Abnormal Psychology OverviewAbnormal Psychology Overview

IntroIntro

What does it mean What does it mean to be normal? to be normal?

Has there ever Has there ever been a time in your been a time in your life where you have life where you have not felt “normal”not felt “normal”

Why?Why?

Hypothetical SituationHypothetical SituationA man living in the Ozark Mountains has a vision in A man living in the Ozark Mountains has a vision in which God speaks to him. He begins preaching to which God speaks to him. He begins preaching to his relatives and neighbors, and soon he has the his relatives and neighbors, and soon he has the whole town in a state of religious fervor. People say whole town in a state of religious fervor. People say he has a “calling.” His reputation as a prophet and he has a “calling.” His reputation as a prophet and healer spreads, and in time he is drawing large healer spreads, and in time he is drawing large audiences everywhere he goes. However, when he audiences everywhere he goes. However, when he ventures to St Louis and attempts to hold a prayer ventures to St Louis and attempts to hold a prayer meeting, blocking traffic on a main street at rush meeting, blocking traffic on a main street at rush hour, he is arrested. He tells the policemen about hour, he is arrested. He tells the policemen about his conversations with God, and they hurry him off to his conversations with God, and they hurry him off to the nearest mental hospital.the nearest mental hospital.Is the man normal or not?Is the man normal or not?HW Assignment: Reactions to Abnormal BehaviorHW Assignment: Reactions to Abnormal Behavior

Determining AbnormalityDetermining AbnormalityThree Criteria:Three Criteria:

ATYPICAL BEHAVIORATYPICAL BEHAVIOR unusual behaviorunusual behavior that is also disturbing to the values or that is also disturbing to the values or

beliefs of others is likely to be considered deviant. beliefs of others is likely to be considered deviant. New Vocab: NormsNew Vocab: Norms

HARMFUL OR MALADAPTIVEHARMFUL OR MALADAPTIVE Often it is a matter of degree. Often it is a matter of degree. Ex. Drinking alcohol becomes a problem when the person is Ex. Drinking alcohol becomes a problem when the person is

no longer able to function well at home or one the job no longer able to function well at home or one the job although the person may deny he has a problem at allalthough the person may deny he has a problem at all

PERSONAL DISTRESSPERSONAL DISTRESS When one feels psychological pain such as in depression or When one feels psychological pain such as in depression or

debilitating anxietydebilitating anxietyDiagnoses of psychological disorders all involve VALUE Diagnoses of psychological disorders all involve VALUE JUDGEMENTS and CULTURAL NORMS about what is normal JUDGEMENTS and CULTURAL NORMS about what is normal or abnormal. or abnormal. Both are fallible and change with social trends. Both are fallible and change with social trends.

“Most people have problems

from time to time but are not mentally ill.”

-Thomas Szasz

Classification of BehaviorClassification of Behavior

Very difficult to Very difficult to definedefine

Causes and cures Causes and cures are rarely obvious are rarely obvious or clear-cutor clear-cut

Must be ongoingMust be ongoing

Use DSM-IVUse DSM-IV

Random Fact: Random Fact: don’t write downdon’t write down

In ancient times, In ancient times, Egyptians and Egyptians and Babylonians believed Babylonians believed that mental illness was that mental illness was due primarily to evil due primarily to evil spirits. Archaeologists spirits. Archaeologists frequently find frequently find evidence of a practice evidence of a practice known as trephining, known as trephining, which involved drilling which involved drilling an opening in the skull an opening in the skull to let evil spirits to let evil spirits escape.escape.

DSM-IVDSM-IV

Standard system for classifying Standard system for classifying disorders by using the following disorders by using the following guidelines:guidelines: Essential Features-Essential Features-

characteristics that “define”characteristics that “define” Associated Features-Associated Features-

Additional features that are Additional features that are usually presentusually present

Differential Diagnosis-Differential Diagnosis- How to How to distinguish this disorder from distinguish this disorder from othersothers

Diagnostic Criteria-Diagnostic Criteria- Essential Essential and associated features that and associated features that must be present for the patient must be present for the patient to be given a diagnostic labelto be given a diagnostic label

Disorder CategoriesDisorder CategoriesYouth: Infancy, Childhood, & AdolescenceYouth: Infancy, Childhood, & AdolescenceDelirium, Dementia, and other Cognitive Delirium, Dementia, and other Cognitive DisordersDisordersSubstance-RelatedSubstance-RelatedSchizophrenia & other Psychotic DisordersSchizophrenia & other Psychotic DisordersMoodMoodAnxietyAnxietyDissociativeDissociativeSexualSexualEatingEatingSleepSleepImpulse ControlImpulse Control

Interesting StatsInteresting Stats(do not write down)(do not write down)

National Institute of Mental HealthNational Institute of Mental Health (1985) (1985) Over 20% Over 20% of the adults interviewed had at least one psychiatric disorder during the of the adults interviewed had at least one psychiatric disorder during the previous six months. previous six months. The most common mental illnesses were The most common mental illnesses were

anxiety disorders (10-12% anxiety disorders (10-12% of the population)of the population) alcohol and drug abuse (6-7%)alcohol and drug abuse (6-7%), , affective disorders (5-6%)affective disorders (5-6%) schizophrenia, (1%)schizophrenia, (1%) antisocial personality (1%). antisocial personality (1%).

Men and women were found to have an equal chance of developing a mental Men and women were found to have an equal chance of developing a mental disorder although women suffered proportionately more from depression and men disorder although women suffered proportionately more from depression and men from antisocial personality. from antisocial personality.

Multiple studies have indicated that all of us have a Multiple studies have indicated that all of us have a one in three chance of developing a one in three chance of developing a mental illnessmental illness in our lifetime. in our lifetime.

1994, the National Comorbidity Study (NCS)1994, the National Comorbidity Study (NCS)48%,48%, had experienced symptoms of psychological disorder sometime in their life, had experienced symptoms of psychological disorder sometime in their life, 30% 30% within the previous year. Of those 30%, 80% had not sought treatment for their within the previous year. Of those 30%, 80% had not sought treatment for their symptoms during that year. symptoms during that year. The The NCSNCS study also found that study also found that womenwomen had higher prevalence of anxiety disorders had higher prevalence of anxiety disorders (30+%) and depression (20+%) while (30+%) and depression (20+%) while menmen had a higher incidence of substance had a higher incidence of substance abuse (35%) and antisocial personality disorders (5%). Reasons for genetic abuse (35%) and antisocial personality disorders (5%). Reasons for genetic differences are unknown but social roles and genetics are key suspects. differences are unknown but social roles and genetics are key suspects.

Final Thoughts…Final Thoughts…

Many people Many people develop a disorder develop a disorder from the DSM-IV at from the DSM-IV at some point in their some point in their lifetimelifetime

These disorders are These disorders are usually temporaryusually temporary