Psychopathology and Mental Health Concepts

Study Notes

Maladaptive, disruptive, or uncomfortable patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
Sociocultural Context: Influences the form abnormality takes, considers factors like gender, culture, and social class.
Abnormal: Defined by deviance, distress, and dysfunction.
Biopsychosocial Approach: Views mental disorders as a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
Medical Model (Neurobiological Model): Sees psychological disorders as disturbances in the anatomy and chemistry of the brain and other biological processes.
Psychological Processes: Views mental disorders as arising from psychological processes.
Diathesis-Stress Model: Suggests that psychological disorders develop when a predisposition for a disorder (diathesis) interacts with stressful life events.

Mental Health: A state of well-being where an individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with normal stresses, and can work productively.
Mental Health Problems: Less severe than disorders, may cause distress and impair functioning but are usually temporary.
Mental Disorders: Characterized by significant distress, impairment, and deviations from normal functioning.

Psychoanalysis: Focuses on unconscious thoughts and emotions, helping clients gain insight through interpretation.
Humanistic Psychology: Emphasizes the individual's capacity for self-awareness, choice, and responsible behavior, seeking to promote self-actualization.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Learning-based treatment that focuses on changing both thoughts and behaviors to address maladaptive patterns.

A standardized system for classifying and diagnosing mental disorders.
Provides criteria for identifying specific disorders and helps ensure consistent diagnosis across different professionals.
Helps researchers study and understand mental illness patterns.

Key Symptoms: Each syndrome has a unique set of symptoms and characteristics.
Diagnosis: Based on the DSM criteria, clinicians can determine which syndrome a patient might have.

Psychodynamic Therapy: Focuses on unconscious processes, early childhood experiences, and interpersonal relationships.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Aims to identify and change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.
Humanistic Therapy: Emphasizes personal growth, self-acceptance, and finding meaning in life.
Group Therapy: Utilizes group dynamics to promote healing and support.
Family Therapy: Addresses dysfunctional patterns within families.

Pharmacotherapy: Medication-based treatment has been shown to be effective for many disorders.
Psychotherapy: A range of talking therapies, including CBT and psychodynamic therapies, have demonstrated effectiveness in treating various disorders.
Effectiveness and Efficiency: Research continues to evaluate the best treatment approaches based on their efficacy and cost-effectiveness.