Abnormal Psychology Thomas G. Bowers, Ph.D.

What Is Abnormal Psychology? Study of statistically rare behavior? Study of socially unacceptable behavior? Personal distress? Behavioral or mental dysfunction?

Psychopathology Text: Study of the nature and development of abnormal behavior, thoughts and feelings. More literally, “distress of the mind or spirit.”

Mental Health Professions Clinical Psychologist Psychiatrist Social Worker Counselor or Counseling Psychologist

I. Early History of Psychopathology Early demonology Somatogenesis –Hippocrates Mania Melancholia Prenitis

History of Psychopathology Hippocrates –Balance of humors Blood Black bile Yellow bile Phlegm

Greece and Rome Excess of black bile yielded depression (melancholic) Excess of yellow bile yielded anxiety (choleric) Excess of phelgm yields calm indifference (phelgmatic) Excess of blood yields unstable mood (sanguine)

Prehistoric Concepts & Treatment Prehistoric Analysis –Demonic possession –“Evil Spirits” –Trephining (drilling holes in skull) –Exorcism

Prehistoric Concepts & Treatment Trephing

Prehistoric Concepts & Treatment Trephing

Advances in Greece - Roman Era Some arguments that psychological disorders result from emotional experiences Galen studied anatomy, suggested abnormal behavior could have psychological causes

History of Psychopathology Dark Ages –Associated again with demonology –Viewed mental illness as spiritual –Witches and warlocks –Isolation of mental illness

Reform Movement Europe and United States in the 1700’s Public institutions were like dungeons Pinel and Pussin removed irons from mental patients

Reform Movement Moral treatment - actually an advance Rush Pennsylvania Hospital Dix - reformed Massachusetts

History of Psychopathology Development of Moral Treatment. –Pinel in 1793 provided humanitarian care. –Emphasized responsibility.

History of Psychopathology More contemporary thoughts –Return to somatogenesis –Kraepelin (1883) syndromes noted Cluster of symptoms that appear together regularly Still the basis of most mental illness diagnosis

History of Psychopathology Disease model –Advanced by understanding of general paresis –Related to syphilis –Advance of the germ theory (Pasteur) –In 1905, cause of syphilis was discovered

History of Psychopathology Psychogenesis –Mesmer’s treatment of hysterical patients –Use of hypnosis –Freudian analysis and free association

History of Psychopathology Current dominance of medical model –Syndrome, diagnosis, treatment –Biochemical treatment –Cognitive-behavioral therapies –Empirically validated treatments –Interpersonal/counseling therapies

Contemporary Developments Community Mental Health Humanistic Approaches Family and Systems Analysis