Abnormal Psychology module 1

courtesy stigma.

Stigma associated with mental illness can also affect families

stigma

a mental or physical mark that is characteristic of a disease. In the case of mental illness, the stigma mark would be the mental illness label (depression, schizophrenia, etc.). Stigma generally invoke negative stereotypes, rejection and loss of status.

Clinical description

all of the information gathered concerning an individual's thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to their presenting problem

Treatment

any procedure that is intended to modify abnormal behavior into normal behavior. Procedures for mental illness treatment generally include some type of psychotherapy and/or psychoactive medication.

Distress

can be defined as significant, personal psychological and/or physical discomfort or pain experienced by the individual. Most individuals are "content" with their life, even if there are aspects they would like to change or they wish were different. Individuals with a mental illness do not feel content and often feel a great deal of psychological (and sometimes physical) pain and suffering when experiencing a psychological disorder.

Dangerousness

danger is NOT considered a part of the definition of abnormal behavior or mental illness. Danger is more actually considered a consequence of abnormal behavior. If your behavior is abnormal it may be consistently careless, hostile or confused, which could place you and others at risk.

Psychiatric drugs

have been developed and are used frequently. The invention of antipsychotic drugs was especially helpful in decreases the number of individuals in asylums (deinstitutionalization).

Classification

how we organize or categorize things. Currently, mental health professionals in the U.S. use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM5).

Reform Movement of the 18th and 19th centuries - moral treatment

involved treating individuals with mental illness respectfully and humanely. Francis Pinel - Moral Treatment William Tuke Benjamen Rush Dorothea Dix and the Mental Hygiene Movement Clifford Beers - A Mind That Found Itself

Dysfunction

is defined as a breakdown or significant disturbance in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning on an everyday basis.

Abnormal Psychology

is defined as the "scientific study of abnormal behavior, with the intent to be able to predict reliably, explain, diagnose, identify the causes of, and treat maladaptive behavior"

mental disorder

is present when there is a pattern of abnormal (deviant) behavior, along with either an associated state of emotional distress (for example anxiety or depression), or an impaired ability to function in daily life (i.e., difficulty holding a job, distinguishing reality from fantasy, maintaining relationships, or caring for yourself).

Psychopathology

is the study of mental illness (which, of course) has abnormal behavior as a component). The two concepts are closely related and overlap.

Mass Madness

large numbers of people display similar symptoms and delusions. Lycanthropy which is the delusion you are possessed by wolves or other animals or tranatism or St. Vitus's dance which is the uncontrollable desire to dance and jump due to a tarantula bight, are examples of mass madness.

Present day

mental illness continues to be a significant problem for a large part of the population and treatments continue to be inadequate (better than they were, but inadequate). Mental health services have increased during the last decade as treatment becomes more widespread and available. Public education about mental illness has also made a difference in the number of people who seek treatment.

Greco-Roman Thought

mental illness like physical ailments have a natural, physical cause. For example, melancholia, mania and phrenitis (Hippocrates 3 categories of mental illness) were caused by imbalances in the humors of the body (blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm).

Middle Ages

mental illness was again explained by evil possession.

Prehistoric cultures

often held supernatural views.

Point prevalence

prevalence rate at a specific point in time.

Period prevalence

prevalence rate during a specific period of time (usually a year). The prevalence rate for ANY mental illness (a mental illness that could meet criteria in the DSM5) during any one year in the U.S. is close to 20%.

prescription rights

psychologists and emphasizing prevention so that mental illness can be stopped before it starts.

The Renaissance

saw the rise of humanism (an emphasis on human welfare and individual uniqueness).

Social identity theory

states that people categorize their social world into meaningfully simplistic representations of groups of people.

Etiology

the cause of a disorder. In mental illness, etiology is difficult to identify and usually includes several components (social, biological and psychological components).

Presenting problem

the complaints, problems or symptoms that an individual "presents" with. Whenever you go to a health professional, the first question is - "why are you coming here today?" Your answer is your presenting problem.

Nomenclature

the naming system of a classification.

Incidence

the number of new cases in a population of individuals over a specified period of time. Only new cases, not existing cases.

Comorbidity

the occurrence of two or more disorders at the same time. For example, it I not unusual to meet criteria for a depression diagnosis and an anxiety diagnosis at the same time. Substance abuse diagnosis are often comorbid with several types of mental illness.

Prevalence

the percentage of individuals in a population that has a specific mental disorder. So, for example, if in a population of 1000 people there are 23 people with a phobia, you have a phobia prevalence rate of 2.3%. There are many subtypes of prevalence rates:

Lifetime prevalence

the percentage of individuals who have had the characteristics of a particular mental illness at any time during their life.

Course

the period of time over which the disorder is develops and is present. In an acute disorder, the disorder only lasts a short time. In a chronic disorder, the disorder will persist over a long period of time (basically, a lifetime). Disorders can develop rapidly or slowly as well.

Prognosis

the predicted course of a specific mental illness. Several factors go into creating prognostic predictions.

Epidemiology

the scientific study of the frequency and causes of disease (in this case, mental illness). Basically, epidemiology tries to determine how frequently a disorder occurs in specific populations. Determining the frequency of mental disorders is called psychiatric or mental health epidemiology.

Deviance

the text points out that from the point of view of society, abnormal behavior is behavior that is unusual and does not conform to prevailing social norms. That is, it "deviates" (moves away) from what that society considers normal behavior.

20-21st Century

two competing perspectives: the biological theory and the psychological theory of mental illness. Biological (somatogenic) perspective states that mental illness is caused by natural, physical agents. Franz Anton Mesmer Mesmerism (hypnosis) Joseph Breuer and the cathartic method.

Trephination

using a ston instrument, a part of the skull is removed in order to create an opening through which it is believed the "evil spirit" can escape.

Asylums

which are places of refuge, were developed during this time for the mentally ill as a place where they could receive care and be safe.

Emil Kraepelin

Mental illness occurs in syndromes (clusters of symptoms). Each syndrome is unique. Discovery that general paresis (paranoid delusions) were caused in some people by the presence of syphilis. Electric shock was used to treat mental illness.