Psychopathologies

Psychopathology
• Abnormal behaviour:
– Behaviour that is other than normal or
markedly irregular.
– Not necessarily statistically abnormal, often
just painful or involving suffering.
• Psychopathology:
– Study of abnormal behaviour.
– Study of the psychological and behavioural
dysfunction, distress, and disability.
– Such dysfunction, distress, or disability itself.
 Psychopathology
Sources

• Somatogenic (soma=body and

genesis=beginning)—from the body.
• Psychogenic (psyche=mental and
genesis=beginning)—from the mind.
– e.g., hysterical blindness, glove anesthesia
 Psychopathology Models
Four Main Perspectives
Biomedical View

Theoretical Cause of
Abnormality
A process similar to that
underlying physical illness.
Somatogenic causes
(physical factors).
Theoretical Cure
Medication or surgery by
psychiatrist or neurosurgeon,
e.g., antidepressants, electro-
convulsive therapy (ECT),
insulin shock therapy, surgery.
 Pathology Models
Four Main Perspectives
Psychodynamic View
Theoretical Cause of
Theoretical Cure
Abnormality
Internal, psychological, Psychotherapy to
unconscious conflict develop insights into
(psychological factors). underlying unconscious
conflicts.
 Pathology Models
Four Main Perspectives
Behavioural View
Theoretical Cause of
Theoretical Cure
Abnormality
Maladaptive learning or Learning new responses
faulty habits and and thoughts. Usually
thoughts (cognitive- treated by cognitive or
behavioural factors). behaviour therapists.
 Pathology Models
Four Main Perspectives
Diathesis- Stress View
Theoretical Cause of
Theoretical Cure
Abnormality
Predisposition based on Reduction of stress and
genes or early learning learning new coping
plus excessive stress mechanisms for times
prior to development of stress arises in the
the disorder. future.
 DSM-5
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – 5.
• A system of classification for mental
disorders, widely used in North America.
• Lays out each disorder as a specific
syndrome (collection of symptoms) that
serve as identifying features for the
physician and clinician.
• Disorders of Infancy, Childhood, and
Adolescence
– Speech disorders, phobias, hyperactivity, autism,
delayed development.
• Organic Mental Disorders
– Result from deterioration of the brain (e.g.,
Altzheimer’s disease).
• Substance Abuse Disorders
– Problems that result from abuse of drugs such as
alcohol, street drugs, or medication.
• Schizophrenia (Psychoses)
– Characterized by hallucinations, bizarre perceptions,
loss of touch with reality, illogical thoughts.
• Mood Disorders (Disorders of Affect)
– Characterized by extremes of emotional state.
– Severe depression (Depression) or excessive elation
(Manic disorder), or alternation between the two
(Bipolar disorder).
– Hypermania vs hypomania.
• Anxiety Disorders
– Repetitive persistent thoughts accompanied by
ritualistic behaviour (Obsessive-compulsive disorder),
phobias, attacks of extreme anxiety.
• Somatoform Disorders
– Characteristized by physical symptoms
(e.g.,blindness, pain, paralysis) that have no physical
cause (e.g., Glove anesthesia).
• Factitious Disorders
– Characterized by fake mental or physical disorders
(e.g., Munchausen syndrome—frequent
hospitalization or surgery for nonexistent illness).
• Dissociative Disorders
– Person becomes detached from identity (e.g.,
Amnesia, Dissociative Identity Disorder).
• Sexual Disorders
– Disorders of sexual functioning (e.g., fetishes,
Sexual/Gender Identity Disorders).
• Eating Disorders
– Characterized by disordered eating patterns
(e.g., Anorexia, Bulimia).
• Sleep Disorders
– Characterized by sleeping problems (e.g.,
Insomnia, Sleep Walking, Narcolepsy).
• Impulse Control Disorders
– Characterized by inability to control impulses
(e.g., fire setting, stealing, gambling).
• Personality Disorders
– 10 respective personalities with specific
characteristics (Schizoid, Paranoid,
Schizotypal, Narcissistic, Histrionic,
Borderline, Antisocial, OCPD, Dependent,
Avoidant)