Unit 5 - Chapter 15 - Early Considerations of Mentall Illness Flashcards
a) What is mental illness?
b) Identify and describe the four themes that govern the definition of mental illness.
a) mental illness
- when a person’s emotions, thoughts, or behaviour deviate substantially from what is considered to be normal.
b) four themes that govern definition of mental illness;
1) harmful behaviour
- contrary to motive to survive.
2) unrealistic thoughts and perceptions
- ex: delusions and hallucinations.
3) inappropriate emotions
4) unpredictable behaviour
Identify and describe the three classes of early explanations of mental illness.
1) biological explanations
- can be inherited, predisposed.
2) psychological explanations
- emphasize grief, conflict, fear, anxiety, etc.
3) supernatural explanations
- attribute mysterious forces.
Identify and describe the general features of four early approaches to treating mental illness.
1) psychotherapy
- includes sufferer, helper, and systematized help ritual.
2) psychological approach
- methods include creating catharsis, offering support, analyzing dreams, teaching coping skills.
3) supernatural approach
- involves sympathetic magic (homeopathic & contagious) and trepanation
- time of witch hunts, treatment -> exorcisms, prayer, etc.
4) biological approach
- initiated by Hippocrates who said brain was source of mental illness.
- naturalistic treatment, ex; rest, proper diet, exercise.
Trepanantion
drilling holes in a person’s skull to release evil spirits.
a) Sympathetic magic
sympathetic magic
- belief that by influencing things that are similar to (homeopathic) or close to a person (contagious), one can influence the person.
homeopathic magic
- based on principle of similarity
contagious magic
- based on principle of contiguity
a) Describe the gradual improvement in the treatment of mental illness that began in the 16th century, briefly describing the contributions of Philippus Paracelsus, Cornelius Agrippa, Johann Weyer, and Reginald Scot.
b) Identify the most popular treatment for ailments—including mental disorders—up to the end of the 18th century.
a) - against calling people witches.
- naturalistic explanations of mental disorders.
- said ‘witches’ were actually just mentally ill.
b) blood-letting was the most popular treatment.
Briefly describe the life and work of Philippe Pinel
- argued for humane treatment of people with mental disturbances, ex: bathing and mild purgatives.
- first to maintain case histories & stats on his patients.
Briefly describe the life and work of Benjamin Rush
- first U.S psychiatrist.
- said fresh air and sunlight around institutions is necessary.
- was against criminilization of mentally ill patients.
Briefly describe the life and work of Dorothea Dix
- campaigned for better conditions of the mentally ill.
- brought institutional reform in many states.
Briefly describe the life and work of Emil Kraepelin
- classified mental disorders such as dementia praecox (schizophrenia), paranoia, manic depression & neurosis.
- first to study drug effects on behavioural/cognitive functions –> pharmapsychology.
- influenced creation of the DSM.
Briefly describe the life and work of Lightner Witmer
established clinical psychology:
- applies principles derived from psychological research to diagnosis and treatment.
made three lasting impressions on clinical psychology:
1) idea that scientific psych can be useful in helping people.
2) help can be best provided through a specialized profession independent of medicine & education.
3) should be highly research oriented.
a) Describe the psychological and medical models of mental illness
b) Describe the tensions between psychological and medical models of mental illness
a) psychological model
- psychological events are causes of abnormal behaviour.
medical model
- assumes that all disease is caused by malfunctioning of some aspect of the body.
b) tension
- dominant belief in 19th century that physiology/brain chemistry caused mental illness.
- this delayed search for psychological causes (ex; conflicts, frustrations, and emotional disturbances)
Describe the views of Thomas Szasz regarding the medical model.
- argued that diagnosis of mental illness reflects a social judgment not medical.
- said clinical psych can be helpful if they view people as clients, not patients.
- labelling mental disorders absolves a person of responsibility and creates a self-fulfilling prophecy
Describe the use of hypnotism as a treatment for behaviour disorders, including the work of Franz Anton Mesmer
believed in animal magnetism
- each persons body contains a magnetic force .. redistribute the force to restore health.
started treating people in groups
- increased his effectiveness because of contagion effect = ppl tend to be more suggestible in groups.
Describe the use of hypnotism as a treatment for behaviour disorders, including the work of Marquis de Puységur (1751–1825)
treatment involved;
1) artificial somnambulism –> sleeplike trance.
2) posthypnotic amnesia –> tendency for a person to forget what happens while under hypnosis.
3) posthypnotic suggestion: suggestion that a person receives while under hypnosis and acts on when they are awake.
