Psychology: Introduction to Psychological Disorders

Study Notes

Psychological disorder refers to a psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected.
Psychological dysfunction involves a breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning.
Distress or impairment refers to the individual being extremely upset and unable to function properly.
Atypical or not culturally expected refers to a response that deviates from the average or the norm of the culture.

Psychopathology is the scientific study of psychological disorders.
Clinical/counseling psychologists receive a Ph.D. after completing a 5-year graduate-level study.
Psy.D. focuses on clinical training and de-emphasizes or eliminates research training.
Ph.D. integrates clinical and research training.
Psychiatrists earn an M.D. in medical school and then specialize in psychiatry.
Psychiatric social workers earn a master's in social work, developing expertise in collecting information relevant to the individual's social and family situation.

Evaluate their own assessments and treatment procedures to determine effectiveness.
Conduct research to produce new information about disorders or their treatments, avoiding fads that can harm patients and their families.

Presenting problem or present refers to the reason why the person came to the clinic.
Clinical description represents the unique combination of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that make up a specific disorder.
Clinical refers to the types of problems or disorders found in a clinic or hospital and the activities connected with assessment and treatment.

Prevalence refers to the number of people in the population who have or had the disorder.
Incidence refers to the number of new cases occurring during a given period.
Course refers to the individual pattern of symptoms, which can be chronic, episodic, or time-limited.
Onset refers to the beginning of the disorder, which can be acute or insidious.
Prognosis refers to the anticipated course of the disorder.
Etiology refers to the study of the origins of the disorder.

In the 14th century, the Roman Catholic Church believed that psychological disorders were caused by evil and supernatural forces.
Treatments during this time included exorcisms, shaving the pattern of a cross in the victim's hair, and securing sufferers to a wall near the church.
Mental depression and anxiety were recognized as illnesses, but symptoms were often identified as a sin of acedia, or sloth.
Common treatments included rest, sleep, and a healthy environment (baths, ointments, and happy environment).
Nicholas Oresme suggested that melancholy (depression) was the source of some bizarre behavior, rather than demons.