Lecture 1 - defining psychological problems

Question 1

Defining by statistical infrequency

Answer 1

– Measurement and distribution within the
population
* E.g., normal distribution and IQ
But does infrequency = a problem?
– Elite athletes vs hallucinations

Question 2

Deviant Behaviour from the ‘norm’

Answer 2

– Violating social norms
* E.g., behaviour exhibited during manic phase
Too broad and too narrow?
– E.g., criminals vs highly anxious ind.

Question 3

Personal suffering/distress

Answer 3

– E.g., anxiety disorders, depression
But what about the psychopath?
– Lack guilt, remorse or anxiety
Subjectivity?

Question 4

Dysfunction

Answer 4

– Mental disorders defined as ‘harmful
dysfunction’ (Wakefield, 1992)
* Harmful requires a value judgement
* Dysfunction – a mechanism unable to perform its
natural function
– Grounds in evolutionary theory
– Criticised (e.g., Houts, 2001; Lilienfeld &
Marino, 1999)
- Internal mechanisms not well defined

Question 5

A question of universality?

Answer 5

Judgements differ across social groups,
cultures, ethnic groups and time (Bennett et
al., 2006; Kring, et al., 2006)
– Ind. who see visions/speak to themselves
* Are they wise and have special powers?
* Are they psychotic requiring treatment?
– Acceptability of certain behaviours by diff social
groups, e.g., joy riding

Question 6

Expected response (time period)

Answer 6

Case example: Greg feeling anxious being in a car a month after a crash -> if it was two years since then mental health problem

Question 7

Substance abuse

Answer 7

Co-morbidity with mental illness but separate

Question 8

Early views of psychopathology

Answer 8

• Supernatural powers -> possession by demons/displeasure of gods, trephination
• Survived as an explanation until 18th century
• Remains in some less developed areas of the world
• Witchcraft and voodoo are important features of local culture (E.g. Haiti and areas of Western Africa) (Desrosiers & Fleurose, 2002)

Question 9

Early Biological Explanations

Answer 9

• Beginning of classification
• Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)
• Mania, melancholia & phrenitis (brain fever)
• Mental disorder -> Blood (change in temperament) -> Black Bile (melancholia) -> Yellow Bile (irritability and anxiety) -> Phlegm (sluggish/dull)
• Imbalance of bodily fluids

Question 10

The Asylum

Answer 10

• Bethlehem -> Treatment included draining blood from patient’s brain, frighten a patient to the extreme
• 15th century leprosy gradually disappeared from Europe and leprosy hospitals converted into asylums

Question 11

Deinstitutionalisation

Answer 11

• 1962 NHS began to close large psychiatric hospitals
• Community-based mental health and social care
• medication, talking treatments, crisis care
• Managing money, shopping, housework, local services, transport