Concepts of abnormality

Question 1

what is the statistical approach

Answer 1

Deviation from the population mean.

intellectual disability is defined as 2 standard deviations bellow population mean for IQ. (Below 70).

Question 2

What are advantages to the statistical approach

Answer 2

Non emotional
Simple measures construct
Variability in human nature.
conceptualizing

Question 3

What are the disadvantages to the statistical approach?

Answer 3

Measurement error
Regression to the mean (extreme measures tend to be closer to the mean when measured again).
Extreme values dont mean extreme problems (High IQ).
Where do you cut off?

Question 4

What is the normative approach?

Answer 4

The idea that deviation from social norms is abnormal.

Question 5

What are limitations of the normative approach?

Answer 5

Can lead to abuse of power.
Intollerance of individual differences
Norms are socially constructed and arbitrary and differ in cultures.

Question 6

Functional approach

Answer 6

That an individual is unable to function in day to day tasks is abnormal.

Question 7

limitations of the functional approach

Answer 7

Individualistic culture.

Assumes universal needs and expects inidividual to conform to societal expectations.

Question 8

What is the distress based approach

Answer 8

Based on the individuals distress and what the individual decides is normal or abnormal.

Question 9

Limitations to the distress based approach

Answer 9

Lack of insight into the nature of their problems or experiences.
Highly subjective
Risk of medicalising normal response to adverse circumstances.

Question 10

Why is it important to classify mental illness?

Answer 10

• Important for research into aetiology, epidemiology and mechanisms of change..
• Enables a shared language to recognise and treat problems
• enables the selection of appropriate treatments
• enables us to evaluate interventions
• societal requirements, legal, organisational, financial .

Question 11

Advantages of the DSM

Answer 11

• Provides specific criteria to diagnose quantitatively similar experiences
• Criteria which can be applied systematically.
• functional impairments into consideration
• enables differential diagnosis
• enables considerable advances in epidemiology
• enables advances in drug discorvery and specific treatments.

Question 12

what are the disadvantages of the DSM

Answer 12

• Based on symptoms not aetiology
• gives false sense of an explanation
• can reinforce sick role
• many disorders have similar symptoms
• co morbdity between disorders is high.
• within category differences
• categorical appproach doesnt account for degrees of severity.
• false positives- can pathologise normal distress.

Question 13

what are the two alternative models

Answer 13

Dimensional models

Network models

Question 14

what is a dimensional model

Answer 14

Places disorders on a continuum with normal experience. Accounts for severity and multiple overlapping traits.

Question 15

Examples of dimensional models

Answer 15

• internalising/ externalising
• transdiagnostic psychosis- biolar dimension
• transdiagnostic negative affectivity dimension
• Eysencks personality dimensions

Question 16

WHat is a network model

Answer 16

Borsboom (2017)

Question 17

WHat is a network model

Answer 17

Borsboom (2017)

each disorder is made up of networks of symptoms which are related to each other, activate one or 2 symptoms and then the whole network becomes active, 2 disorders connected through bridge symptoms which play roles in both networks. From this perspective there is no underlying pathology. The network of symptoms is the disorder.

Question 18

what is case formulation

Answer 18

: Explanatory models for individuals difficulties, can include biological, psychological and social factors that have served to cause and maintain problems, can enhance collaboration with clients

Question 19

what is harmful dysfunction

Answer 19

Harmful dysfunction (Wakefield, 1997) is a view which assumes that psychopathology is defined by the dysfunction of normal process that has the consequence of being in some way harmful. 
For example, hearing voices as part of schizophrenia may be caused by the brains inability to turn off unwanted thoughts and they may give rise to harmful consequences such as paranoia.