1. CHAPTER 13 Psychological Disorders

2. MODULE 30 Introduction to Psychological Disorders

3. “I think Hell exists on Earth. It’s a psychological state, or it can be a physical state. People who have severe mental illness are in Hell. People who have lost a loved one are in Hell. I think there are all kinds of different Hells. It’s not a place you go after you die.” - Al Franken

4. “One of the things psychologists used to say was that if you are depressed, anxious or angry, you couldn’t be happy. Those were at opposite ends of a continuum. I believe that you can be suffering or have a mental illness and be happy – just not in the same moment that you’re sad.” - Martin Seligman

5. “There is no such thing as mental illness, hence also no such thing as psychotherapy.” - Thomas Szasz

6. Defining Disorder Psychological disorder: harmful dysfunction in which thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are maladaptive, unjustifiable, disturbing, and atypical – To be judged as part of a disorder, behavior must meet all 4 criteria

7. Maladaptive: destructive to oneself or others – Self-destructive or destructive: something that prevents someone from leading a “normal” life Unjustifiable: without a rational basis – Behavior that does not have a reasonable purpose

8. Disturbing: troublesome to other people Atypical: so different that it violates a norm – Different: not like other people’s behavior – Violating norms (rules for accepted and expected behavior in a particular culture)

9. Understanding Disorders Attempts to understand abnormal behavior go back at least 4,000 years Ancient Babylonians: disorders result of demonic possession – Treated with prayer and magic Ancient Hebrews: disorders were punishment for sin – Looked to religion for cure

10. Socrates & ancient Greek philosophers: disorders due to faulty thought processes – Believed in healing power of words 15 th century Europeans: disorders result from demonic possession – Tortured, executed sufferers to oust bad spirits 18 th century: conditions improve slightly – Mentally ill locked away in institutions

11. Humane treatment of mentally ill was rare until reformers worked to eliminate institutionalized brutality Philippe Pinel (1745-1826): French physician; worked to improve treatment of mentally ill Dorothea Dix (1802-1887): American activist; sought similar improvements in U.S. – Pushed Congress to create first generation of American mental asylums

12. The Medical Model Medical model: concept that mental diseases have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and in most cases, cured – 1800s: Syphilis germ discovered to cause dementia – Medical model suggests there might be physical causes for all disorders

13. – Contemporary research has uncovered physical causes (genetic & biochemical) for psychological disorders such as schizophrenia – Increased drug therapy – Exclusive focus on nature (not nurture) Overlooks factors such as stress, upbringing, and personal history

14. The Bio-Psycho-Social Model Bio-psycho-social model: contemporary perspective that assumes biological, psychological, and social factors combine and interact to produce psychological disorders – Studies both nature and nurture

15. Bio-psycho-social model: – Biological component: genetic predisposition; hereditary susceptibility to disorder – Psychological component: thoughts and thinking patterns – Social component: social and cultural beliefs, situational factors

16. Classifying Disorders Clinical psychologists & psychiatrists (physicians who treat psychological disorders) classify psychological disorders according to their symptoms to do the following: (1) describe the disorder (2) predict the future course of the disorder (3) treat the disorder appropriately (4) provide a springboard for research into the disorder’s causes

17. Classification system developed by APA: – Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM); DSM V released in 2013 (DSM I in 1952) – Divides mental disorders into 16 clinical syndromes (does not list possible causes) – Fairly reliable: in one study, psychologists’ diagnoses match 83% of the time

18. Criticisms of DSM: – Biased in favor of medical model – Number of disorder categories has increased dramatically since 1950s – Diagnoses can create labels for people

19. Labeling Disorders We view people differently who have been labeled with a psychological disorder We are biased against those labeled with a psychological disorder Stigma against released prisoners and mental health patients produces the same results

20. Labels describe abnormal behavior, but don’t explain it Those who diagnose psychological disorders must be aware of the dangers and drawbacks of labeling, including their effects on our perceptions

21. Benefits of labeling: – Classifications give us detailed descriptions that let us understand and communicate quickly Allow for more effective treatment – More awareness has changed perceptions Seeking treatment seen more as a strength than weakness

22. There are factors that increase likelihood of mental illness, but there are also protective factors that help us avoid mental illness – Exercise, learning to be resilient in coping with adversity, social support from family and friends Many people have endured psychological disorders and flourished despite them