality Medical conditions Social and environmental stressors Level of functioning

The Effects of Labels Provides us comfort and a sense of control BUT, they can be “sticky” and affect our construal of people and situations Rosenhan’s Pseudo-Patient Study Self-Fulfilling Prophesies We risk treating the label, not the person

Difficulty Defining Abnormality Distress Maladaptiveness Irrationality Unpredictability Unconventionality Observer Discomfort

Cultural Variability Reasons for differences in rates of disorders and types of symptoms -- are there real cultural differences? Personality / cognitive style Definitions of mental illness Acceptability of mental (as opposed to physical) distress Usage of medical and psychological services Views of the origins and treatment of illness Or, are clinicians biased? Or, are there problems with assessment or assessment tools?

Historical “Variability”

Social and Political Uses of Labels