Abnormal Psychology PDF

Abnormal Psychology Instructor: Ms. Danielle Fuertes The Science of Psychopathology Psychopathology is the scientific study of psychological disorders. Scientist-Practitioner The most important development in the recent history of psychopathology is the adoption of scientific methods to learn mor...

Abnormal Psychology Instructor: Ms. Danielle Fuertes The Science of Psychopathology Psychopathology is the scientific study of psychological disorders. Scientist-Practitioner The most important development in the recent history of psychopathology is the adoption of scientific methods to learn more about the nature of psychological disorders, their causes, and their treatment. The Science of Psychopathology Clinical Description which represents the unique combination of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that make up a specific disorder. In hospitals and clinics, we often say that a patient “presents” with a specific problem or set of problems, or we discuss the presenting problem. Presents is a traditional shorthand way of indicating why the person came to the clinic. The Science of Psychopathology Prevalence - how many people in the population as a whole have the disorder? Incidence - Statistics on how many new cases occur during a given period, such as a year. Course - most disorders follow a somewhat individual pattern, example when a disorder is a chronic course, meaning that they tend to last a long time, sometimes a lifetime. The Science of Psychopathology Onset – beginning of the said disorder. Example acute onset, meaning that they begin suddenly. Prognosis - The anticipated course of a disorder, So we might say, “the prognosis is good,” meaning the individual will probably recover. Etiology - the study of origins, has to do with why a disorder begins (what causes it) and includes biological, psychological, and social dimensions. Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior For thousands of years, humans have tried to explain and control problematic behavior. time. The purpose of the models (theories) is to explain why someone is “acting like that.” Humans have always supposed that agents outside our bodies and environment influence our behavior, thinking, and emotions. These agents— which might be divinities, demons, spirits, or other phenomena. Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Supernatural Tradition For much of our recorded history, deviant behavior has been considered a reflection of the battle between good and evil. When confronted with unexplainable, irrational behavior and by suffering and upheaval, people have perceived evil. Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Supernatural Tradition Demons and Witches During the last quarter of the 14th century, religious and lay authorities supported these popular superstitions and society as a whole began to believe more strongly in the existence and power of demons and witches. Treatments included exorcism, in which various religious rituals were performed in an effort to rid the victim of evil spirits. Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Supernatural Tradition Stress and Melancholy An equally strong opinion, even during this period, reflected the enlightened view that insanity was a natural phenomenon, caused by mental or emotional stress, and that it was curable. Mental depression and anxiety were recognized as illnesses, treatments were rest, sleep, and a healthy and happy environment also, baths, ointments, and various potions. Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Supernatural Tradition Treatments for Possession Possession, however, is not always connected with sin but may be seen as involuntary and the possessed individual as blameless. In the Middle Ages, if exorcism failed, they make unnecessary steps and people were subjected to confinement, beatings, and other forms of torture. Trepanning – a process of drilling (making a hole) in a person’s head to release the evil spirits. Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Supernatural Tradition Mass Hysteria Another fascinating phenomenon is characterized by large-scale outbreaks of bizarre behavior. The Moon and the Stars Paracelsus, a Swiss physician who lived from 1493 to 1541, rejected notions of possession by the devil, suggesting instead that the movements of the moon and stars had profound effects on people’s psychological functioning.  Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Biological Tradition Physical causes of mental disorders have been sought since early in history. Hippocrates and Galen Hippocrates (460–377 b.c.) is considered to be the father of modern Western medicine. in which they suggested that psychological disorders could be treated like any other disease. They did not limit their search for the causes of psychopathology to the general area of “disease,” because they believed that psychological disorders might also be caused by brain pathology or head trauma and could be influenced by heredity (genetics).  Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Biological Tradition Hippocrates and Galen The Roman physician Galen (approximately a.d. 129– 198) later adopted the ideas of Hippocrates and his associates and developed them further. Hippocrates assumed that normal brain functioning was related to four bodily fluids or humors: Blood - came from the heart black bile – from the spleen yellow bile - from the liver Phlegm - from the brain Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Biological Tradition Hippocrates and Galen Physicians believed that disease resulted from too much or too little of one of the humors. Hippocrates also coined the word hysteria to describe a concept he learned about from the Egyptians, who had identified what we now call the somatic symptom disorders. The physical symptoms appear to be the result of a medical problem for which no physical cause can be found. Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Biological Tradition 19th Century two factors: the discovery of the nature and cause of syphilis and strong support from the well- respected American psychiatrist John P. Grey. Syphilis - a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterial microorganism entering the brain, include believing that everyone is plotting against you (delusion of persecution) or that you are God (delusion of grandeur), as well as other bizarre behaviors. Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Biological Tradition 19th Century John P. Grey Grey’s position was that the causes of insanity were always physical. Therefore, the mentally ill patient should be treated as physically ill. The emphasis was again on rest, diet, and proper room temperature and ventilation, approaches used for centuries by previous therapists in the biological tradition. Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Biological Tradition The Development of Biological Treatments In the 1930s, the physical interventions of electric shock and brain surgery were often used. Their effects, and the effects of new drugs, were discovered quite by accident. Following drugs has been developed: Rauwolfia serpentine (later renamed reserpine) neuroleptics (major tranquilizers) benzodiazepines (minor tranquilizers) Historical Conceptions of Abnormal Behavior The Biological Tradition Emil Kraepelin (1856–1926) was the dominant figure during this period and one of the founding fathers of modern psychiatry. He also coined the term “dementia preacox”. Many of his descriptions of schizophrenic disorders are still useful today.