Introduction to Psychopathology

Basic Definitions

• Psychopathology is the scientific study of mental disorders, including their causes, progression, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Psychopathology is synonymous with the broad range of mental disorders or symptoms.

Key Features of Psychopathology

• Common features across definitions are often described by the "Four Ds":
  • Deviance (different, extreme, or unusual)
  • Distress (unpleasant or upsetting)
  • Dysfunction (interfering with functioning)
  • Danger (harm to oneself or others, though less prominent)
• Behaviors in the absence of distress, dysfunction, or danger do not signify psychopathology. Happiness isn't, for example.
• Societal norms are stated and unstated rules for proper conduct.
• Culture shapes perceptions of what constitutes psychopathology. Values, history, and arts influence these perceptions.

History of Psychopathology

• Society changes its views of what constitutes psychopathology across time.
• Clinical practitioners apply societal standards to cases. This can lead to overlooking significant problems or misclassifying conditions.

Changing Times

• Concepts of psychopathology evolve.
• Examples: Tattoos, once considered unusual, are now more common.
• Current views of psychopathology are shaped by contemporary understanding.

Treatment throughout History

• Ancient views often attributed psychopathology to spirits or evil. Trephination (and exorcism) were common treatments.
• Greek and Roman views attributed psychopathology to imbalances in the "four humors" (blood/air, yellow bile/fire, black bile/earth, and phlegm/water), thus physical causes. Treatment focused on restoring these balances.
• The rise of asylums in the Renaissance to 1700s marked a shift in perceptions of psychopathology.
• Moral treatment emphasized humane and respectful techniques (in the 19th century), though fell out of favor by the early 20th century.

Early 20th Century Perspectives

• Somatogenic perspective viewed psychopathology as having physical causes (e.g., lobotomies or Eugenics).
• Psychogenic perspective emphasized psychological causes. Examples include the emergence of psychoanalysis (Freud), and the use of hypnosis.

Modern Developments in Psychopathology

• Advancements in the understanding of psychopathology includes specific mental health theories
• Anti-anxiety drugs, deinstitutionalization, and outpatient/community treatment led to more positive treatment outcomes.
• An increase in specialized therapy programs is evident.
• Numerous relevant perspectives are reviewed, including psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic-existential, sociocultural and development psychology perspectives.