15.1

Classifying Psychological Disorders
- Challenges involved in classification
Working the Scientific Literacy Model
- Importance of cultural considerations in diagnosing mental disorders
- Applications of psychological diagnoses

Key Learning Objectives
1. Terminology: Understand key terms associated with defining and classifying psychological disorders.
2. DSM-5-TR: Learn advantages and criticisms associated with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
3. Criminal Responsibility: Apply knowledge of mental disorders to assess criminal responsibility of defendants.
4. Labeling Disorders: Analyze pros and cons of labeling psychological disorders.

Beliefs in the Middle Ages and the significance of societal perception of mental illness
- People viewed as possessed, leading to exorcism or torture.
- Witch hunts and the Malleus Maleficarum as historical examples of extreme reactions.
- Early treatments contrasted with modern understanding and symptoms of mental illness.

Definition of abnormal psychology as the study of mental illness.
Criterion for determining abnormality: Maladaptive behaviors causing distress or impairment.
- Maladaptive behaviors vary and do not all respond to the same treatment.
- Importance of accurate diagnosis in providing appropriate treatment.

Classification systems and their inadequacies.
Historical classification trends focused on mania and melancholia in the 1800s.
Adoption of the medical model: viewing psychological conditions through a biological lens.
Emil Kraepelin’s Contributions
- Developed a system for classifying mental disorders based on observational data.
- Differentiate between psychotic disorders, including emotional and non-emotional psychoses.

Early DSMs
- DSM-1 published in 1952 with descriptions of 106 disorders; some included cultural biases.
Current Version: DSM-5-TR (2022)
- Divides disorders into 19 categories with a focus on the severity and dimensionality of symptoms.
- Problems: overdiagnosis, arbitrary symptom thresholds, and need for biological markers.

Cluster A: Odd and eccentric behaviors
- Paranoid personality disorder: Preoccupation with the belief that others want to harm them.
- Schizoid personality disorder: Social detachment and disinterest in relationships.
- Schizotypal personality disorder: Eccentric thoughts and discomfort in social relationships.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD): Affects emotional regulation and relationships, often leading to impulsive actions and fear of abandonment.
- Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD): Entitlement and need for admiration combined with emotional fragility.
- Histrionic personality disorder (HPD): Excessive attention-seeking and dramatic behavior patterns.
- Antisocial personality disorder (APD): Lack of empathy, disregard for others' rights, and often manipulative behavior.

Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD): Fear of rejection leading to avoidance of social situations.
Dependent personality disorder (DPD): Excessive need for care and inability to make decisions independently.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD): Perfectionism and control over details to a distressing degree.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Ongoing and excessive anxiety about various aspects of daily life.
Specific Phobias: Intense fear of specific objects or situations.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors to reduce anxiety.

Major Depressive Disorder: Characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.
Bipolar Disorder: Alternating periods of emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression).

Positive symptoms: Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.
Negative symptoms: Reduced emotional expression, lack of motivation, and social withdrawal.

Prenatal risk factors and the potential biochemical and genetic contributors to the disorder.

Subjective nature of diagnosis and diagnostic reliability issues.
The positive and negative outcomes of labeling individuals with psychological disorders.

Stigmas associated with mental illness and the potential for self-fulfilling prophecies.
Cultural considerations in diagnosing and understanding mental disorders:
- Importance of cultural context in assessment and treatment.
- Cultural Formulation Interview: A tool included in the DSM-5-TR to enhance accuracy in diagnosis.

Difficulty in identifying ADHD and determining appropriate educational interventions.
Challenges in distinguishing between normal behavior and disorders affecting learning.

The mental disorder defense's complexity and application in legal cases.
Historical background of the McNaughton Rule defining legal insanity and the implications for defendants.
- Case Analysis: Contrasting court outcomes based on the understanding of defendants’ mental states during crimes.

Definition and understanding of key terminology related to psychological disorders.
Understanding the evolution and critiques of the DSM-5-TR.
Application of knowledge about mental disorders in legal contexts.
Evaluation of the labeling of psychological disorders and its consequences.