1. Abnormal Psychology Overview

2. Intro What does it mean to be normal? What does it mean to be normal? Has there ever been a time in your life where you have not felt normal Why? Why?

3. Hypothetical Situation A man living in the Ozark Mountains has a vision in which God speaks to him. He begins preaching to his relatives and neighbors, and soon he has the whole town in a state of religious fervor. People say he has a calling. His reputation as a prophet and healer spreads, and in time he is drawing large audiences everywhere he goes. However, when he ventures to St Louis and attempts to hold a prayer meeting, blocking traffic on a main street at rush hour, he is arrested. He tells the policemen about his conversations with God, and they hurry him off to the nearest mental hospital. Is the man normal or not? HW Assignment: Reactions to Abnormal Behavior

4. Determining Abnormality Three Criteria: ATYPICAL BEHAVIOR unusual behavior that is also disturbing to the values or beliefs of others is likely to be considered deviant. unusual behavior that is also disturbing to the values or beliefs of others is likely to be considered deviant. New Vocab: Norms New Vocab: Norms HARMFUL OR MALADAPTIVE Often it is a matter of degree. Often it is a matter of degree. Ex. Drinking alcohol becomes a problem when the person is no longer able to function well at home or one the job although the person may deny he has a problem at all Ex. Drinking alcohol becomes a problem when the person is no longer able to function well at home or one the job although the person may deny he has a problem at all PERSONAL DISTRESS When one feels psychological pain such as in depression or debilitating anxiety When one feels psychological pain such as in depression or debilitating anxiety Diagnoses of psychological disorders all involve VALUE JUDGEMENTS and CULTURAL NORMS about what is normal or abnormal. Both are fallible and change with social trends.

5. Most people have problems from time to time but are not mentally ill. -Thomas Szasz

6. Classification of Behavior Very difficult to define Causes and cures are rarely obvious or clear-cut Must be ongoing Use DSM-IV

7. Random Fact: dont write down In ancient times, Egyptians and Babylonians believed that mental illness was due primarily to evil spirits. Archaeologists frequently find evidence of a practice known as trephining, which involved drilling an opening in the skull to let evil spirits escape.

8. DSM-IV Standard system for classifying disorders by using the following guidelines: Essential Features- characteristics that define Essential Features- characteristics that define Associated Features- Additional features that are usually present Associated Features- Additional features that are usually present Differential Diagnosis- How to distinguish this disorder from others Differential Diagnosis- How to distinguish this disorder from others Diagnostic Criteria- Essential and associated features that must be present for the patient to be given a diagnostic label

9. Disorder Categories Youth: Infancy, Childhood, & Adolescence Delirium, Dementia, and other Cognitive Disorders Substance-Related Schizophrenia & other Psychotic Disorders MoodAnxietyDissociativeSexualEatingSleep Impulse Control

10. Interesting Stats (do not write down) National Institute of Mental Health (1985) Over 20% of the adults interviewed had at least one psychiatric disorder during the previous six months. The most common mental illnesses were anxiety disorders (10-12% of the population) anxiety disorders (10-12% of the population) alcohol and drug abuse (6-7%), affective disorders (5-6%) alcohol and drug abuse (6-7%), affective disorders (5-6%) schizophrenia, (1%) schizophrenia, (1%) antisocial personality (1%). antisocial personality (1%). Men and women were found to have an equal chance of developing a mental disorder although women suffered proportionately more from depression and men from antisocial personality. Multiple studies have indicated that all of us have a one in three chance of developing a mental illness in our lifetime. Multiple studies have indicated that all of us have a one in three chance of developing a mental illness in our lifetime. 1994, the National Comorbidity Study (NCS) 48%, had experienced symptoms of psychological disorder sometime in their life, 30% within the previous year. Of those 30%, 80% had not sought treatment for their symptoms during that year. The NCS study also found that women had higher prevalence of anxiety disorders (30+%) and depression (20+%) while men had a higher incidence of substance abuse (35%) and antisocial personality disorders (5%). Reasons for genetic differences are unknown but social roles and genetics are key suspects.

11. Final Thoughts… Many people develop a disorder from the DSM-IV at some point in their lifetime These disorders are usually temporary