1. Psychological Disorders
An Introduction

2. Psychological Disorder
A “harmful dysfunction” in which behavior is judged to be atypical, disturbing, maladaptive and unjustifiable.
What is abnormal, disturbing maladaptive and unjustifiable depends on:
Culture
Time Period
Environmental Conditions
Individual Person

3. Early Theories
Afflicted people were possessed by evil spirits.

4. History of Mental Disorders
In the 1800’s, disturbed people were no longer thought of as madmen, but as mentally ill.
They were first put in hospitals.
Did this mean better treatment?

5. Early Mental Hospitals
They were nothing more than barbaric prisons.
The patients were chained and locked away.
Some hospitals even charged admission for the public to see the “crazies”, just like a zoo.

6. Philippe Pinel
French doctor who was the first to take the chains off and declare that these people are sick and “a cure must be found!!!”

7. Current Perspectives
Medical Perspective: psychological disorders are sicknesses and can be diagnosed, treated and cured.

8. Current Perspectives
Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective: assumes biological, psychological and sociocultural factors combine to interact causing psychological disorders.

9. Classifying Psychological Disorders
DSM-5: Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: the big book of disorders.
Two Major Classifications:

10. Non-psychotic Disorders
Distressing but one can still function in society and act rationally

11. Psychotic Disorders
Person loses contact with reality, experiences distorted perceptions