Clinical Psychology C3: Psychopathology

Study Notes

Psychopathology

Scientific study focused on understanding psychological disorders.

Developmental Psychopathology

Examines problematic behavior in relation to developmental milestones.
Relies on empirical evidence of normal development.
Useful in understanding issues from infancy through retirement.

Abnormal Behavior

Defined as unexpected behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunctions in cultural context.
Associated with distress, impairment, or increased risk of suffering.
Contextual knowledge is crucial for identifying abnormal behavior.
Scientific evidence must guide definitions, rather than theoretical models.

Mental Disorder

Characterized by significant disturbances in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior.
Reflects dysfunction in underlying psychological, biological, or developmental processes.

Characteristics of Mental Disorders

Often leads to distress or disability in significant life areas (social, occupational).
Not classified as a mental disorder if it’s a normal response to stressors (e.g., grief).
Socially deviant behavior isn't a disorder unless stemming from individual dysfunction.

Harmful Dysfunction

Diagnosing a disorder requires statistical rarity of symptoms coupled with dysfunction causing harm.
Focuses on the importance of dysfunction causing issues for the individual or those around them.

Dyscontrol

Impairment stemming from a mental disorder must be involuntary or not easily controlled, as proposed by Widiger.

Anxiety Disorders

Most prevalent mental disorder globally (excluding Ukraine) with mood disorders following.

Prevalence of Mental Disorders

Approximately 38% of the EU population experiences a mental or neurological disorder annually.
Most common disorders include anxiety, insomnia, depression, and substance dependence.
Depression, dementia, alcohol use disorders, and stroke are highly disabling.
Mental disorders generally perceived as more disabling than physical disorders in societal and personal relationships.

One-Dimensional Model

Suggests psychopathology is caused by a single factor (either physical abnormality or conditioning).
Examples: Chemical imbalances causing schizophrenia or phobias.

Multi-Dimensional Model

Emphasizes a systemic approach to understanding psychopathology.
All contributing influences viewed in the context of biology, behavior, cognition, emotion, social, and cultural factors.

Description

Explore key concepts in the classification and diagnosis of psychopathology with this flashcard quiz. Enhance your understanding of psychological disorders and developmental psychopathology, focusing on critical milestones and empirical knowledge. Perfect for students of clinical psychology.