Psychological Disorders

Is mental illness common? Myth: Mental health problems don't affect me. Reality: Mental health problems are actually very common. In 2011, about: one in five American adult experienced a mental health issue, one in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression, one in 20 Americans lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. It accounts for the loss of more than 38,000 American lives each year, more than double the number of lives lost to homicide.

Are the mentally ill violent? Myth: People diagnosed with a mental illness are always sick, act crazy, and are out of touch with reality. Reality: Most people suffering from even the most severe of mental illnesses are in touch with reality more often than they are not. Many people quietly bear the symptoms of mental illness without ever showing signs of their illness to others, and most people with mental illness live productive, active lives. Myth: People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable. Reality The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. Most people with mental illness are not violent and only 3%-5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population.

What causes mental illness? Myth: Personality weakness or character flaws cause mental health problems. People with mental health problems can snap out of it if they try hard enough. Reality: Mental health problems have nothing to do with being lazy or weak and many people need help to get better. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including: biological factors, such as genes, physical illness, injury, or brain chemistry; life experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse; family history of mental health problems. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely. Myth: Mental illnesses are brought on by a weakness of character. Reality: Mental illnesses are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Research has shown genetic and biological factors are associated with schizophrenia, depression, and alcoholism. Social influences, such as loss of a loved one or a job, can also contribute to the development of various disorders.

Psych Disorders Psych Disorders- behavior patterns or mental processes that cause personal suffering or interfere with a person’s ability to cope with everyday life. Most people assume that this does not affect many people, and while very few people are checked in to mental institutions, 1 in 4 adults in the US has experienced some type of psych disorder. For people aged 15-44, psych disorders are the leading cause of disability in the US.

Identifying Psychological Disorders Certain behavior may suggest that an individual has a psych disorder. Suggest is important because it can often be difficult to correctly diagnose a psych disorder. Remember only trained psychologists can diagnose a psychological disorder. Any of us could read symptoms and feel like we might be exhibiting those same symptoms. So psychologists use these 4 criteria including: how typical the behavior is whether the behavior is maladaptive whether the behavior causes emotional discomfort and whether the behavior is socially unacceptable.

Typicality and Maladaptivity Typicality- the normality of the behavior compared to the majority of people Problems with defining what is normal is not everyone is the same. People that have nothing wrong with them may think differently than most; like artists for example. Maladaptivity- the behavior impairs an individual’s ability to function adequately Behavior that is hazardous to oneself or to others may be considered maladaptive. These behaviors can put somebody on the wrong side of the law, but it is important to note, most people who commit violent crimes do not have psychological disorders. Most criminals are usually fully aware of what they are doing. The majority of people with psych disorders are not violent or dangerous.

Emotional Discomfort and Socially Unacceptable Behavior Psych disorders such as anxiety and depression cause people serious emotional discomfort Depressed people often feel helpless, hopeless, worthless, and sadness. This may lead to the consideration of suicide. Thus, severe emotional discomfort may be a sign of a psych disorder. Behavior that violates a society’s accepted norms may be an indication of a psych disorder. But whether something is unacceptable or not may depend on the culture in which it occurs. So cultural context must be taken into account. Culture Bound Syndromes- clusters of symptoms that are recognizable diseases only within specific cultures

Questions What are psychological disorders? How did the arrangement of the criteria for the classification of psych disorders change in 1980? Why must psychologists be aware of culture bound syndromes when determining what is abnormal? Give an example of a feeling or a behavior that would be considered normal in one circumstance but might be considered a sign of a psychological disorder in another circumstance. What are common pitfalls that students of psychology may face when learning about psychological disorders? Grab a book and read pg 501 and 502, under the heading Classifying Psychological Disorders. In a paragraph, explain why the changes made in the organization of the DSM in 1980 were a benefit to psychologists and their patients.