Abnormal Psychology over Time - Pearson

1 chapter 1. Abnormal Psychology over Time WHAT DO WE MEAN BY ABNORMALITY? THE EMERGENCE OF CONTEMPORARY VIEWS. The DSM-IV Definition of Mental Disorder OF Abnormal BEHAVIOR. Why Do We Need to Classify Mental Disorders? Biological Discoveries: Establishing the Link Between What Are the Disadvantages of Classification? the Brain and Mental Disorder How Does Culture Affect What Is Considered Abnormal ? The Development of a Classification System Culture-Specific Disorders The Development of the Psychological Basis of Mental Disorder HOW COMMON ARE MENTAL DISORDERS?

2 The Evolution of the Psychological Research Tradition: Prevalence and Incidence Experimental Psychology Prevalence Estimates for Mental Disorders RESEARCH APPROACHES IN Abnormal . Psychology . HISTORICAL VIEWS OF Abnormal BEHAVIOR. Sources of Information Demonology, Gods, and Magic Forming and Testing Hypotheses Hippocrates' Early Medical Concepts Research Designs Later Greek and Roman Thought Views of Abnormality During the Middle Ages UNRESOLVED ISSUES. The Resurgence of Scientific Questioning in Europe Are We All Becoming Mentally Ill?

3 The Expanding Horizons The Establishment of Early Asylums of Mental Disorder Humanitarian Reform Mental Hospital Care in the Twenty-First Century 1. 2 chapter 1 Abnormal Psychology over Time bnormal Psychology is concerned with understanding the nature, causes, and A treatment of mental disorders. The topics and problems within the field of Abnormal Psychology surround us every day. You have only to pick up a newspaper, flip through a magazine, surf the Internet, or sit through a movie to be exposed to some of the issues that clinicians and researchers deal with on a daily basis.

4 Almost weekly some celebrity is in the news because of a drug or alcohol problem, an eating disorder, or some other psychological difficulty. Bookstores are full of personal accounts of struggles with schizophrenia, depres- sion, phobias, and panic attacks. Films such as A Beautiful Mind portray aspects of Abnormal behavior with varying degrees of accuracy. And then there are the tragic news stories of mothers who kill their children, in which problems with depression, schizophrenia, or post- partum difficulties seem to be implicated.

5 The issues of Abnormal Psychology capture our interest, demand our attention, and trigger our concern. They also community setting. Donald has brief but frequent periods compel us to ask questions. To illustrate further, let's con- when he needs to be hospitalized. His hospitalizations are sider two clinical cases. triggered by episodes of great agitation during which Donald hears voices. These voices taunt him with insulting and abusive comments. In most social situations, Donald Case Study is socially inappropriate, awkward, and painfully unsure of himself.

6 In his mid-teenage years, Donald began to withdraw Monique socially from his friends and family. At 17, he suddenly, without any obvious trigger, began to hear voices. At Monique is a 24-year-old law student. She is attractive, neatly that time he was stubbornly insistent that the voices were dressed, and clearly very bright. If you were to meet her, you coming with malicious intent from within a neighbor's would think that she had few problems in her life; but house, transmitted electronically to the speakers of the Monique has been drinking alcohol since she was 14, and she family television.

7 More recently he has considered the smokes marijuana every day. Although she describes herself as possibility that he somehow produces the voices within just a social drinker, she drinks four or five glasses of wine himself. During periods of deterioration, Donald can be when she goes out with friends and also drinks a couple of heard arguing vehemently with the voices. The rest of the glasses of wine a night when she is alone in her apartment in time he appears to be reasonably able to ignore them, the evening.

8 She frequently misses early morning classes although the voices are never entirely absent for sustained because she feels too hungover to get out of bed. On several periods. occasions her drinking has caused her to black out. Although Prior to his breakdown, Donald had lived a relatively she denies having any problems with alcohol, Monique admits normal middle-class life. Reasonably popular among peers, that her friends and family have become very concerned about he showed considerable athletic prowess and earned pass- her and have suggested that she seek help.

9 Monique, however, ing grades in school, although he often seemed inattentive says, I don't think I am an alcoholic because I never drink in and preoccupied. There was no evidence of his ever having the mornings. The previous week she decided to stop smok- abused drugs. ing marijuana entirely because she was concerned that she might have a drug problem. However, she found it impossible to stop and is now smoking regularly again. Perhaps you found yourself asking questions as you read about Monique and Donald.

10 For example, because Monique doesn't drink in the mornings, you might have Case Study wondered whether she could really have a serious alcohol problem. She does. This is a question that concerns the Donald criteria that must be met before someone receives a par- ticular diagnosis. Or, perhaps you wondered whether Donald is 33 years old. Although Donald is of relatively high other people in Monique's family likewise have drinking intelligence, he has never been employed for more than problems. They do.