Professional Documents
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Abnormal psychology: the study of abnormal behaviour, including theories and research about
causes, assessment, and treatment
The individual's behaviour must significantly interfere with daily activities that were otherwise
normal and functional.
• Deviant
Rare behavior (behaviors, thoughts, and/or emotions) that deviates from the average
From social norms: Stated and unstated rules for proper conduct in a given society or culture
Most psychological disorders are simply extreme expressions of otherwise normal emotions,
behaviours, and cognitive processes.
•Distressful
Behaviour must be distressing for the individual. Personal suffering defines abnormality.
CLINICAL ASSESSMENT
Clinical assessment is the systematic evaluation and measurement of psychological, biological, and
social factors in an individual presenting with a possible psychological disorder.
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis is the process of determining whether the particular problem afflicting the individual
meets all criteria for a psychological disorder, as set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM 5)
Biological Factors
It can refer either to the causes of disease or to the mechanisms by which disease and its effects are
produced.
Disturbance in blood sugar level, (hypoglycemia) results in mental illness symptoms, e.g. irritability,
outbursts of temperament, hallucinations.
Insufficiency of oxygen in cardiovascular diseases damage brain tissues resulting in irritability, bad
temper, and temporary loss of normal mental capacities.
Neurotransmitter imbalances: The 100 billion neurons in the central nervous system (CNS)
communicate by chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, which can become
imbalanced. Biological approaches to treatment focus mainly on medications that address
neurotransmitter imbalances.
Neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA) are released into the synaptic
cleft (the small gap between the axon of one and the dendrites of the receiving or postsynaptic
neuron). They regulate level of mood, anxiety, and cognitive functioning. Factors affecting imbalance
include:
Number, distribution, and functioning of receptors on the dendrites (the receiving branches of the
neuron)
Reuptake: the amount of neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft, or vesicle, that is reabsorbed by the
releasing neuron
Degradation: the process by which a neurotransmitter is broken down by enzymes released by the
receiving neuron
Hormones: chemicals secreted by the endocrine glands (e.g., pituitary). They play a role in
the functioning of the nervous system and in the regulation of behaviour. Thyroid defects
can lead to diminished mental activities or over excitability.
Physical Illness
The after-effects of brain injury are frequently serious because of a progressive intellectual and
emotional degeneration that may cause convulsive seizures, dementia, and personality disorders.
Physical Defects
Deafness, blindness, etc. create a sense of inability to meet the social situation that leads to
feelings of insecurity and inferiority.
Drug Intoxications
Alcoholism causes dementia, delirium tremens and personality deterioration. Steroids, LSD,
morphine, cocaine, lead, etc. consuming for longtime leads to brain dysfunction, dementia.
Constant intellectual work does not cause Mental Illness, but the fatigue which is produced by
persistent anxiety or by boredom causes exhaustion, sleeplessness, behaviour deterioration
particularly in Transition periods in the life.
• Malnutrition
B-complex deficiency produces nerve cells or brain tissue damage results in symptoms of Mental
Illness.
•Psychological Factors
Marital disharmony/Marital Skew (distortion among couple, bias associated with marital
relationship/strained interpersonal relationship among couple)
Family disharmony
Sexual maladjustment
Tender mindedness
Childhood Insecurities
Over-protection, under-protection
Favouritism
Over-strict discipline
Over-permissiveness
Traumatic experiences
Socio-cultural factors
Focuses on the impact of social forces, family and cultural influences, and failures of society on
individual mental health. Failure of support system: family, friends, community in times of stress
(e.g., poverty, gender or racial discrimination, lack of opportunity)
Political upheavals
Social crisis
Lack of resources
Violence
Homelessness
Discrimination
Generation gap
Occupational difficulties
curriculum.
Marital Problems
Strained relationship, marital disharmony childlessness, too many issues, divorce, separation.
Family
Influence of neighbours, friends, over-crowding, housing, polluted environment, slums, lack of civic
facilities.
Religious Factors
Beliefs and practices of the sect to which one belongs. Uncertainty, disharmony and lack meaning in
one's own life.
For most of the twentieth century, clinical scientists viewed religion as a negative factor in
mental health
This alienation now seems to be ending: Numerous books have been published.
Researchers have begun to systematically study the influence of religion and spirituality
on mental health.
Many therapists now address spiritual issues when treating religious clients
One-Dimensional Models
With the increasing sophistication of our scientific tools, and new knowledge from cognitive science,
behavioural science, and neuroscience, we now realize that behaviour, both normal and abnormal,
is a product of a continual interaction of psychological, biological, and social influences.
Precipitating Factors
These are events that occur shortly before the onset of a disorder and appear to have induced it.
Predisposing Factors
It determines an individual's susceptibility to Mental Illness. It will interact with precipitating factors
to result in Mental Illness. These factors determine person's vulnerability (diathesis) to causes acting
close to the time of the illness.
Proponents believe that particular combinations of diathesis and stress cause abnormal behaviour.
High stress and low diathesis or low stress and high diathesis both can lead to psychological
disturbance. The type of disorder depends partly on the constitutional factors of the patient.