Psychological Disorders  Sign-In What words are used to describe Psychological Disorders?

Therapy for a Caveman

Psychological Disorders  In order to understand psychology disorders, we must go back to the definition of psychology itself:  Psychology – The scientific study of behavior and cognitive processes

Psychological Disorders  Behaviors and cognitive processes that cause serious personal suffering or interfere with the ability to cope with daily life  Fairly common 1/3 of people have some form of a psychological disorder 23% of substance abusers experience psychological disorders

Thought Question  How do we know what is normal?  In common usage, deviation from the majority is seen as abnormal  In Psych. – Abnormal is the exaggeration of normal behavior/cognitive processes

Typicality  Degree to which it is average or typical  Problem in defining normality  What about geniuses/cultural differences?

Maladaptivity  Impaired functioning in everyday life  Causes misery and distress  Harmful to self or others  Criminal behavior – may or may not be disordered

Emotional Discomfort  Suffering  Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt  Lose interest in enjoyable things  Feel that life is no longer worthwhile

Socially Unacceptable  Violates society’s accepted norms  Culture-bound syndromes – what is normal in one culture is considered abhorrent in others

Classification  DSM IV (1994) – Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders  Earlier versions – classifications based on presumed causes Psychoanalytic Theories Neuroses/Psychoses  DSM III (1980) – began classifications based on observable signs/behaviors  The DSM is always being revised

6 Categories of Disorders  Anxiety  Dissociative  Somatoform  Personality  Mood  Schizophrenia