Clinical Psychology Flashcards
(267 cards)
ABNORMALITY V NORMALITY
What are the 4 different approaches to classifying abnormality
Statistical approach, normative approach, functional approach, distress-based approach
explain the statistical approach
attributes or behaviour that deviate from the statistical norm.
good thing about it
offers objectivity and measurability
limitations- 3
1) measurement error- how accurate are the tests, different times of day for example. test retest reliability.
2) regression to the mean- normal fluctuation to go from extreme to normal is common
3) extreme values don’t always mean problems- what about high IQ for exampl
4) where do we draw the cut off
explain the normative approach
deviating from social norms is viewed as normal because acting in an acceptable way is seen as adaptive behaviour to thrive and survive in life.
limitations- 3
1) intolerant of individual differences
2) social normals are constructed and arbitary anyway
3) this approach can lead to an abuse of power- soviet gulag example
explain the functional approach
a compromise between stats and norm- based on a person failing to function correctly to meet their personal needs/goals to survive. if you can’t- its seen as maladaptive behaviour
limitations- 3
1) someone who is maladaptive might not necessarily be abormal (murderers are maladaptive but that doesnt mean every murderer has a mental health condition)
2) assumes ‘universal needs’
3) expects conformity
good thing about the functional approach
this approach says its down to context, so being homeless isnt socially normal but it doesnt make you mentally ill, it compares you to people within that group. So one homeless person might not be functioning the same as another homeless person, who is in their reference group
explain the distress-based approach
based on an individuals distress or inability to cope with their experiences or problems. its about their own perception of normal (good thing)
limitations- 3
1) lack of insight could be a problem- what if they’re a child
2) highly subjective. one person’s sadness is another’s depression.
3) danger of medicalizing/pathologising normal reactions to adverse events
what is the current view on classifying?
contemporary classification systems are informed by a combination of these perspectives
why is it important to classify things? 4 reasons
1) its important for aetiology and epidemiology- we need to study it systematically so we can know how to improve.
2) enables a shared language to recognise and treat
3) enables us to select appropriate treatments
4) enables us to evaluate different interventions
5) ) societal reasons, legal, financial etc- need diagnosis to support
where does classification come from
Emil Kraepelin. devised a way to classify mental disorders based on symptomatology- co-occurring symptoms. interviewed 100’s of patients. entered into the ICD (International classification of diseases) in 1939.
when did the first DSM drop
1952
what parts are diagnostic schemes organised into
1) core criteria. must have a specific 2, aswell as 5 alltogether and for over 2 weeks.
2) symptoms must cause significant distress
3) can’t be attributed to drugs or other medical condition
advantages to the DSM- 5
- specific criteria to diagnose similar conditions
- provides criteria that can be applied systematically
- the diagnostic criteria is theoretically neutral
- takes functional impairment into consideration- you have to consider it a problem
- advances in drugs and treatments and epidemiology
disadvantages of the DSM
- diagnosis is based on symptoms not aetiology
- the illusion of explanation, being diagnosed doesnt mean we know the causes or how to treat it
- different disorders have similar symptoms that need to be treated differently. danger of misdiagnosis
- within category heterogeneity- even in the same diagnosis, the manifestations are completely different. putting people in categories doesnt account for severity
- false positives- pathologising normal distress
- labelling leads to stigmatisation and self-fulfilling prophecy
ALTERNATIVES! what are the alternatives?
dimensional model, network models
describe dimensional models
places mental disorders on a continuum, rather than categories. is on a chart with normal experiences.
good things about the dimensional models
accounts for severity! allows for overlapping traits, symptoms of psychosis and depression can be mapped together.
problems
again problems with cut offs, where is the line between normal and pathological
what are some examples of the dimensional models
internalising/externalising dimensions. transdiagnostic psychosis-bipolar, transdiagnostic negative affectivity
describe the internalising/externalising dimensions
disorders can be thought of as either internalising or externalising.
internalising- anxiety, depression, self-identity, socially awkward
externalising- hyperactivity, aggression, conduct problems, disruptive