L1 - Introduction

Question 1

What is abnormal psyc?

Answer 1

Abnormal Psychology is the scientific study of psychological disorders or abnormal behaviours. This includes the description, causation, maintenance, and treatment.

Question 2

Why is the prevalence of mental illness so hard to find out?

Answer 2

Prevalence of mental health disorders may be incorrectly estimated based on sample studies as every case of diagnosable mental health disorders may not be diagnosed. This is particularly apparent when individuals do not seek help for their disorders.

Question 3

What does prevalence refer to in regards to mental health, and what are the 3 types of prevalence?

Answer 3

Prevalence refers to the proportion of a population has a diagnosed mental disorder in a specified time period.

The three types of prevalence are:

i. Point prevalence
ii. One year prevalence
iii. Lifetime prevalence

Question 4

Point prevalence is:

Answer 4

The proportion of the population at that time with a diagnosed mental health disorder.

“Right now, X% of people in Australia have disease Y”

Question 5

One year prevalence is:

Answer 5

The proportion of the population with a diagnosed mental health disorder in a one year period.

“In year ‘___’, X% of people in Australia had disease Y”
One year prevalence is the most commonly reported type of prevalence.

Question 6

Lifetime prevalence is:

Answer 6

The proportion of the population that will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime.

“In their lifetimes, X% of Australians will be diagnosed with Y”

Question 7

What does incidence of mental health disorders refer to in abnormal psychology?

Answer 7

Incidence refers to the proportion of healthy individuals that develop a mental health disorder in a given time period, usually one year.

“Every year, X% of Australians develop Y for the first time”

Question 8

What is the estimated lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders in <21yrs and adults?

Answer 8

<21yrs: 35-49%

Adults: 32-48%

Question 9

List some features of the DSM definition of a mental disorder:

Answer 9

Behaviour and/or state must be a clinically significant behavioural or psychological syndrome or pattern.
Conditions include:
i. association with present distress or disability, or an increased risk of death, pain, disability, or loss of freedom
ii. must not be an expected or socially valid/sanctioned response to an event.
iii. it must currently be
considered a manifestation of a behavioural,
psychological, or biological dysfunction in the
individual.

Question 10

Historically, what was “mental illness”?

Answer 10

Mental illness = insanity, madness
Gross distortion of reality (hallucinations, delusions), and disorganisation of speech, affect, behaviour (confusion, memory loss, etc.)

Question 11

The national survey of mental health and wellbeing revealed a 45% lifetime prevalence of mental disorder, found that 7.3 million Australians aged 16-85 experienced anxiety, affective, or substance use disorder… What proportion of these people received help?

Answer 11

1/3 received help

Question 12

For which mental disorder did the highest % seek help?

Answer 12

Schizophrenia 48%

Question 13

What are 4 key elements of abnormal behaviour?

Answer 13

• Statistical rarity
• Norm violation
• Distress
• Dysfunction