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Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal psychology: the study of abnormal behaviour, including theories and research about
causes, assessment, and treatment

Abnormal behaviour/Mental illness/Mental disorder

--Behavior that is dysfunctional, deviant, and distressful

•Dysfunctional (Impairment of Functioning)

The individual's behaviour must significantly interfere with daily activities that were otherwise
normal and functional.

• Deviant

Different, extreme, unusual

Deviation from majority (Statistical Definition).

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

More deviation, more abnormal.

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)

 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders--American Psychiatric Association

 ICD-10 (1992)--WHO's classification -International Classification of Diseases.

[Attempts to classify -- traced back to Ayurveda and Plato]

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CAUSES (Etiology) of mental disorders

Biological Factors

It can refer either to the causes of disease or to the mechanisms by which disease and its effects are
produced.

 Defective genes: Each chromosome contains thousands of genes that influence

psychological and physical development. Defective genes may adversely affect development
(e.g., trisomy—Down Syndrome--A genetic chromosome 21 disorder causing developmental
delays and intellectual disability).

 Interference with Brain Tissue by changes in Blood Chemistry

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.

o Functioning of neurotransmitters and endocrine glands is based on both biological

factors and environmental stressors.
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 Physical Illness

Organic Causes – Neuro-Biological Causes

Alzheimer's disease, CNS infections, maternal exposure to viral infections.

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.

• Prolonged Mental Work under Anxiety

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.

For example, in adolescents-puberty--Perceiving stressful situations--Educational achievements.

• Malnutrition

B-complex deficiency produces nerve cells or brain tissue damage results in symptoms of Mental
Illness.

•Psychological Factors

 Strained interpersonal relationship in home, school, working place

 Marital disharmony/Marital Skew (distortion among couple, bias associated with marital
relationship/strained interpersonal relationship among couple)

 Family disharmony

 Sexual maladjustment

 Death of a loved one

 Abnormal parent-child relationship

 Tender mindedness

 Traumatic experiences during childhood, adolescence

 Loss of job, prestige, grief reactions.

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Childhood Insecurities

 Maternal deprivation-lack of warmth, care, security

 Defective personality of parents

 Over-protection, under-protection

 Favouritism

 Unhealthy comparison of children

 Over-strict discipline

 Over-permissiveness

 Persons with high or low intellectual ability

 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)

 Poverty, financial difficulties, too much income

 Bad habits-alcoholism, gambling, prostitution

 Political upheavals

 Social crisis

 Lack of resources

 Violence

 Homelessness

 Discrimination

 Migration from village to urban life; unable to adjust

 Generation gap

 Occupational difficulties

- Unhappy working conditions

- Strained relationship between boss, other colleagues or with superiors

- Intermittent employment or unemployment

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 Educational and Scholastic Problems

Unhealthy comparison, teachers' attitude, favouritism by teachers, discriminations, inadequate

recreational and library facilities, lack of proper seating arrangement, rapid change in

curriculum.

 Marital Problems

Strained relationship, marital disharmony childlessness, too many issues, divorce, separation.

 Family

Broken family, strained interpersonal relationship or too big or small family.

 Adverse Physical Environment

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.

 Spiritual Views and Interventions

 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

– Could mean an emphasis on a specific cause of abnormal behavior

Multidimensional Models (Integrative 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.

- View abnormal behavior as multiply determined

Interdisciplinary, eclectic, and integrative models

 Many theorists, clinicians, and practitioners adhere to a Biopsychosocial Model

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 Abnormality results from the interaction of genetic, biological, developmental,

emotional, behavioral, cognitive, spiritual, social, and societal influences.

 Also popular: Diathesis-stress approach

Diathesis = predisposition (bio, psycho, or social) + stress (precipitating factor)

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.