PSY1022 Final: Explaining and treating disorders

• School: Monash University
• Department: Health Sciences - Psychology
• Course: PSY1022
• Professor: Various

Document Summary

The criterion used to decide if psychological problems are severe enough to require treatment. Does not account for distress about specific personal characteristics that are not mental disorders. Difficulty in fulfilling appropriate and expected roles in family, social and work- related situation. No understanding of why mental illnesses occur. Mystical view of mental illness- attribution to the supernatural. Treatment included spells cast by shamans, exorcisms and trephination (drilling holes in skull) Mental disturbances were seen as an outcome of brain disease. Numerous mental disorders were identified e. g. melancholia, mania, dementia. Physical origins- resulted in treatment by physicians. Started gathering knowledge through observation and experimentation. Bizarre thoughts and behaviours seen as evidence of demonic possession or witchcraft. Mo(cid:448)e to(cid:449)a(cid:396)ds i(cid:374)stitutio(cid:374)al co(cid:374)fi(cid:374)e(cid:373)e(cid:374)t of (cid:858)de(cid:448)ia(cid:374)ts(cid:859) i(cid:374) the e(cid:374)aissa(cid:374)ce: hospitals, asylums, lack of humane treatment. Further progress in classification of mental disorders. Ultimate goal was to restore sanity and return patient to society as a fully functioning, productive member of society.