PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERSUNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

I. What are Psychological Disorders?

A. behavior patterns or mental processes that cause serious personal suffering or interfere with a person’s ability to cope with everyday life

1. 1 in 4 adults experience some type of psychological disorder

II. Identifying Psychological Disorders

A. normal = average for the majority

a. deviation from the majority becomes the primary criterion for abnormality

b. several criteria determine the presence of a psychological disorder

1. Typicality – the degree to which the behavior is average, or typical, to the behavior of the

majority of people

2. Maladaptivity – impairs an individual’s ability to function adequately in everyday life

a. causes misery and distress rather than happiness and fulfillment

1. alcohol abuse

b. behavior that is hazardous to oneself or others

c. majority of people with psychological disorders, even severe, are not violent or dangerous

3. Emotional Discomfort – depression often leads to feelings of helplessness, hopelessness,

worthlessness, guilt and extreme sadness

a. no longer worth living

1. may consider suicide

4. Socially Unacceptable Behavior – behavior violates societies accepted norms

a. may depend on the culture (varies)

b. culture-bound syndromes – clusters of symptoms that are considered recognizable diseases only within specific cultures

1. considered abnormal by people unaware of the culture

III. Classifying Psychological Disorders

A. Important so that individuals can be correctly diagnosed and treated

B. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – DSM IV