Psychology: Psychological Disorders Overview

Study Notes

Psychological dysfunction leads to significant distress or impairment in daily functioning.
Atypical behaviors are often defined in relation to cultural norms.

Dysfunction: Impaired functioning in social, occupational, or other important areas.
Distress: Suffering or discomfort experienced by individuals with the disorder.
Deviance: Behavior that differs significantly from societal or cultural expectations.
Dangerousness: Potential for harm to self or others.

Diagnostic Criteria: Standards for diagnosing psychological disorders based on signs and symptoms.
Prevalence: Total number of cases (existing or ongoing) of a disorder in a population.
Incidence: Number of new cases occurring in a specific timeframe.
Course: The progression or pattern of a disorder's symptoms (chronic, episodic, time-limited).
Onset: The timing when symptoms begin; can be acute or insidious.
Prognosis: Expected development or outcome of a disorder.
Etiology: The study of the origins and causes of disorders.
Ego-Syntonic/Dystonic: How behaviors align or conflict with personal values.
Comorbidity: Co-occurrence of multiple disorders in a person.
Differential Diagnosis: Process of distinguishing disorders that share similar symptoms.

Early beliefs linked deviant behavior to the struggle between good and evil.
In the Great Persian Empire, psychological disorders were often attributed to possession, leading to beliefs about misfortune.
Treatments included exorcism and ritualistic practices like shaving patterns in hair.
This belief persisted into the 15th century, where witchcraft was blamed for madness.

In the 15th century, insanity was considered a result of mental or emotional stress.
Symptoms like despair were often equated with the sin of acedia (sloth).
Treatments focused on rest, sleep, and maintaining a healthy environment, using baths and potions.

14th-century philosopher and bishop who attributed bizarre behavior to melancholy rather than demonic possession.
Critiqued evidence of sorcery, suggesting confessions were often obtained through torture.

The phenomenon of large-scale bizarre behavior outbreaks illustrated through events like Saint Vitus's Dance and tarantism.
Highlighted the effects of emotion contagion and mob psychology.

Paracelsus, a Swiss physician, dismissed possession theories, linking psychological functioning to lunar and stellar movements.
Proposed that the moon’s gravitational effects might influence mental disorders, leading to the term "lunatic" (from Latin luna).

Hippocrates: Considered the father of modern medicine; recognized psychological disorders as treatable conditions.
Proposed that psychological disorders could stem from brain pathology, head trauma, or hereditary influences.
Emphasized that the brain is critical for wisdom, consciousness, intelligence, and emotion.
Noted the influence of psychological and environmental factors, including family stress, in developing psychopathology.