Chapter 14 Psychological Disorders Textbook Notes Section 1 What is Abnormality 14 1 How has mental illness been explained in the past and how is abnormal behavior and thinking defined today Psychopathology is the study of abnormal behavior and psychological dysfunction In ancient times holes were cut in an ill person s head to let out evil spirits in a process called trephining Hippocrates believed that mental illness came from an imbalance in the body s four humors whereas in the early Renaissance period the mentally ill were labeled as witches Abnormality can be characterized as thinking or behavior that is statistically rare deviant from social norms causes subjective discomfort does not allow day to day functioning or causes a person to be dangerous to self or others In the United States insanity is a legal term not a psychological term Section 2 Models of Abnormality 14 2 What are some of the models used to explain psychological disorders In biological models of abnormality the assumption is that mental illnesses are caused by chemical or structural malfunctions in the nervous system Psychodynamic theorists assume that abnormal thinking and behavior stems from repressed conflicts and urges that are fighting to become conscious Behaviorists see abnormal behavior or thinking as learned Cognitive theorists see abnormal behavior as coming from irrational beliefs and illogical patterns of thought The sociocultural perspective conceptualizes all thinking and behavior as the product of learning and shaping of behavior within the context of family social group and culture Cultural relativity refers to the need to consider the norms and customs of another culture when diagnosing a person from that culture with a disorder The biopsychosocial model views abnormal thinking and behavior as the sum result of biological psychological social and cultural influences Section 3 Diagnosing and Classifying Disorders 14 3 What are the different types of psychological disorders and how common are they The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition DSM 5 is a manual of psychological disorders and their symptoms Over one fifth of all adults over age 18 suffer from a mental disorder in any given year Major depressive disorder generalized anxiety panic schizophrenia 1 1 2 6 million 14 1 14 2 14 3 Psychological Disorders What is abnormality psychopathology is the study of abnormal behavior and psychological dysfunction mental illness has been defined in various ways throughout history e g possession evil spirits bodily imbalances current definitions of abnormality are based on several factors statistical or social norm deviance subjective discomfort 1 inability to function normally disorders vary according to culture cultural sensitivity and relativity are necessary in diagnosing and treating psychological disorders overall psychological disorders are any pattern of behavior or thinking that causes significant distress causes people to harm themselves or others or harms their ability to function in daily life Diagnosing and Classifying Disorders the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM was first published in 1952 current version DSM 5 published in 2013 describes and provides diagnostic criteria for approximately 250 different psychological disorders disorder see Table 14 1 in general approximately 26 of adults over age 18 in the United States suffer from a mental Models of abnormality explanations for disordered thinking or behavior depend on theoretical model used to explain personality in general biological model proposes that psychological disorders have a biological or medical cause the medical model also influences approaches to diagnosis treatment and possible outcomes for a given disorder psychological models propose that disorders are the result of various forms of emotional behavioral or thought related malfunctioning Psychodynamic abnormal behavior stems from repressed conflicts and urges that are fighting to become conscious Behavioral abnormal behavior is learned Cognitive abnormal behavior comes from irrational beliefs and illogical patterns of thought Sociocultural perspective thinking and behavior are the products of family social and cultural influences what is normal in one culture may be abnormal in another Cultural syndromes cultural idioms of distress cultural explanations or perceived cause Cultural bound culture bound syndrome replaced by these three concepts 1 Cultural idioms of distress terms or phrases describe suffering or distress w in a given cultural context 2 Cultural explanation of or perceived cause culturally defined ways of explaining the source or cause of symptoms or illness biopsychosocial perspective incorporates biological psychological and sociocultural factors Section 4 Disorders of Anxiety Trauma and Stress What me Worry 14 4 What are different types of anxiety disorders obsessive compulsive disorder and stress related disorders and what are their symptoms and causes Anxiety disorders are all disorders in which the most dominant symptom is excessive and unrealistic anxiety Phobias are irrational persistent fears Three types of phobias are social anxiety disorder social phobia specific phobias and agoraphobia Panic disorder is the sudden and recurrent onset of intense panic for no reason with all the physical symptoms that can occur in sympathetic nervous system arousal 2 Generalized anxiety disorder is a condition of intense and unrealistic anxiety that lasts 6 months or more Obsessive compulsive disorder consists of an obsessive recurring thought that creates anxiety and a compulsive ritualistic and repetitive behavior or mental action that reduces that anxiety Significant and traumatic stressors can lead to acute stress disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder The diagnosis differs according to duration and onset but includes symptoms of anxiety dissociation nightmares and reliving the event Psychodynamic explanations of anxiety and related disorders point to repressed urges and desires that are trying to come into consciousness creating anxiety that is controlled by the abnormal behavior Behaviorists state that disordered behavior is learned through both operant conditioning and Cognitive psychologists believe that excessive anxiety comes from illogical irrational thought classical conditioning techniques processes Biological explanations of anxiety related disorders include chemical imbalances in the nervous