College Board - “Acorn Book” Course Description7-9%

Unit XII. Abnormal Psychology

XII. Abnormal Psychology

Summary Outline

Unit XII. Abnormal Psychology

A. Definitions of AbnormalityB. Theories of PsychopathologyC. Diagnosis of PsychopathologyD. Anxiety DisordersE. Somatoform DisordersF. Mood DisordersG. Schizophrenic DisordersH. Organic DisordersI. Personality DisordersJ. Dissociative Disorders

A. Definitions of AbnormalityStatistical

SternbergUnusual BehaviorNon-adaptive Behavior Labeled as Abnormal by Society Characterized by some degree of

perceptual or cognitive distortion

Unit XII. Abnormal Psychology

Myers Bernstein

AtypicalMaladaptiveDisturbingUnjustifiable

InfrequencyNorm ViolationPersonal

SufferingImpaired

functioning

ActivityUsing the previous authors and

other authorsto create a list of all of the words/terms/catagories they use to define abnormal

Then combine them into groups of similar words

A Walk Around the Block6 Volunteers – Rest of class becomes “city

block”Give cards with roles

1 actor waiting for bus5 actors acting assigned roles

First actor “waits at bus stop”Remaining actors walk around “block”

acting in “character”All characters may interact with other

charactersAt end show the following chart:

Character

Person

Just Robbed a Bank

Is Getting Married

this afterno

on

His/Her spouse had just

left him/her

Just escaped from a mental hospital

Has a job

interview in 30 minutes

1

2

3

4

5

6

DiscussionDiscuss the stereotypes that the class might

have used to identify someone as mentally ill. violent behaviorParanoidDepressedEtc.

Discuss the ideas of normal and abnormal behavior. Are their differences in ideas among the class? Will we be normal on our wedding day? during a job interview? etc.

B. Theories of Psychopathology

Unit XII. Abnormal Psychology

Biological ApproachPsychodynamic ApproachBehavioral ApproachCognitive-Social Approach Diathesis – Stress Model

Biological Approach

Mental disorders are seen as caused by the combination and interaction of biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factorsAncient Greece (Hippocrates) –

imbalance between four humors, or bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile)

Ancient China - imbalance of yin and yang

Modern view – disturbancess in the anatomy and chemistry of the

brain and in other biological processes, including genetic

influences

Psychodynamic ApproachAncient Greece – psyche

Disorders are a result of the mind’s struggles to resolve inner conflicts or to overcome the effects of stressful events.

FreudDisorders are the result of unresolved, mostly

unconscious conflicts that begin in childhoodHumanistic Approach

Disorders appear when a person’s natural tendency toward healthy growth is blocked, usually by a failure to be aware of, and to express, true feelings

Behavioral ApproachClassical conditioning

Responses associated with stimuli as a result of previous experienceExample: Phobias

Operant conditioningResponses associated with consequences as a

result of previous experienceBehaviors that have been learned and continue even

though they are maladaptive

Social-cognitive theorists, also known as social learning theorists see most psychological disorders as resulting from the interaction of past learning and current situations

Cognitive-Social ApproachWhat is “appropriate” and “expected” depends on

age, gender, and culture, as well as on the particular situation and historical era in which people find themselvesDepression higher in womenAlcohol abuse higher in men

Cultural differencesBehaviors that are acceptable in one culture but

not in another cultureCulture specific disorders (such as koro or amok

Diathesis - StressDiathesis - the suggestion that inherited

characteristics, biological processes, and early learning experiences combine to create a predisposition for a psychological disorder

Whether or not a person actually develops symptoms of a disorder depends on the nature and amount of stress the person encounters

Peanut Butter, Jelly and the Diathesis-Stress Model

Materials needed:8 slices of bread (4 slices cut up into 3

pieces each)Creamy peanut butterJelly8 baking cups4 butter knivesStopwatch

Peanut Butter, Jelly and the Diathesis-Stress Model

Low Predisposition-Low Stress: The ingredients are perfect and the student has as much time as needed. This should result in a perfectly normal sandwich.

High Predisposition-Low Stress: The student has perfect ingredients except for the cut up bread. He/she has ample time to make the sandwich. Though the bread is cut up, the result should resemble a common sandwich.

Low Predisposition-High Stress: The ingredients are perfect, but the student only has 25 seconds to make the sandwich. While the sandwich may not be flawless, it is near normal.

High Predisposition-High Stress: The student has perfect ingredients except for the cut up bread, but he/she only has 25 seconds to put all the ingredients together. The result should not be normal. The result should be pieces of what could be a typical sandwich, if the high predisposition and high stress were not there. (Hint: Do not give the student the ingredients until his/her turn. This forfeits any opportunity for prior planning or strategy in making the sandwich.)

C. Diagnosis of Psychopathology

Unit XII. Abnormal Psychology

DSM-IVAxis I-VDangers of Labeling

Axis IClinical SyndromesOther Conditions that may be a focus of Clinical Attention

Unit XII. Abnormal Psychology

Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence (excluding mental retardation)

Delirium, Dementia, Amnestic and Other Cognitive Disorders

Mental Disorders due to a General Medical Condition

Substance-related Disorders

Schizophrenia and other Psychotic Disorders

Mood Disorders

Anxiety DisordersSomatoform

Disorders Factitious DisordersDissociative

Disorders Sexual and Gender

Identity Disorders Eating Disorders Sleep Disorders Impulse-Control

Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified

Adjustment Disorders Other

Unit XII. Abnormal Psychology

Axis II Personality Disorders Mental Retardation

Paranoid Personality Disorder Schizoid Personality Disorder Schizotypal Personality Disorder Antisocial Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder Histrionic Personality Disorder Narcissistic Personality Disorder Avoidant Personality Disorder Dependent Personality Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive

Personality Disorder (Other)

Mental Retardation

Axis III General medical conditions

Axis IV Psychosocial and

Environmental Problems

Problems with primary support group (childhood, adult, parent-child). Specify:

Problems related to the social environment

Educational problem Occupational problem Housing problem Economic problem Problems with access to health

care services Problems related to interaction

with the legal system/crime Other

Axis VGlobal Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF Scale) Consider psychological, social, and occupational functioning on a hypothetical continuum of mental health/illness

Unit XII. Abnormal Psychology

.

100 Superior functioning in a wide range of activities 90 Absent or minimal symptoms, good functioning in all areas 80 No more than slight impairment in social, occupational or

school functioning 70 Some mild symptoms or some difficulty in social,

occupational, or school functioning 60 Moderate symptoms or moderate difficulty in functioning 50 Serious symptoms or any serious impairment in functioning 40 Some impairment in reality testing or communication or

major impairment in several areas 30 Behavior is considerable influenced by delusions or

hallucinations, or serious impairment in communication, or judgment, or inability to function in almost all areas

20 Some danger of hurting self or others or occasionally fails to maintain minimal personal hygiene, or gross impairment in communication

10 Persistent danger of severely hurting self or others (e.g., recurrent violence), or persistent inability to maintain minimal personal hygiene

0 Inadequate information

The Classification of DisordersWorksheet

DSM-IV stands for:

The Multi-axial SystemDoctors make judgments about individuals

on five separate dimensions, or “axes.”What kind of information goes on each axis?Identify the 9 areas of disorders that can go

on Axis I