Mental Disorders

1
Mental Disorders
2
What is Abnormal ???

• Patterns of behavior that are atypical
• Feelings of distress and negative affective
• Disorders are maladaptive and interfere with
  daily living.

3
Exorcisms vs. Mental Illness

• What are some common conceptions and
  misconceptions about mental disorders?
• Supernatural causes
• Natural Imbalance
• Witch craft
• Asylums
• State Hospitals

4
Current Models

• Biological
• Nervous System
• Genes
• Psychological
• Learning
• Cognition

• Socio-cultural
• At risk environments
• Disadvantaged social positions
• Diathesis-Stress
• Interaction model
• Predisposition Stressors

5
Assessment to Diagnosis

• In-Take Interviews
• Environment
• Problems in their life
• Biological Family history
• Measures
• Diagnostic Checklist

6
DSM IV
Major Disorders
Personality Metal Retardation
Psychosocial -Environment
Global
Medical Cond.
7
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?

8
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

9
Early Disorders

• Disruptive Behavior
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Autism