Defining Psychological Disorders

abnormal psychology

applying psychological science to our understanding and treatment of psychological disorders

prevalence

the frequency of occurrence of a given condition in a population at a given time

psychological disorder

ongoing dysfunctional pattern of thought, emotion, and behavior that causes significant distress, and that is considered deviant in that person's culture or society

bio-psycho-social model of illness

a way of understanding disorder that assumes that disorders are caused by biological, psychological, and social factors

biological component

the influences on disorder that come from the functioning of the individual's body

psychological component

the influences that come from the individual, such as patterns of negative thinking and stress responses

social component

the influences on disorder due to social and cultural factors such as socioeconomic status, homelessness, abuse, and discrimination

comorbidity

occurs when people who suffer from one disorder also suffer at the same time from other disorders

stigma

disgrace or defect that indicates that person belongs to a culturally devalued social group

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

an ever revised handbook that clearly and concisely provides standard criteria for classification of mental disorders