Psychological Disorders Overview

Focuses on the study and treatment of psychological disorders and mental illnesses.
Includes subfields such as clinical and health psychology.

Four main criteria used to define psychological disorders:

Maladaptive Behavior
- Difficulty in functioning in daily life (e.g., attending school or work).
- Example: Trouble getting to work or handling daily responsibilities.
Personal Distress
- Individual perception of emotional distress varies (e.g., how a teenager vs. adult perceives emotional pain).
- Perception impacts the recognition of distressing symptoms.
Atypical Behavior
- Behavior that deviates from cultural or social norms (e.g., unusual actions that may seem ‘weird’).
- Example: A teacher behaving unusually in class can raise concerns.
Violating Social Norms
- Engaging in behavior that is socially unacceptable (e.g., acting out in public).

Potential negative consequences such as stigma and discrimination.
Rosenhan Experiment (1975):
- Conducted by David Rosenhan to observe psychiatric diagnosis processes.
- Involved pseudo-patients (mentally healthy individuals) feigning symptoms to gain entry into hospitals.
- Revealed challenges in distinguishing between sanity and insanity when individuals behaved normally.
- Criticized diagnostic criteria and the representation of mental illness.

A comprehensive resource for diagnosing mental disorders with descriptions, symptoms, and guidelines.
Evolved since its inception in 1952; originally aimed at war veterans and insurance standardization.
- Example: Homosexuality reclassified in 1973.
- Continuously updated to reflect changes in understanding of mental disorders.

Confidentiality Laws: Protect patient information in psychological diagnoses.
Insanity Definition: A legal term regarding accountability for crimes; involves assessing mental state at the time of the crime.
- Example: Andrea Yates' case of severe mental illness leading to a tragic outcome.

Describes how mental disorders manifest differently across cultures:
- Han: Cultural phenomenon in Korea reflecting unresolved anger.
- Taijin Kyofusho: Social anxiety in Japan centered on embarrassment.
- Muk: Homicidal rage in Southeast Asia due to perceived insults.
- Susto: Severe anxiety rooted in cultural beliefs in Latin America.

Biological Model: Disorders caused by neurobiological factors (e.g., genetic influences, brain chemistry changes).
Behavioral Model: Disorders learned through conditioning; focuses on changing behavior.
Cognitive Model: Focuses on irrational and maladaptive thought processes affecting mental health.
Psychodynamic Model: Emphasizes unconscious motivations and childhood experiences shaping behavior.
Humanistic Model: Addresses personal growth and environmental factors influencing well-being.
Evolutionary Model: Examines mental disorders through inherited survival traits.

Behavioral Approach: Conditioning can effectively alter behavior; however, it may overlook biological factors.
Biological Approach: Relies on medical data and medications but can neglect environmental influences.
Cognitive Approach: Effective for anxiety disorders, aids in restructuring thought patterns.
Humanistic Approach: Adaptable to individual experiences but can be subjective.
Sociocultural Approach: Benefits from real-world observations but faces challenges in variable control.

Rosenhan's study showed:
- Illustrates negative impact of labels on treatment perceptions.
Definition of a mental disorder:
- A prolonged problem impacting a person’s ability to cope.

Understanding psychological disorders involves multiple perspectives and evolving definitions.
Reminder: Always consider the social and individual context in which these issues arise.