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describe the historical emergence of abnormal psychology as a concept and as an area of clinical practice
identify and compare several theories about the c
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Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 435)
Athabasca University PART ONE
Quizzes (in Quiz Book): Other:
Quiz 1: Units 1-3 (5%): Done Term Paper (35%)
Quiz 2: Units 4-6 (5%): Done Final Exam (40%)
Quiz 3: Units 7-9 (5%): Done Term Paper Proposal: Done
Quiz 4: Units 10-13 (5%): Done
Quiz 5: Units 14-17 (5%): Done
VERY USEFUL QUIZLET ACCOUNT:
https://quizlet.com/r_crawford23/folders/psyc-435-abnormal-psychology/sets
Learning Outcomes
Psychology 435: Abnormal Psychology has eleven major learning outcomes. When you have
completed this course, you should be able to:
1. Describe the historical emergence of abnormal psychology as a concept and as an area of
clinical practice.
2. Identify and compare several theories about the causes of abnormal behaviour.
3. Discuss issues in the assessment and diagnosis of mental disorders.
4. Describe the wide variety of treatment approaches available to modern clinicians.
5. Identify and describe several common and relatively easily treated disorders, such as
adjustment, anxiety, phobias, and somatoform disorders.
6. Identify and describe the more difficult-to-treat disorders, such as schizophrenia,
paranoia, and the affective disorders.
7. Describe and discuss disorders that involve some violation of legal or social standards,
including sexual variations, alcohol and drug abuse patterns, impulse control, and
violence.
8. Recognize relationships between various central nervous system impairments and
abnormal behaviour patterns.
9. Explain the aspects and implications of various types and levels of neurodevelopmental
disorders.
10. Identify, describe, and discuss special disorders of childhood, adolescence, adulthood,
and aging.
, Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 435)
Athabasca University PART ONE
11. Discuss the major ethical and legal considerations associated with abnormal behaviour.
Unit 1
Overview
Unit 1 explores the definition of abnormal psychology and looks at the prevalence and incidence
of mental disorders. Further, it looks at the research approaches in abnormal psychology.
Learning Objectives
1. Discuss common topics and issues relevant to Abnormal Psychology.
- Abnormal psychology is concerned with understanding the nature, causes, and
treatment of mental disorders.
- Family aggregation: whether a disorder runs in families.
- No single thing can define or determine abnormality, but someone might struggle
in these areas:
Subjective distress
Maladaptiveness
Statistical Deviancy
Violation of the standards of society
Social discomfort
Irrationality and unpredictability
Dangerousness
2. Explain why we need to classify mental disorders.
- We need to classify mental disorders so that there are specific diagnostic criteria
for each disorder that creates a common language so that a specific diagnosis
means the same thing to one clinician as it does to another. In addition, it provides
descriptive information about the type and number of symptoms needed for each
diagnosis which helps to ensure diagnostic accuracy, consistency and reliability.
- Most sciences rely on classifications, provides us with nomenclature (naming
system), common language and shorthand terms, help to structure information in
a more helpful manner. CLASSIFICATION FACILITATES RESEARCH
3. Explain the DSM definition of mental disorders.
- DSM: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- A mental disorder is defined as a syndrome that is present in an individual and
that involves clinically significant disturbance in behaviour, emotion regulation,
or cognitive functioning. These disturbances are thought to reflect a dysfunction
in biological, psychological, or developmental processes that are necessary for
mental functioning. DSM-5 also recognizes that mental disorders are usually
associated with significant distress or disability in key areas of functioning such
as social, occupational, or other activities. Predictable or culturally approved
responses to common stressors or losses (such as death of a loved one) are
, Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 435)
Athabasca University PART ONE
excluded. It is also important that this dysfunctional pattern of behavior not stem
from social deviance or conflicts that the person has with society as a whole.
- Within a given culture, many shared beliefs and behaviors exist that are widely
accepted and that may constitute one or more customary practices.
4. Identify how culture can influence the definition of Abnormal Psychology.
- Labeling, stigma and stereotyping
- Number 13 in Christian countries vs Number 4 in Japan
- Culture can shape the clinical presentation of disorders like depression, which are
present in cultures around the world. Cultural interpretation and expression of
abnormal psychology is not known well.
- A case in point is taijin kyofusho. This syndrome, which is an anxiety disorder, is
quite prevalent in Japan. It involves a marked fear that one’s body, body parts, or
body functions may offend, embarrass, or otherwise make others feel
uncomfortable. Often, people with this dis-order are afraid of blushing or
upsetting others by their gaze, facial expression, or body odor.
- Latino descent, ataque de nervios or an “attack of nerves” is a clinical syndrome
that does not seem to correspond to any specific diagnosis within the DSM.
Triggered by stressful event, symptoms are crying, trembling and uncontrollable
screaming, sense of being out of control, can be physically or verbally aggressive,
faint or have a seizure-like fit but then can return to normal as if nothing
happened.
5. Identify the professionals responsible for working on the mental health “team.”
- Psychiatrist: prescribe medications and monitors for side effects
- Clinical Psychologist: individual therapy meeting with patient several times a
week
- Clinical Social Worker: helps patient resolve family problems.
- Psychiatric Nurse: checks daily to provide support and help cope better in hospital
setting.
- Team of professionals can be different in outpatient. Can be just the psychiatrist
(medication and psychotherapy) but some receive meds from the psychiatrist but
go see a psychologist or a clinical social worker for therapy. Some see a
counseling psychologist, a psychoanalyst, or a counsellor.
6. Explain the difference between the prevalence and the incidence of mental disorders.
- Epidemiology: the study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-
related behaviours in a given population. Mental health epidemiology is the study
of the distribution of mental disorders.
- Prevalence: the number of active cases in a population during any given period of
time. Percentages of the population that has the disorder, etc.
- Point prevalence: the estimated proportion of actual, active cases of a disorder in a
given population at a given point in time. For example, if we were to conduct a
, Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 435)
Athabasca University PART ONE
study and count the number of people who have major depressive disorder (i.e.,
clinical depression) on January 1 of next year, this would provide us with a point
prevalence estimate of active cases of depression.
- 1-year prevalence figure: count everyone who experienced the disorder at any
point in time throughout the entire year.
- Lifetime prevalence: an estimate of the number of people who have had a
particular disorder at anytime in their lives (even if recovered).
- Incidence: the number of new cases that occur over a given period of time
(typically one year).
7. Discuss the prevalent rates of mental disorders.
-
-
-
- Comorbidity: presence of two or more disorders in the same person, higher in
severe disorders.
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