Psychopathology = the study of illness of the mind or psychological disorders. The study of
behaviour or thinking patterns that diverge widely from generally accepted norms. (far from
normal)
Widely used criteria to distinguish disorders from normal behaviour:
1) Statistical deviance: (deviating from what is statistically normal)
Frequently occurring behaviour is considered normal.
Far less frequent, rare or deviation from societal norms are considered
abnormal e.g wearing clothes, talking to oneself.
However, less frequent does not always mean the presence of
psychopathology always.
Does not consider cultural context of what is normal behaviour e.g hearing
voices or forms of nudity are not considered abnormal in African cultures.
And what is considered normal may not be appropriate or normal e.g racist
attitudes are often a norm in many societies but it is wrong to view this as
acceptable.
2) Maladaptiveness:
Behaviours that appear to prevent Individual from adapting for their good or
the group’s good are defined as abnormal.
cannot function effectively in daily life
Person may be a threat to self/or others.
West African cultures still do female circumcision, a practice viewed as
abnormal by others but within some cultures this is viewed as adaptive.
The main problem with maladaptiveness and statistical deviance is that both
assess abnormality outside the individuals own experience of the apparent
problem. That’s why psychologists consider the criterion of personal distress
as an indicator of psychology.
3) Personal distress:
Symptoms cause significant distress.
Allows people to judge their need for treatment.
But what if a person’s behaviour is harmful but not distressing
What if a person’s behaviour causes distress to others but not themselves?
If PD is a criterion for abnormality, then is all PD unhealthy or abnormal? E.g
grief for loss of loved one which is a normal healthy response.
No clear cut answer to what is normal or not.
History of mental illness
The early era –(evil spirits ) – 3000BC
Demonic possession cause of mental illness
Trephination = boring a hole in the skull to release demons responsible for
abnormal behaviour
History of psychological disorders:
People with psychological disorders were believed to be witches.
Massive persecution, mostly women.
Thousands accused of witchcraft and executed.
Diagnostic tests to identify witches.
The ancient era
Hippocrates (460- 377 BC)
, Psychological disorders the result of imbalances in these bodily fluids:
(PBYB) (please buy yourself books) (a hippo reading – Hippocrates)
Phlegm
Black bile
Yellow bile
Blood
Naturalistic remedies: solitude, change in diet, abstinence from sexual activity
Middle Ages
Supernatural explanations of mental illnesses – emerged from more
organised forms of religion
Seen as punishment for sins/ demonic possession
Church = vehicles for exorcism
Formal segregation of mentally ill – church out of ‘charity’ locked up the
insane.
Renaissance era (1400-1600)
Patients treated more humanely.
Ideas related to witchcraft openly challenged.
Johann weyer (german physician) argued that they were not possessed but
mentally ill
Asylum era (16th to 18th century)
Inhumane treatment of patients – locking them in dark cells and subjecting
them to torture like treatment – electric shocks, bleeding, drugs and starvation
By late 18th century Philippe Pinel (1745- 1826) put forward the idea that
mental patients should be treated with kindness and consideration if they
were given a chance to recover. Many patients reported improved once they
were treated in a humane fashion.
The scientific era (19th century onwards)
Scientific discoveries increased, particularly that general paresis (syphilis
brain), a disease that caused paralysis and insanity had a biological cause
and could be treated.
Mental disorders came to be understood as mental illnesses that could be
identified through signs and symptoms.
Emil Kraepelin (Kas=cupboard=classification) developed a classification
system for a number of disorders, most notably dementia praecox
(schizophrenia) and manic-depressive psychosis (bipolar).
Sigmud Freud devised a means of treating patients who suffered from
hysterical and neurotic conditions, namely psychoanalysis.
Introduction of psychotropic drugs in 1950s is an important landmark in the
history of mental illnesses.
Alternate understanding of psychopathology
• In southern Africa:
• Indigenous theories of illness will commonly locate the cause of
personal problems in social relationships, both with living people
and ancestors.
• Religious healing is common.
• There are local categories of illness and spirit possession.
, • An individual’s context and perspective (e.g. cultural heritage, socio-economic
status and racial grouping) are important considerations in determining which
treatment will work best.
The medical model
General paresis – psychological symptoms include mood, personality
changes and dementia.
1950 discovered that general paresis had a physical cause (untreated
syphilis)
Lent support to the somatogenic hypothesis – biological impairments
cause/explain psychological symptoms.
Gave rise to medical model and psychiatry.
Psychological disorders can be diagnosed and treated.
Diagnosis and classification
Strengths of DSM 5
Create a common language for research and data sharing.
Understand the causes of psychopathology.
Develop effective treatment and prevention strategies.
Access the effectiveness of treatments.
Organize services and support.
Limitations of DSM
Assumes that the disorders are universal.
Locates the disorder within the individual.
Labelling people can be stigmatising and harmful.
Labelling people influences how they see themselves and how others
see them.
Defines disorders as discrete entities (have it or you don’t)
High rates of comorbidity (79% meet the criteria for more than one
disorder).
Models of Abnormality
= Biological
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