PSYCH 1XX3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Avolition, Twin, Learned Helplessness
Psychological Disorders
What is Abnormality?
The Four Ds
- What scientists call abnormal differs between people, cultures and time periods
- They use a fixed set of criteria to define abnormal: Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, and Danger
Deviance
- Refers to atypical thoughts and behaviours
- Does not mean that everyone who differs from the norm has a disorder
- Deviance includes both those who fall well below and well above the standard of the group
Distress
- Refers to negative feelings related to thoughts and behaviour
- Feelings such as anxiety, sadness, or despair, this may indicate a psychological disorder
- However, a person who does not feel distress doesn’t mean they are healthy
Dysfunction
- Refers to interference with everyday life
- Behaviours that are dysfunctional are called “maladaptive” because they stop the individual from
adapting to their environment
Danger
- Refers to the safety risk associated with thoughts or behaviour
- Again, doing a dangerous task does not mean your insane
Classifying Disorders
The DSM
- The Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders provide a guideline to classify and diagnose
disorder
- DSM categorizes and describes mental disorders
- Does not offer an explanation for the disorder, or suggest treatment methods
- Allows researchers to talk to each other about mental disorders using a common language
- History
o Has undergone several revisions
o Add and remove many disorders
o Revisions often seek to organize the DSM in a way that best facilitates effective diagnosis and
treatment
- Categorical Classification Model
o A categorical classification model is one in which the classified items differ from each other in
kind
o Example: Height. In a categorical classification model, individuals might be considered either
“short: or “tall”
o Categories are defined by rigid boundaries, and you can only be one kind of category
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- Dimensional Classification Model
o Where classified items differ from each other in degree
o At either end of the spectrum are short and tall, but there are various heights in between
o Better describes psychological disorders, which can overlap symptoms, risk factors, and
underlying causes
- Criticisms of DSM-5
o Psychologists continue to revise and
change whether the classifications are
justifiable
o DSM-5 relies too heavily on a
categorical classification model
o In worst cases, subclinical cases of
disorders that cause sever impairment, but do not qualify for the diagnosis, and may go untreated
o DSM-5 has a high degree of comorbidity among many of its diagnoses
▪ The coexistence of two or more disorders at the same time
▪ The classification could be missing the bigger picture
Epidemiology
Epidemiology
- Epidemiology : the study of the distribution of disorders in a population
- Disorders often differ by sex and culture
o Ex. Depression is twice more common in women
Prognosis
- Prognosis: the probable course of an illness
- An acute prognosis is short-lasting with sudden onset
o Heart attack
- Chronic disorders are long-lasting and develop over time
- Episodic prognosis have recurrent phases, separated by normal periods. Typical of depression
Prevalence
- Prevalence: The percentage of a population that exhibits that disorder during a specific time period
- Point prevalence is measured at a specific instance of time
- Annual prevalence includes anyone who has had the disorder in
the past year
- Lifetime prevalence includes anyone who has the disorder, or has
had the disorder, within their life time
Symptomatology
Symptomatology
- The collection of any behaviours, thought, or feeling that may be a potential indicator of a specific
psychological disorder
o Understanding the symptoms is needed when diagnosing
- Heterogeneity
o The possibility that two people diagnosed with the same disorder may experience different
symptoms, with varying degrees of severity
o Complicated diagnoses
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
What scientists call abnormal differs between people, cultures and time periods. They use a fixed set of criteria to define abnormal: deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger. Does not mean that everyone who differs from the norm has a disorder. Deviance includes both those who fall well below and well above the standard of the group. Refers to negative feelings related to thoughts and behaviour. Feelings such as anxiety, sadness, or despair, this may indicate a psychological disorder. However, a person who does not feel distress doesn"t mean they are healthy. Behaviours that are dysfunctional are called maladaptive because they stop the individual from adapting to their environment. Refers to the safety risk associated with thoughts or behaviour. Again, doing a dangerous task does not mean your insane. The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders provide a guideline to classify and diagnose disorder. Does not offer an explanation for the disorder, or suggest treatment methods.
