Understanding Mental Illness and Rosenhan's Research

Dominant view of mental illness

Mental illness is similar to physical illness, assuming psychiatric disorders have identifiable symptoms that lead to a correct diagnosis, guiding treatment much like physical ailments do.

Thomas Szasz's view

Szasz believed mental illness is a myth, arguing that people labeled as mentally ill are often just behaving in ways society deems deviant.

Rosenhan's Research Goal

To determine whether psychiatrists can distinguish between sane and insane individuals.

Classic Study Findings

All participants were admitted and diagnosed with serious mental illnesses; none were detected as impostors, suggesting psychiatric diagnosis is unreliable and influenced by expectations.

Follow-up Study Findings

Staff suspected many real patients of being fake, showing a bias toward detecting deception—even when none existed.

Concerns discovered by Rosenhan

Poor treatment of patients, including being ignored or spoken to in dismissive ways.

Dehumanizing environments

Short interactions with staff, sometimes as little as 6.8 minutes/day.

Verbal abuse and neglect

Patients were often shouted at or even beaten in some cases.

Stigma from hospital staff

Patients experienced a lack of respect from hospital staff.

Criticism by Seymour Kety

Just because psychiatrists misdiagnosed healthy pseudo-patients doesn't mean psychiatric diagnosis is always invalid.

Criticism of voluntary admission

Participants voluntarily asked to be admitted, which in itself is abnormal behavior and might have influenced staff to assume they were mentally ill.

Problems of labeling

Labels influence how others perceive and treat the individual, often more negatively.

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Labels affect the self-image of those labeled, causing them to act in accordance with the diagnosis.

Experiment on psychiatric histories

Patients believed to have psychiatric histories were rated as more anxious and tense, even when this wasn't true.

Distinction between sane and insane

The article suggests that under certain conditions, the distinction can be blurred; Rosenhan concluded that psychiatrists cannot always reliably differentiate.

Critics' perspective on distinction

Critics argue that in typical circumstances, the distinction between sane and insane is possible with fair accuracy.

Diathesis Stress Model

This model suggests that psychological disorders develop due to a combination of genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and environmental stressors.

Deinstitutionalization

The process of replacing long-stay psychiatric hospitals with community-based treatment.

Psychotherapy

A treatment involving psychological techniques to help someone overcome difficulties or achieve personal growth.

Biomedical Therapy

Treatment involving medical procedures or medication to address psychological disorders.

Eclectic Approach

A therapeutic strategy that incorporates techniques from various forms of therapy depending on the client's unique problems.

Insight therapy

A type of psychotherapy that aims to improve psychological functioning by increasing the client's awareness of underlying motives and defenses.

Biological factors

Includes genetic predispositions, brain abnormalities, and chemical imbalances.

Psychological factors

Includes negative thinking patterns, trauma, or learned behaviors.

Social-Cultural factors

Includes cultural expectations, socioeconomic status, and family dynamics.

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)

Individuals often use NSSI to cope with emotional pain, gain a sense of control, or express feelings.

Violent behavior predictors

Best predictors include history of violence, substance abuse, and access to weapons.

Conditioning

Classical and operant conditioning can reinforce fear responses.

Cognition

Overthinking, irrational fears, and hypervigilance contribute to anxiety disorders.

Genes

Genetic predispositions can increase risk for psychological disorders.

The Brain

Overactivity in brain areas such as the amygdala can trigger anxiety.

Natural Selection

Evolutionary survival mechanisms may cause exaggerated fear responses.

Brain Structure

Reduced activity in the frontal lobe is linked to depressive disorders.

Neurotransmitters

Imbalances in serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are associated with depressive disorders.

Nutrition

Poor diet can exacerbate symptoms of depressive disorders.

Rumination

Persistent negative thinking worsens depression.

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Flat affect, lack of motivation, reduced social interaction.

Dopamine

Excess activity linked to positive symptoms.

Brain Areas/Activity

Abnormalities in the thalamus and cortex.

Prenatal Risk Factors

Exposure to viruses or malnutrition during pregnancy.

Genetics

Higher risk if a close relative has the disorder.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Supporters believe it stems from trauma; critics argue it may be therapist-induced or exaggerated by media.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Characterized by lack of empathy, deceitfulness, manipulativeness, and impulsivity.

Risk Factors for Antisocial Personality Disorder

Genetics, childhood abuse or neglect, low arousal levels in the brain.

Biological factors contributing to eating disorders

Genetic factors, hormonal imbalances.

Psychological factors contributing to eating disorders

Low self-esteem, perfectionism.

Sociocultural factors contributing to eating disorders

Media portrayal of thinness, cultural pressures.

Contributors to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Genetic mutations, abnormal brain development.

Non-contributors to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Vaccines (disproven by extensive research).

Psychoanalytic Approach

Uses free association and dream analysis to uncover unconscious conflicts.

Psychodynamic Approach

Focuses on relationships and past experiences using talk therapy.

Person(Client)-Centered Approach

Emphasizes unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness.

Classical Conditioning in Therapy

Pairs stimuli to reduce phobias.

Exposure Therapy

Gradual exposure to feared objects.

Aversive Conditioning

Pairs unwanted behavior with discomfort.

Operant Conditioning

Uses reinforcement to shape behaviors.

Rational Emotive Therapy (Ellis)

Challenges irrational beliefs using logical reasoning.

Cognitive Therapy (Beck)

Identifies and changes negative thought patterns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Combines cognitive restructuring with behavioral interventions.

Antipsychotics

Treat schizophrenia by reducing dopamine; examples include Risperidone and Olanzapine.

Antianxiety Medications

Enhance GABA to treat anxiety disorders; examples include Xanax and Ativan.

Antidepressants

Increase serotonin/norepinephrine to treat depression and anxiety; examples include SSRIs like Prozac and Zoloft.

Mood Stabilizers

Regulate mood swings in bipolar disorder; example includes Lithium.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Alters brain chemistry to treat severe depression; side effects include memory loss and confusion.