PSY 056 Abnormal Psychology Lecture Notes PDF

PSY 056: ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY Sarah Malaki  LESSON 2: RATIONALE/IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR; CAUSES OF ABNORMALITY & MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING Definition of Abnormality Abnormal psychology is the scientific study of abnormal behavior in an effort to de...

PSY 056: ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY Sarah Malaki  LESSON 2: RATIONALE/IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR; CAUSES OF ABNORMALITY & MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING Definition of Abnormality Abnormal psychology is the scientific study of abnormal behavior in an effort to describe, predict, explain and change abnormal patterns of functioning. Discussion Discuss the importance of studying Abnormal Psychology. What are some ways in which Abnormal Psychology can be studied? What challenges exist in the study of abnormal psychology? How can those challenges be dealt with? RATIONALE/IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR Rationale for the Study of Abnormal Psychology To identify abnormal behavior. To investigate the causes of abnormal behavior. To predict abnormal behavior. To prevent abnormal behavior. To describe patterns and symptoms of abnormal behavior. To diagnose abnormal behavior. To treat/manage abnormal behavior. Methods of Studying Abnormal Behavior Researcher use various methods to study the causes and treatment of psychological disorders. The scientific methods involve applying an objective set of methods for observing behaviors, hypothesizing about the cause of behavior, setting up proper conditions for studying the hypothesis and drawing conclusions about its validity. Scientific Methods of Studying Abnormal Psychology Experimental studies Co-relational studies Survey methods Case studies Interviews Focus group discussions Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies Scientific Methods of Studying Abnormal Psychology… A. Experimental Research Laboratory simulations that test cause and effect relationships Experimental group and the control group. Manipulating variables to see their impact on another variable(s). Independent variable–the factor(s) that is manipulated/altered by the researcher Dependent variable–the variable(s) that is measured. Scientific Methods of Studying Abnormal Psychology… B. Co-Relational Research The study of naturally occurring relationships among variables Positive Correlation –2 variables vary in the same direction (0 to +1.0) Stress and Illnesses Negative Correlation –2 variables vary in different directions (-1.0 –0) Self-esteem and Depression It is theorized that people who have depressive disorders think very negatively about themselves and have very low levels of self-esteem. The most direct way to test this theory is to measure the levels of depression and self-esteem in people and see if the scores are collected or related to each other. Scientific Methods of Studying Abnormal Psychology… C. The Survey Method Is a method is a research tool used to gather information from people considered representative of a particular population. In abnormal psychology you can focus on the mental health of the population, reporting the frequency of various psychological disorders. You can also look at sexual experiences, frequency of drug use. Scientific Methods of Studying Abnormal Psychology… D. The Case Study Method It allows the researcher to describe a single case in detail. For example, a therapist treating a transsexual client would describe the client’s developmental history, psychological functioning and response to intervention. Scientific Methods of Studying Abnormal Psychology… E. Interviews Interview is a research method that involves asking a respondent a set of structured questions in order to find out more information. In abnormal psychology interviews can be used to understand better certain issues or symptoms regarding a disorder. However, interviews may not be very meaningful with clients who have severe psychological disorders with impaired reasoning, thinking or perceptual issues. Scientific Methods of Studying Abnormal Psychology… F. Focus Group Discussion Focus group discussions involve having discussions with key people who can give useful information about a topic. For example a focus group with depressed clients to understand the effects of depression. Focus groups like other groups can help generate many ideas about an issue. However focus groups must be well structured to yield good results. Scientific Methods of Studying Abnormal Psychology… G. Cross-Sectional & Longitudinal Studies Cross sectional studies involve investigating a phenomenon in a population in one moment of time. Longitudinal studies involve investigating a phenomenon in a population over a long period of time e.g 10 years, 20 years etc. Longitudinal studies may be costly but they are effective in monitoring change in patterns of behavior and treatment outcomes. Ethical Issues in Research in Abnormal Psychology Consent issues - client, guardians, institutions, government license. Confidentiality - eg. record keeping, limits of confidentiality. Beneficence - be helpful/beneficial. Non-maleficence – do no harm. Justice – do the right thing. Fidelity – genuine, committed. Autonomy – encourage independence of client. CAUSES OF ABNOMALITY Causes of Abnormality Abnormal behaviour arises from a complex set of determinants in the body – the body, the mind and the social context of the individual. To understand why people act and feel in ways that are regarded as abnormal, social scientists look at three dimensions: 1. Biological 2. Psychological 3. Socio-cultural 1. Biological Causes To understand the causes of abnormal behaviour, mental health experts know they must carefully evaluate the happenings in a person’s body that can be attributed to genetics or physical functioning disturbances. Some problems that seem emotionally caused can be explained in biological terms and it is important to assess their extent. For problems that have biological causes, biological components eg. medication needs to be used as an intervention. 1. Biological Causes… As is the case with medical disorders, some psychological disorders run in families, eg. major depressive disorder. In addition to considering the role of genetics, clinicians also consider the possibility of abnormality resulting from disturbances in physical functioning. Such disturbances may arise from various sources eg. medical conditions, brain damage or exposure to certain kinds of environmental stimuli.  1. Biological Causes… Examples include: variations in mood and emotionality may be as a result of abnormality in the thyroid gland, brain damage resulting from a head trauma can result in bizarre behaviour and intense emotions, exposure to toxic substances can result to disturbing emotional changes and behaviour. In addition, malfunctioning of the CNS may lead to abnormality i.e., brain damage or disease cause abnormal behaviour. Damage to the spinal cord and the nervous system can cause abnormality. Damage to the neurons connecting the CNS with the glands, muscles and sensory receptors cause physiological malfunction and consequently abnormal/disordered behaviour. Biological Therapies: A variety of drugs eg. anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants may be used in treating maladaptive/abnormal behaviour. However, it is important to recognize the multiple determinants of abnormal behaviour that include interactions among physical environments, psychological factors and biological functioning. 2. Psychological Causes Disturbance can arise from troubling life experiences. Such experiences may contribute to psychological disorders by causing the individual to form negative associations to certain stimuli eg. an irrational fear of small spaces may arise from being trapped in an elevator. In evaluating psychological causes, clinicians consider a client’s experiences most of which are interpersonal (events that take place in interacting with other people). 2. Psychological Causes… Others may be intra-physic (those that take place within thoughts and feelings). Psychological problems may also arise from distorted perceptions and faulty patterns/lines of thinking. 3. Socio-Cultural Causes Refers to the various circles of social influence in the lives of people. The most immediate circle comprises those people that we interact with on the most local level. Beyond the immediate circle are those who inhabit the extended circle of relationships such as family members. The third circle comprises of those people in our environment with whom we interact minimally and rarely by name eg. residents in our community whose standards influence our lives. 3. Socio-Cultural Causes… The fourth circle is the wider culture in which we live. Abnormality can result from events in any of the above social contexts and cultural or societal experiences eg. a failed relationship might lead to suicidal depression; experience of discrimination has profound impact on a person who is part of a minority group. It is important to note that those we interact with may not directly cause abnormality but may play a role in aggravating the impairment. Bio-Psychosocial Causes Refers to the interaction in which biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors play a role in an individual’s development. The degree of influence of each of the variables differs from disorder to disorder eg. for some disorders like schizophrenia, biology plays a dominant role while for PTSD, the cause is primarily socio-cultural. Related to this model is the diathesis stress model which proposes that people are born with a predisposition (diathesis) that places them at risk of developing psychological disorder. Bio-Psychosocial Causes… This predisposition/vulnerability is genetic though it may be acquired due to certain events eg. traumas, diseases, birth complications and family experiences. MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING Mental Health Mental health is not just the absence of mental illness. It is a state of well-being in which everyone realizes his/her own potential, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his/her community (WHO, 2007) Mental health is about: how we feel about ourselves how we feel about others how we are able to meet the demands of life Mental Ill Health Refers to the kind of general mental health problems we can all experience in certain stressful circumstances eg. work pressures can cause us to experience poor concentration, mood swings and sleep disturbances. Defined as the experiencing of severe and distressing psychological symptoms to the extent that normal functioning is seriously impaired. Examples of such symptoms include anxiety, depressed moods, obsessional thinking, delusions and hallucinations Mental Ill Health… Some form of professional medical help is usually needed for recovery/management which may take the form of counselling and psychotherapy, drug treatment and/or lifestyle change. Such problems are temporary in nature, relative to the demands of a particular situation and generally to support and reassurance. We all suffer from mental health problems, such temporary problems do not necessarily lead to mental illness. However, being mentally unhealthy limits our potential and may lead to more serious problems.  Mental Health Counseling Mental health is a key part of our over-all well- being. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that there is no health without mental health. Mental health counselling involves talking about your problem with a trained psychologist eg. talking therapies like psychotherapy and counselling are considered effective forms of mental health support. They help one understand what may have caused their problems and how to manage them. Mental Health Counseling… A range of factors can impact our emotional well-being eg. genetics, prolonged stress, physical illness and traumatic events. Environmental issues eg. economic, political and social climate can also have an impact. Types of Talking Therapy 1. Cognitive Behavior Therapy – focuses on the here- and-now with the aim of changing negative thinking and behavior patterns. 2. Psychotherapy – encourages clients to use their own insights to solve problems. 3. Counselling – Allows clients to share freely without fear of judgment or criticism. Importance of Mental Health Counselling/Therapist Role in MHC a) Helps individuals and families deal with difficult emotions, mental health disorders and trauma. b) Helps clients learn to modify their behaviors for better results. c) Helps clients manage their stress, redirect disturbing emotions and set goals for themselves. d) Therapist might focus the therapy sessions on recovery or on better management of conditions. Types of Counseling 1. Problem-Solving counselling A structured and systematic approach to resolving problems that are linked to stressful circumstances. Particularly suitable for patients whose life problems are adversely affecting or maintaining a disorder. Involves the patient identifying and listing problems and then considering practical ways to solve/alleviate the problem – the solutions are tried and then reviewed. Found to be useful in treating mild mood disorders. Types of Counseling… 2. Interpersonal Counselling Similar to problem-solving but focuses on interpersonal relationships, home, work and elsewhere. Problems in relationships can be viewed under the headings of loss, interpersonal disputes, role transitions and interpersonal deficits. Has been found to be effective in patients with minor mood disorders. Types of Counseling… 3. Psychodynamic Counselling This technique lays more emphasis on past experiences and unconscious processes as the mainspring of current behavior. Patient’s emotional reactions to the counsellor and situation are an indicator of the nature of problems in other relationships (transference). Specific Uses of Mental Health Counselling Counselling has been used in the following situations: Counselling to relieve acute distress Emphasis is on emotional release and ways of coping with the immediate problem. Where the method is non-directive, unstructured and involves recalling distressing events, it may be inappropriate for survivors of traumatic experiences and may lead to worse outcomes than where the patients receives no counselling. Cognitive methods may be of some help but timing is important. Late effects of PTSD, trauma Specific Uses of Mental Health Counselling Counselling has been used in the following situations…: Counselling in relationship problems which might bring about stress Encourage clients to constructively about their relationships so that they may appreciate each other’s thoughts and feelings Risk counselling Bereavement counselling Counselling here focuses on giving information about the normal stages of grief, working through it and advice on coping without the deceased. Specific Uses of Mental Health Counselling… Counselling has been used in the following situations…: Generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorders Obsessive-compulsive disorder Psychosomatic conditions – chronic pain, chronic fatigue Health promotion Chronic and terminal diseases Thank you www.daystar.ac.ke