Abnormal Psychology Page 1

• Psychological Disorder


  Psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected
• 4 D's of Psychological Disorder

  • Psychological Dysfunction
  • Distress or Impairment
  • Atypical or Not Culturally Expected (Deviance)
  • Dangerousness
• Psychological Dysfunction


  Refers to a breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning that interferes with daily functioning
• Distress or Impairment


  The individual is extremely upset and cannot function properly, either to self or to others
• Atypical or Not Culturally Expected (Deviance)


  Deviates from the average or the norm of the culture, not just to the society but deviation from the person's usual behavior
• Dangerousness


  Creates potential harm to self (suicidal gestures) and others (excessive aggression)
• Duration


  How long the mental state has been persisting - constant fluctuation of mood, thoughts, and behaviors is normal, but if changes are sustained, persistent and pervasive, it can be concerning
• Psychopathology


  The scientific study of mental disorders
• Clinical Psychology


  The applied branch of psychology that seeks to understand, assess and treat psychological conditions in a clinical setting
• Abnormal Psychology


  The branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotions, and thought which may or may not indicate an underlying condition
• DSM-V-TR


  The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision
• Criteria for determining Abnormal Behavior

  • Norm-violation
  • Statistical rarity
  • Personal Discomfort
  • Deviation
  • Maladaptiveness
• Clinical Assessment


  The systematic evaluation and measurement of psychological, biological, and social factors in an individual presenting with a possible psychological disorder
• Diagnosis


  The process of determining whether the particular problem afflicting the individual meets all criteria for a psychological disorder
• Epidemiology


  The study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-related behaviors in a given population
• Types of Prevalence


  • Point Prevalence
  • Year Prevalence
  • Lifetime Prevalence
• Point Prevalence


  The proportion of actual active cases of a disorder in a given population at a given point in time
• Year Prevalence


  The number of people who experienced a disorder at any point in time throughout the entire year
• Lifetime Prevalence


  The estimated number of people who have had a particular disorder at any time in their lives
• Incidence


  The number of new cases that occur over a given period of time
• Sign


  The manifestation of a disease that the physician receives
• Symptom


  The subjective representation of the complaints of the patient
• Syndrome


  A group of symptoms that occur together more often by chance
• DSM-IV Axes


  • Axis I: Clinical Disorder
  • Axis II: Personality Disorders & Mental Retardation
  • Axis III: General Medical Conditions
  • Axis IV: Psychosocial & Environmental Problems