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This overview explores the defining characteristics of psychological disorders, focusing on three classic symptoms: hallucinations, delusions, and affective disturbances. It discusses various models of pathology, such as the medical model, which views mental disorders as diseases with physical causes, and the psychological model, which considers biological, cognitive, and environmental factors. Furthermore, it examines the significance of the DSM in assessing mental health, the effects of labeling, and the cultural variability in the diagnosis and experience of mental illnesses.
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Defining Abnormality THREE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS of MENTAL DISORDER: • Hallucinations: false sensory experiences • Delusions: disorders of logical thinking • Affective Disturbances: inappropriately strong or absent emotional response
Spectrum of Disorders No Mild Moderate Severe Disorder Disorder Disorder Disorder
Models of Pathology • Medical Model: Mental disorder is a disease with physical causes • Important step in validating pathology as real illness and lifting it from suspicion of demonic possession and similar “lay” theories • Psychological Model: Mental disorder is an interaction of biological, cognitive, social and other environmental factors. • Considers factors outside of the person (environment, family, stress, etc.)
Diathesis: Pre-disposition to a particular disorder. Stress: Environmental factors that increase the likelihood of a disorder appearing. The Diathesis - Stress Model You can have a pre-disposition to a disorder without ever manifesting it. You can also have very stressful circumstances and never develop a disorder.
The DSM • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders • Five Axes of assessment • Clinical problem • Aspects of personality • Medical conditions • Social and environmental stressors • Level of functioning
The Effects of Labels • Provides us comfort and a sense of control • BUT, they can be “sticky” and affect our construal of people and situations • Rosenhan’s Pseudo-Patient Study • Self-Fulfilling Prophesies • We risk treating the label, not the person
Difficulty Defining Abnormality • Distress • Maladaptiveness • Irrationality • Unpredictability • Unconventionality • Observer Discomfort
Cultural Variability • Reasons for differences in rates of disorders and types of symptoms -- are there real cultural differences? • Personality / cognitive style • Definitions of mental illness • Acceptability of mental (as opposed to physical) distress • Usage of medical and psychological services • Views of the origins and treatment of illness • Or, are clinicians biased? • Or, are there problems with assessment or assessment tools?
