Mental Health and Psychopathology Review

Quiz Preparation

• A quiz was introduced to participants where everyone was encouraged to log in using a code or a QR code.

• Participants were given time to log in and get situated before starting the quiz.

Freud's Theories of the Mind

• According to Freud:

  • The mind consists of three layers:

    • Conscious: The thoughts and feelings that we are currently aware of.

    • Preconscious: Contains thoughts that can be brought into awareness when needed; memories are accessible.

    • Unconscious: Holds desires, urges, and experiences that are inaccessible to conscious thought.

• Differences between Preconscious and Unconscious:

  • Access: Preconscious thoughts can be recalled; unconscious thoughts remain hidden and cannot be accessed directly.

  • Content: Preconscious thoughts are often related to memory; unconscious influences include repressed desires, fears, and drives.

Personality According to Freud

• Id: Located in the unconscious mind; operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification regardless of reality.

• Dynamic vs. Fixed Personality: Freud emphasized that personality is not static but is influenced by early childhood experiences and develops through psychosexual stages.

Introduction to Psychopathology

• Overview of different approaches to understanding psychopathology was provided, emphasizing its historical context.

• It’s critical to evaluate these perspectives and understand that our current knowledge is shaped by historical developments.

• Key concepts and questions raised include:

  • How do different models of psychopathology impact treatment approaches?

  • The importance of distinguishing between mental disorders and how they relate to physical disorders.

Definition of Psychopathology

• Psychopathology: The study of abnormal mental states; it involves understanding abnormal behavior and mental illness.

  • Descriptive Psychopathology: Focuses on observing and describing abnormal mental states, prioritizing objective observation.

  • Experimental Psychopathology: Aims to explain abnormal phenomena using experimental methods and measures, creating an evidence-based understanding.

Defining Abnormality

• Abnormality is a complex concept without clear definitions:

  • Statistical Deviance: Behaviors that deviate significantly from societal norms (e.g., very low IQ).

  • Social Norms: Norms are defined by cultural contexts and can shift over time.

  • Mental Illness: Often treated as a disease with biological underpinnings, yet few biological tests exist for mental disorders.

  • Personal Distress: Subjective reporting of suffering; not all unusual behaviors involve distress (i.e., mania might feel euphoric).

History of Madness and Its Interpretation

• Historical views on madness shifted from supernatural beliefs to medical understandings:

  • Hippocrates: Proposed that mental disorders stem from imbalances in bodily humors, rejecting supernatural finishes and framing madness in physical terms.

  • Development of Asylums: By the 17th-18th centuries, the treatment of those deemed insane was medically oriented, moving away from religious explanations.

Evolution of Treatment Approaches

• Treatment approaches evolved from moral treatments (persuasion and self-control) to medical interventions:

  • Moral Treatment: Emphasized compassion and rational engagement rather than physical restraint.

  • 20th Century Transition: Medical treatment models dominated, leading to psychiatric intervention and the establishment of complex diagnosis systems.

Understanding Anxiety and Depression

• Anxiety and depression are common mental health diagnoses, often overlapping significantly in their presentation:

  • General Anxiety Disorder: The most commonly diagnosed anxiety disorder.

  • Classification Systems: Emphasized DSM and ICD classifications.

• Cultural Understanding: Both conditions emphasize societal contributions to their formation and those influenced by gender biases in diagnosis.

Current Classification Systems

• DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders): Widely accepted in the United States, emphasizing categories of mental disorders and their clinical features.

• ICD (International Classification of Diseases): More globally applied, focusing on health trends and statistics, primarily used in countries outside of the US.

Biological Model of Psychopathology

• The biomedical model focuses on biological causes of mental disorders and their biological treatments:

  • Genetic Contributions: Studies including family and twin studies confirm some genetic predispositions to mental illnesses.

  • Neurotransmitter Involvement: Conditions like depression are closely linked to serotonin levels.

  • Medication Role: Antidepressants and how they align theoretically with the neurological frameworks of treatment.

Critiques of the Biomedical Model

• Critiques include:

  • Reductionism: Oversimplification of complex human experiences to biological factors.

  • Inability to reliably map psychological disorders as we do physical illnesses, compounded by the heterogeneity of symptoms.

Assessing Effectiveness of Treatments

• Antidepressants, despite being widely prescribed, have inconsistent outcomes;

  • Effectiveness Studies: Results indicate that many patients experience modest benefits from medications.

  • Side Effect Considerations: Debates regarding the heavier focus on numbers and metrics rather than holistic views.

Summary & Forward-Looking Thoughts

• Exploration of how historical perspectives, treatment models, cultural norms, and specific biological processes all meld to shape current understanding of mental health.

• Continued emphasis on the interplay of social constructs in shaping diagnosis and treatment will guide future perspectives in psychopathology.