Transcript File - Mrs. Dillon`s History Site

What are Psychological
Disorders?
Ch. 16 Section 1
Defining and Identifying
Psychological Disorders
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What is normal and abnormal?
Is being different abnormal?
Are all abnormalities mental problems?
There is really no satisfactory way to
define “normal”.
A. Deviation from Normality
• “Abnormal is anything that deviates
from the majority.”
• But is the majority always right?
• Abnormality was once associated with
“hysteria” and applied to mostly
women.
B. Adjustment
• “Normal” people can get along in the
world- physically, socially, and
emotionally.
• “Abnormal” people cannot adjust (i.e.
severe depression or anxiety)
C. Psychological Health
• There is an ideal way to function
psychologically, just like there is an
ideal way to function physiologically.
• Thomas Szasz believed it was wrong to
label people “mentally ill”; they just
have “problems with living”.
So how do you classify a
disorder?
• 1952: published the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM)
• Today it is the DSM-V (2013)
Ways to categorize in the
DSM-V
• 1. Essential features- characteristics.
• 2. Associated features- additional
features present.
• 3. Differential diagnosis- how you
know its not something else.
• 4. Diagnostic criteria- the actual
symptoms.
5 Axes of the DSM-V
• Axis I: Clinical Disorders- current
symptoms
• Axis II: Personality Disorders,
Maladaptive Traits, Learning Problems
and Mental Retardation
5 Axes of the DSM-V
• Axis III: General Medical Conditionphysical/medical conditions that can
affect mental state.
• Axis IV: Psychosocial and
Environmental Factors- current stress
level in the patient’s life.
5 Axes of the DSM-V
• Axis V: Global Assessment of
Functioning- highest level of adaptive
functioning in the last year:
• Social relations- quality of one’s
relationships w/ family, friends.
• Occupational functioning- quality of work
as student, worker, etc.
• Use of leisure time- recreational activities
and pleasure found in them.