Lecture 1 - Conceptualizations of Abnormality Flashcards
What is an abnormality/disorder?
- no consensus definition
- there are ONLY SOME agreed upon clear indicators of abnormality
- but there IS agreement about which conditions are disorders and which are not
Indicators of abnormality
(often included but questionable)
- subjective distress
- maladaptiveness
- statistical deviancy
- violation of standard of society
- social discomfort
- irrationality and unpredictability
- dangerousness
Elements of abnormality
- No one element is sufficient to define or determine abnormality
- what is considered deviant changes as society changes
Abnormal Behavior always involves _____ and are based on _____
social judgments, the values and expectations of society at large
Abnormality in Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry is more commonly referred to as …
… Psychopathology
Continuum of Emotion
SAD –> Depressed –> Major Depressive Disorder
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
- Published by the American Psychiatric Association
- Used in the United States
- Currently on version 5-TR, DSM-5TR (DSM-5 (2013), DSM5-TR (2022))
- DSM-5 allows us to move out of “either/or” diagnoses
International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
- Published by the World Health Organization (WHO)
- Some similarities and differences to DSM
- Currently on version 11, ICD-11 (2022)
- Used in many countries outside of the US
DSM-5 definition of Mental Disorder
- A syndrome that is present in an individual and that involves clinically significant disturbance in behavior, emotion regulation, or cognitive function
- These disturbances are thought to reflect dysfunction in biological, psychological, or developmental processes that are necessary for mental functioning
- Mental Disorders are usually associated with significant distress or disability in key areas of functioning such as social, occupational, or other activities
- Predictable or culturally approved responses to common stressors or losses are excluded
- The dysfunctional pattern of behavior does not stem from social deviance or conflicts that the person has with society as a whole
DSM characteristics
- A work in progress
- Not a “cook book” or checklist
- Atheoretical
Included in each section:
- Diagnostic Criteria
- Prevalence
- Development and Course
- Risk and Prognostic Factors
- Diagnostic Markers
- Suicide Risk
- Functional Consequences
- Differential Diagnosis
- Comorbidity
How many categories of disorders are in the DSM-5?
20
How to classify individuals
- diagnostic classification systems classify disorders, not people
- “A Schizophrenic” vs. “An individual w/ Schizophrenia”
- “An Alcoholic” vs. “An individual w/ Alcohol Dependence”
Advantages of classification
- provides nomenclature
- structures information in helpful way
- facilitates research
- informs treatment interventions
- social and political implications
Disadvantages of classification
- loss of information regarding individual
- stigma associated w/ diagnosis
- stereotypes based on diagnosis
- labeling can impact self-concept
Culture and abnormality
- cross-cultural differences are significant
- culture can shape the clinical presentation
- there are culture-specific disorders
- abnormal behavior deviates from the norms of the society in which the person lives
