Understanding Psychological Disorders: History, Definitions, and Classification - Prof. Ro, Study notes of Psychology

Download Understanding Psychological Disorders: History, Definitions, and Classification - Prof. Ro and more Study notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! 1 1 Psychology 110 Dr. Gordon Module #45 Psychological Disorders An Introduction 2 A. What is a psychological disorder? • 1. History of psychological disorder 2. Defining psychological disorders through criteria 3. The Medical versus Biopsychsocial models 4. Classification and the DSM-IV 5. Prevalence rates 6. The impact of psychological disorders and labeling 3 1. History of psychological disorders 4 1. History of psychological disorders 5 1. History of psychological disorders 6 1. History of psychological disorders 7 1. History of psychological disorders 8 1. History of psychological disorders 9 1. History of psychological disorders 10 1. History of psychological disorders 11 1. History of psychological disorders 12 1. History of psychological disorders 13 1. Defining psychological disorders… 14 1. Defining psychological disorders… 15 1. Defining psychological disorders… 16 1. Defining psychological disorders… • However, if clinicians view streaking as atypical, they need to consider its historical context. In the mid 1970’s, our culture was more tolerant of “streaking.” In 2004 and 2005, streaking is more atypical and less tolerated. The historical context and its interpretation of abnormality can change in a moment. Myers cites the American Psychiatric Association’s decision to drop homosexuality from its diagnostic manual for clinical syndromes. 17 1. Defining psychological disorders… 18 1. Defining psychological disorders… 19 1. Defining psychological disorders… • Lastly, the behavior is dysfunctional if it is not justified. A child of three has an imaginary friend. To most of us, this behavior is not alarming because it is developmentally justified. That is, a child of three can have an active imagination. However, if Dr. Gordon walks into class and introduces his imaginary friend, his behavior is not justified. Your verbal reaction would likely be, “We need a new professor!” 2 20 1. Defining psychological disorders… 21 1. Defining psychological disorders… 22 1. Defining psychological disorders… 23 1. Defining psychological disorders… 24 1. Defining psychological disorders… 25 3. Medical versus Biosocial models • In the middle ages, one might say this guy’s problem is with his demons! We know better today. He is depressed and cannot “snap out of it.” How do we explain the origins of his condition? Clinical researchers have looked to two models to explain such phenomenon. These are the medical and biosocial models. Let’s start with the medical model. 26 3. Medical versus Biosocial models • The medical model obviously starts with Phillippe Pinel in terms of moving the mentally ill to a hospital setting. Those responsible for making the medical model a viable approach to our understanding of psychological disorder are many. However, one extraordinary man who argued for a connection between the organic causes and mental illness was Richard Von Krafft-Ebing. 27 3. Medical versus biosocial models • The idea that the physical caused the mental progressed at a slow pace. Nevertheless, significant scientific findings paved the way for the somatogenic position (the view that mental illness stemmed from organic disease). For example, Krafft-Ebing’s discovery of the cause and effect relationship between syphilis and paresis (paralysis and psychosis) is well documented. 28 3. Medical versus biosocial models • As it relates to the medical model, psychological disorders are given all the right terminology. The term psychological disorder is used interchangeably with such terms as psychopathology or mental illness. Like any illness, psychological disorders are given a diagnosis and prognosis. Symptoms are identified and a treatment is selected. Benjamin Rush is considered by some to be the father of modern American psychiatry and advocate of the medical model. 29 3. Medical versus biosocial models • The medical model is not without its critics. Thomas Szasz opposes the medical model. He proposes that the disease analogy converts moral and social questions about what is acceptable behavior into medical questions. Most abnormal behavior is simply a deviation from the social norm and not a disease. 30 3. Medical versus biosocial models • The slide below illustrates the biopsychosocial model. This model relies on the idea that one’s biological nature is embedded within a environmental system. In other words, psychopathology is the product of biological, psychological, and social factors. 31 3. Medical versus biosocial models • For example, in specific cultures, we find certain psychological disorders. In western cultures, the emphasis on a thin body image may influence the course of certain eating disorders like anorexia nervosa. Icelanders have to be concerned about alcoholism. In your text, Myers briefly discusses other culturally specific disorders. 32