Psychological Disorders An Introduction Module 65 Defining Disorder

Psychological Disorders: An Introduction Module 65

Defining Disorder

Psychological Disorders • Psychopathology—scientific study of the origins, symptoms, and development of psychological disorders • Psychological disorder - a pattern of behavioral and psychological symptoms that causes significant personal distress, impairs the ability to function cognitively, emotionally, or behaviorally & interferes with important areas of daily life

Psychological Disorder • A “harmful dysfunction” in which behaviors are maladaptive, unjustifiable, disturbing, and atypical

MUDA • A mnemonic device used to remember the four attributes of a psychological disorder – Maladaptive • An exaggeration of normal, acceptable behaviors • Destructive to oneself or others – Unjustifiable • A behavior which does not have a rational basis – Disturbing • A behavior which is troublesome to other people – Atypical • A behavior so different from other people’s behavior that it violates a cultural norm

Understanding Disorders

Early Views of Mental Illness • In ancient times, mental illness was usually explained through a supernatural model; the person was possessed or a sinner • During the Middle Ages treatment methods were inhumane and cruel

Philippe Pinel (1745 -1826) • French physician who said mental illness was a sickness of the mind and should be viewed medically as having physical causes – Diagnosed, treated & cured in a hospital setting • Worked to reform the treatment of people with mental disorders • Encouraged more humane treatment – During his tenure directing the Paris Men’s Asylum, the death rates for patients went from 60% to 10%

The Medical Model • Mental Illnesses have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, & in most cases, cured. • Psychological disorders can be diagnosed based on their symptoms and treated or cured through therapy.

Bio-Psycho-Social Model • Mental illness has biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that combine and interact to produce psychological disorders

Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective

Classifying Disorders

DSM-5 • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition • A guidebook for clinicians for diagnosis • Provides a common language to label mental disorders • Recently revised by the American Psychiatric Association – See the Changes made in this new addition • Lists and describes symptoms for 250 specific psychological disorders • Has changed significantly since the first edition

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) • Describes specific symptoms and diagnostic guidelines for psychological disorders – Clinical Presentation (What are the symptoms? ) – Etiology (What causes the disorder? ) – Developmental Stage (How does this look in kids? Adults? ) – Functional Impairment (What will happen short-term & long-term? )

Labeling Stigmas • Studies show a clear bias against people diagnosed with mental disorders. • Once someone is labeled, we have a difficult time viewing them differently • Everything they do is viewed through the lens of mental illness • Which of the following is less stigmatizing: • Calling someone “schizophrenic”? • Implies the individual is the condition & doesn’t recognize the person • Calling someone a “person with schizophrenia”? • Acknowledges the person and places the mental illness in a category as a less stigmatizing physical illness label

Are People with a Mental Illness as Violent as the Media Portrays Them? • People with mental disorders are often depicted on TV as helpless victims or evil villains who are unpredictable, dangerous, and violent. • One study indicated that, overall, former mental patients did not have a higher rate of violence than a matched comparison group. • People with severe mental disorders who are experiencing bizarre delusional ideas and hallucinated voices do have a slightly higher level of violent and illegal behavior than do “normal” people. • People with mental disorders are more likely to be the victim of violence

Rates of Psychological Disorders • 26% of adult Americans “suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder • Immigrant Paradox – Mexican Americans born in the U. S. have a greater risk of mental illness compared to those who recently immigrated • Major predictor of mental illness – Poverty • Most disorders strike by early adulthood with 75% having had first symptoms by the age of 24.

Prevalence of Mental Disorders Worldwide

What does this mean to have good Psychological Well-Being? • Carol D. Ryff’s 6 core dimensions of well-being: 1. Self-Acceptance – positive attitude towards one’s self 2. Positive Relations with Other People 3. Autonomy – independent, self-determining, selfcontrolled 4. Environmental Mastery – choose & create supportive environments 5. Purpose in Life – has goals and a sense of directness 6. Personal Growth – see themselves as growing & expanding