abnormal - definitions

abnormal psychology

the study of atypical or abnormal behaviour, thoughts, or emotions that deviate from culturally accepted norms

psychopathology

study of mental disorders, their symptoms, causes, and treatments. It involves the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders

abnormality

deviation from social norm, deviation from ideal mental health, statistical infrequency

the medical model of abnormality

the assumption that mental disorders are a result of physical or biological problems that can be diagnosed, treated, and cured in the same way as physical illnesses

classification systems

frameworks used to categorize and organize information based on certain criteria or characteristics

DSM-I

published in 1952 by the American Psychiatric Association. It was the first official classification system of mental disorders in the United States and included descriptions of 106 mental disorders based on a psychoanalytic framework. The DSM-I focused on diagnosing mental disorders based on observable symptoms and behaviours, rather than their underlying causes

DSM-II

published in 1968 and reflected a continuation of the psychoanalytic approach to diagnosing mental disorders, 13 major categories and relied heavily on Freudian theory.

DSM-III

published in 1980 and represented a significant change in the classification of mental disorders, based on a more objective and empirical approach to the classification of mental disorders, using specific criteria to diagnose disorders and including more diagnostic categories than previous editions

DSM-IV

published in 1994, several changes and updates to the classification and diagnostic criteria of mental disorders

DSM-5

published in 2013, consists of 20 chapters that cover all major categories of mental disorders and related conditions. The new edition emphasizes the dimensional nature of psychiatric disorders, with a focus on symptom severity and functional impairment, takes culture and gender into account

ICD-11

classify and code diagnoses, symptoms, and procedures. It is maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is used worldwide as a standard diagnostic tool for epidemiology, clinical purposes, and health management. published in 2018,

depression

mental health disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. Symptoms can vary but may include fatigue, insomnia, changes in appetite, feelings of worthlessness, and difficulty concentrating

influence of classification systems

a significant impact on prevalence rates of disorders. The criteria for diagnosis and the changes made to the diagnostic categories over time can lead to changes in prevalence rate

clinical biases in diagnosis

affecting the accuracy of diagnosis, the unconscious or conscious influence of a clinician's own attitudes, beliefs, values, or expectations on the diagnostic process, resulting in inaccurate or inconsistent diagnoses

expression of symptoms

can lead to underdiagnoses or misdiagnosis of a disorder if the individual's symptoms do not fit the typical presentation of the disorder. the overexpression of symptoms can also impact prevalence rates by increasing the rates of false positives.

reliability of diagnosis

the consistency or stability of diagnosis made by different clinicians or by the same clinician at different times

validity of diagnosis

the extent to which a diagnosis accurately reflects the true condition of the patient. It is an important aspect of diagnostic assessment because the accuracy of the diagnosis has significant implications for treatment and prognosis

different types of clinical variables

attitudes and beliefs, ability, cognitive bias

different types of patient variables

somatization (manifestation of physical symptoms when in psychological distress), expression of symptoms

cultural dimensions of diagnosis

the ways in which culture can influence the manifestation, perception, and interpretation of symptoms of mental disorder