Lecture 1 - What is Abnormal Psychology?

Question 1

What is meant by the term ‘prevalence’?

Answer 1

The number of people receiving treatment/are diagnosed in a certain time period (which is not always helpful as it does not reflect undiagnosed cases).

Question 2

How are representative studies conducted?

Answer 2

10,000 or more participants are taken from the general public and asked about certain symptoms as sppecified by DSM, and statistics are drawn out of these studies.

Question 3

What is meant by the term ‘incidence’?

Answer 3

The number of people who first receive treatment or are first diagnosed within a certain time period (e.g. 2% were diagnosed/treated with depression in 2008 for the first time).

Question 4

What is the estimation of adults living with a mental disorder?

Answer 4

32-48%

Question 5

What is the estimation of those who were diagnosed with a disorder prior to 21 years of age?

Answer 5

35-49%

Question 6

What is a critique of DSM-5 only taking symptoms into account when diagnosing disorders?

Answer 6

Does not fully take internal dysfunction into account, only external dysfunction (e.g. diagnosed with depression according to DSM after a loved one has died).