Chapter 1 Understanding Psychopathology

Mental disorder

psychological symptoms or behavioral patterns that reflect an underlying psychobiological dysfunction; are associated with distress or disability; and are not merely an expectable response to common stressors or losses

Mental illness

a mental health condition that negatively affects a person’s emotions, thinking behavior, relationships with others, or overall functioning

Psychopathology

the study of the symptoms, causes, and treatments of mental disorders

Mental health professional

health care practitioners (psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and mental health counselors) whose services focus on improving mental health or treating mental illness

Psychodiagnosis

assessment and description of an individual’s psychological symptoms, including inferences about possible causes for the psychological distress

Treatment plan

a proposed course of therapy, developed collaboratively by a therapist and client, that addresses the client’s most distressing mental health symptoms

Etiology

the cause or causes for a condition

Biological vulnerability

genetic or physiological susceptibility

Psychotherapy

a program of systematic intervention aimed at improving a client’s behavioral, emotional, or cognitive symptoms

Psychiatric epidemiology

the study of the prevalence of mental illness in a society

Prevalence

the percentage of individuals in a targeted population who have a particular disorder during a specific period of time, 26% of us adults have experienced a mental disorder in the past 12 months, excluding drug and alcohol disorders

Lifetime prevalence

the percentage of people in the population who have had a disorder at some point in their lives

Systemic racism

deeply imbedded societal policies and structures that disadvantage certain racial groups

Culture

the configuration of shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that is transmitted from one generation to another by members of a particular group

Cultural relativism

the idea that a person’s beliefs, values, and behaviors are affected by the culture within which that person lives

Cultural universality

the assumption that a fixed set of mental disorders exists whose manifestations and symptoms are similar across cultures

Stereotypes

an oversimplified, often inaccurate, image or idea about a group of people

Social stigma

a negative societal belief about a group, including the view that the group is somehow different from other members of society

Prejudice

a biased, preconceived judgment about a person or group based on supposed characteristics of the group

Discrimination

unjust or prejudicial treatment toward a person based on the person’s actual or perceived membership in a certain group

Self stigma

acceptance of prejudice and discrimination based on internalized negative societal beliefs or stereotypes

Self-efficacy

a belief in one’s ability to succeed

Empowerment

increasing one’s sense of personal strength and self worth

Trephining

a surgical method from the stone age in which part of the skull was chipped away to provide and opening through which an evil spirit could escape

Exorcism

a practice used to cast evil spirits out of an afflicted person’s body

Brain pathology

a dysfunction or disease of the brain

Hysteria

an outdated term referring to excessive or uncontrollable emotion, sometimes resulting in somatic symptoms (like blindness of paralysis) that have no apparent physical cause

Tarantism

a form of mass hysteria prevalent during the middle ages, characterized by wild raving, jumping, dancing, and convulsing

Humanism

a philosophical movement that emphasizes human welfare and the worth and uniqueness of the individual

Moral treatment movement

a crusade to institute more humane treatment for people with mental illness

Biological viewpoint

the belief that mental disorders have physical or physiological basis

Syndromes

certain symptoms that tend to occur regularly in clusters

Psychological viewpoint

the belief that mental disorders are caused by psychological and emotional factors rather than biological influences

Cathartic method

a therapeutic use of verbal expression to release pent up emotional conflicts

Intrapsychic

psychological processes occurring within the mind

Racism

subtle or direct prejudice, discrimination, or systemic oppression against an individual or group based on their race or ethnicity

Microagressions

Subtle comments or actions that intentionally or unintentionally insult of invalidate members of socially marginalized groups

Positive psychology

the philosophical and scientific study of positive human functioning focused on the strengths and assets of individuals, families, and communities

Spirituality

the belief in an animating life force or energy beyond what we can perceive with our senses

Psychological resilience

the capacity to effectively adapt to and bounce back from stress, trauma, and other adversities

Recovery movement

the perspective that with appropriate treatment and support those with mental illness can improve and live satisfying lives despite any lingering symptoms of illness

Optimal human functioning

qualities such as subjective well being, optimism, self determinism, resilience, hope, courage, and ability to manage stress

Psychotropic medications

drugs that treat or manage psychiatric symptoms by influencing brain activity associated with emotions and behavior

Managed health care

the industrialization of health care, whereby large organizations in the private sector control the delivery of services

Behaviorism

rooted in lab science, focus on directly observable behaviors, offered successful procedures for treating some psychological conditions

Mental health professionals need to:

• Learn about the worldviews, lifestyles, and challenges faced by culturally diverse groups

• Use culturally sensitive assessment and relevant approaches to therapy

• Help clients determine if their problem is a result of prejudice, discrimination, or systemic racism

• Recognize that therapists’ cultural backgrounds can influence reactions to clients

Anosognosia

a lack of awareness or insight into one’s own mental dysfunction

Distress

Mere presence of a common symptom is not sufficient to warrant the diagnosis of a mental illness

Deviance

Definitions relies on statistical standards, cultural universality and relativism must be considered

Dysfunction

One way to assess is to compare someone’s performance with the requirements of a role, can also be assessed by comparing an individual’s performance with their potential

Dangerousness

Only a small minority of acts of violence involve someone with a serious mental disorder, predicting the possibility that clients might be dangerous to themselves or to others is part of the role of mental health professionals

Four major factors in judging psychopathology

Distress, deviance, dysfunction, and dangerousness