Abnormal psychology

Abnormal psychology is the scientific study of abnormal behavior in order to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning. Abnormal psychology in clinical psychology studies the nature of psychopathology, its causes, and its treatments. Of course, the definition of what constitutes 'abnormal' has varied across time and across cultures. Individuals also vary in what they regard as normal or abnormal behavior. In general, abnormal psychology can be described as an area of psychology that studies people who are consistently unable to adapt and function effectively in a variety of conditions. The four main contributing factors to how well an individual is able to adapt include their genetic makeup, physical condition, learning and reasoning, and socialization.

History

The history of how abnormal psychology, began with the research of the famous ancient Greek philosopher Plato in the fourth century B.C. During his time most believed that the strange behaviors and actions that psychologists study today were caused by evil spirits. Plato believed this to be false and spoke his ideas of these behaviors being caused by a "natural madness, usually caused by a disease. Unfortunately his words had no affect on the common people of his age. During the Dark Ages, the idea of the behaviors being caused by evil spirits escalated to the idea that people were being possessed by demons. Many people were exorcised by the churches or burned at the stake for possessing these "demons". Over aproximatly one hundred thousand innocent people were killed for the same reasons by the Inquisition. It wasn't until early 19th century that the idea of evil spirits and demons was tossed aside, and the idea of these behaviors being caused by illnesses in the mind was finally embraced.

Modern concepts of abnormality

• Statistical abnormality - when a certain behaviour/characteristic is relevant to a low percentage of the population. However, this does not necessarily mean that such individuals are suffering from mental illness (for example, statistical abnormalities such as extreme wealth/attractiveness)
• Psychometric abnormality - when a certain behaviour/characteristic differs from the population's normal dispersion e.g. having an IQ of 35 could be classified as abnormal, as the population average is 100. However, this does not specify a particular mental illness.
• Deviant behaviour - this is not always a sign of mental illness, as it can occur without deviant behaviour, and such behaviour may occur in the absence of mental illness.
• Combinations - including distress, dysfunction, distorted psychological processes, inappropriate responses in given situations and causing/risking harm to oneself. .

Approaches

• Somatogenic - abnormality is seen as a result of biological disorders in the brain (Kraeplin, 1983). However, this approach has led to the development of radical biological treatments e.g. lobotomy.
• Psychogenic - abnormality is caused by psychological problems. This has led to slightly bizarre treatments. Mesmer used to put his patients in a darkened room with music playing, then entered wearing a flamboyant outfit and pressed the 'infected' body areas with a stick. It has also led to the development of hypnosis, psychoanalysis (Freud) and carthasis as psychological treatments, as well as humanism (Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow).

Nosology

DSM-IV TR

The standard abnormal psychology and psychiatry reference book in North America is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The current version of the book is known as DSM IV-TR. It lists a set of disorders and provides detailed descriptions on what constitutes a disorder such as Major Depressive Disorder or anxiety disorder. It also gives general descriptions of how frequent the disorder occurs in the general population, whether it is more common in males or females and other such facts. The diagnostic process uses five dimensions called 'axes' to ascertain symptoms and overall functioning of the individual. These axes are as follows

• Axis I - Particular clinical syndromes
• Axis II - Permanent Problems (Personality Disorders, Mental Retardation)
• Axis III - General medical conditions
• Axis IV - Psychosocial/environmental problems
• Axis V - Global assessment of functioning (often referred to as GAF)

Part of abnormal psychology has to do with phobias. A phobia is a persistent, abnormal, and irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid it, despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous. A person suffering from a phobia may find it hard to socialize, work, or go about their everyday life. Phobias belong to a large group of mental problems known as anxiety disorders which includes panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Phobias can be diagnosed after extensive interview with a mental health professional or someone specializing in abnormal behavior/psychology.

ICD-10

The major international nosologic system for the classification of mental disorders can be found in the most recent version of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10). The ICD-10 has been used by World Health Organization (WHO) Member States since 1994. Chapter five covers some 300 "Mental and behavioural disorders." The ICD-10's chapter five has been influenced by APA's DSM-IV and there is a great deal of concordance between the two. WHO maintains free access to the ICD-10 Online . Below are the main categories of disorders:

• F00-F09 Organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders
• F10-F19 Mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use
• F20-F29 Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders
• F30-F39 Mood [affective] disorders
• F40-F48 Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders
• F50-F59 Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors
• F60-F69 Disorders of adult personality and behaviour
• F70-F79 Mental retardation
• F80-F89 Disorders of psychological development
• F90-F98 Behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence
• F99 Unspecified mental disorder

Aetiology

Genetics

• Investigated through family studies, mainly of monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) twins, often in the context of adoption.
• These studies allow calculation of a heritability coefficient.
• However, this tends to ignore prenatal experience, and has possible negative consequences, such as eugenics, assumptions of determinism and the ethics of medical screeing (as it may have knockon effects for medical insurance and emotional state).

Biological factors

• Investigates effects of hormones, neurotransmitters and neuron damage in mental illness, for example Alzheimer's Disease (neuronal degeneration), Seasonal Affective Disorder (hormonal imbalance) and depression/anxiety.
• Different theories focus on structural, biochemical and genetic theories.

Psychological factors

• Psychoanalysis (Freud)
• Behavioural therapy (Wolpe) based on behaviourism, and involving classical and operant conditioning.
• Humanistic therapy aiming to achieve self-actualisation (Carl Rogers, 1961)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy aims to influence thought and cognition (Beck, 1977).

Socio-culutural factors

• Affects of urban/rural dwelling, gender and minority status on state of mind.
• British Psychiatric Morbidity Survey conducted by Jenkins (1998)

Systemic factors

• Family systems
• Negatively Expressed Emotion playing a part in schizophrenic relapse and anorexia nervosa.

Biopsychosocial factors

• Holistic causal model
• Illness dependent on stress 'triggers'.

See also

• DSM-IV Codes
• Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)
• Insanity Defence
• McNaghten Rule
• International Classification of Diseases
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• British Psychiatric Morbidity Survey
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Mental Health Act 1983
• Mental Health Act 2007
• Jeffrey Dahmer
• Mental Health Alliance

External Links

• Abnormal Psychology Students Practice Resources