Prior to 18th century

Medical Model considers forms of abnormal behavior to be a disease

The major issue with diagnosis of abnormal behavior:

Where is the line between abnormal behavior and illness?

What determines a psychological disorder?

Clinical Criteria:

1.) Deviance – Behavior deviates from what society considers acceptable

2.) Maladaptive – Behavior interferes with person’s everyday functioning

3.) Personal Distress- Behavior causes person some distress

Diagnosis issues

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)◦ This book outlines the system for classifying

psychological disorders

1.) Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2.) Phobic Disorder 3.) Panic Disorder

◦ A.) Agoraphobia 4.) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 5.) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

1.) Generalized Anxiety Disorder◦ Marked by chronic, high level of anxiety not tied to

any specific threat

2.) Phobic Disorder◦ Person has a persistent and irrational fear of object

or situation presenting no real danger (phobia)

3.) Panic Disorder◦ Recurrent attacks of overwhelming anxiety that

usually occur suddenly and unexpectedly Often leads to agoraphobia

◦ Agoraphobia – fear of going out to public places

4.) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder◦ Marked by persistent, uncontrollable intrusions of

unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and urges to engage in senseless rituals (compulsions)

◦ Some common behaviors

◦ Howard Hughes

5.) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)◦ Enduring psychological disturbance attributed to

experience of a major traumatic event. Example events

Symptoms

Seems to be a moderate genetic predisposition

These may be acquired through classical or operant conditioning◦ How so?

A certain style of thinking may lead a person to be more vulnerable

Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder)◦ Involves coexistence in one person of two or more

largely complete and usually very different personalities

Characteristics:

Specific cause of disorder unknown

Some believe disorder is not real:

Others believe it is authentic

Major Depressive Disorder◦ Persistent feelings of sadness and despair + loss

of interest in previous sources of pleasure◦ Symptoms:

◦ Average episode length

◦ Percentage of Americans who suffer at some point:

Bipolar Disorder◦ Marked by experience of both depressed and manic

periods

◦ What is behavior like during manic period?

◦ What is behavior like during depressed period?

Heredity can cause a predisposition

Neurochemical factors◦ Abnormal levels of norepinephrine and serotonin

may contribute

Sample Clip◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGnl8dqEoPQ

What percentage of population may be afflicted

Symptoms:

1.) Delusions and Irrational Thought◦ Sample thoughts◦ Delusions of grandeur◦ Chaotic, non linear thinking

2.) Deterioration of Adaptive Behavior

3.) Distorted Perception◦ Auditory Hallucinations most common

◦ Hallucinations – Sensory perceptions that occur in absence of a real, external stimulus

4.) Disturbed Emotion◦ Flattening of emotions or inappropriate emotional

responses to situations