Mental Disorders
What is Abnormal ???
• Patterns of behavior that are atypical
• Feelings of distress and negative affective
• Disorders are maladaptive and interfere
with daily living.
Exorcisms vs. Mental Illness
What are some common conceptions and
misconceptions about mental disorders?
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Supernatural causes
Natural Imbalance
Witch craft
Asylums
State Hospitals
Current Models
Biological
– Nervous System
– Genes
Psychological
– Learning
– Cognition
Socio-cultural
– At risk environments
– Disadvantaged social
positions
Diathesis-Stress
– Interaction model
– Predisposition + Stressors
Assessment to Diagnosis
• In-Take Interviews
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Environment
Problems in their life
Biological & Family history
Measures
• Diagnostic Checklist
DSM IV
Major Disorders
Psychosocial Environment
Global
Medical Cond.
Personality – Metal
Retardation
Criticisms of DSM -IV
• Not integrative
– Ignores the relationships among factors .
• Overlooks the variety of causal factors.
– Motivation & an attempt to adapt
• Different editions = different diagnosis.
• The system "medicalizes" many behaviors
traditionally considered to be under voluntary control.
– Is every maladaptive behavior a disorder?
– Should all such disorders be part of the responsibility of the
health care system?
Mental Disorders and Society
• Is a Mental Disorder grounds for special
rules?
• Acquitted "by reason of insanity."
– Only concerned about at the time of crime
– Right from Wrong & Uncontrollable Impulses
– Less than 1 percent
Early Disorders
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Disruptive Behavior
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Eating Disorders
Autism