ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR

Abnormal behavior refers to patterns of emotion, thought, or action that are considered atypical or dysfunctional in a given context. Such behaviors may manifest as mental disorders, which can significantly impact an individual's daily functioning and quality of life. Common examples of abnormal behavior include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders, each presenting unique symptoms and challenges.

IDENTIFYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR

  • Four (or Five) Basic Standards

    • Abnormal behavior is unusual (regardless of media depiction)

    • Abnormal behavior occurs infrequently in a given population, even in those “primed” for abnormal tendencies. 

    • Abnormal behavior is maladaptive (interferes with a person’s ability to function normally in one or more important areas of life).

    • Abnormal behavior is disturbing to others (uh…. No kidding).  It represents a serious departure from social and cultural norms of behavior.

    • Abnormal behavior is distressful as it prevents a person in most cases from thinking clearly and/or making rational decisions.

THE DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS (DSM-IV)

  • Current edition is the DSM-V, although the Exam still quotes from the DSM-IV as it was the version created at the time.  As the Exam has gone through minor “tweaking” but no major rewrite, it is best to be familiar with a few of the changes with the latest version, but assume you will use DSM-IV.

  • DSM-IV-TR stands for the above (look at title) along with Fourth Edition, Text Revision.  The TR version has some of the changes seen in the Fifth Edition.  

  • Over a thousand mental health experts collaborated to create the manual.  DSM-IV-TR provides a set of diagnostic categories for classifying over 300 specific psychological disorders.

  • DSM-IV-TR uses a process known as multiaxial diagnosis to help psychologists and psychiatrists evaluate the entire person.

  • Currently Five Axes are used.

DIAGNOSIS AXES

  • Axis 1: Clinical disorders, such as depression, and anxiety disorders.  See textbook for a longer list (page 605).

  • Axis 2: Personality Disorders (and/or Mental Retardation): includes antisocial behaviors and forms of mental retardation in the DSM-IV

  • Axis 3:General medical conditions: Physical disorders and conditions include diabetes, arthritis, and hemophilia.

  • Axis 4: Psychosocial and environmental problems that may influence treatment of previous axes.  Examples include socio-economic conditions, personal resources, negative life experiences such as divorce or death in the family, etc.

  • Axis 5: Global assessment of a person’s overall level of functioning on a scale from 1 (serious attempt at suicide has occurred or probably imminent) to 100 (happy, productive, involved, with many interests).  Please look at the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) on page 605.