week 1 dsm and abnormality

Discuss and answer these questions. Write down your answers and be prepared to feedback to the class.

1. What do we mean by culture?2. How could culture affect diagnosis of

‘abnormal’ behaviour? 3. What would you suggest is the ‘best’ way to

measure abnormality?

Stop being WEIRD!

Lesson ObjectivesBy the end of the lesson you …

• Must be able to describe (Ao1) two methods to define abnormal behaviour.

• Must be able to describe (Ao1) the use of the DSM to diagnose abnormality.

• Should be able to evaluate (Ao2) the two methods of definition and the use of the DSM.

Page 12-17

Abnormal behaviour is not defined by a

behaviour [?]

- context - frequency

Statistical Definition

Statistical Definition ofAbnormality

Social Norms Definition Of Abnormality

Make summary notes on the two definitions of abnormality and the

strengths and weaknesses of each. [10 mins]

Psychotic disorders

• A group of disorders with psychotic symptoms, ie the person loses touch with reality as in hallucinations or delusions

• Schizophrenia is the most common, where the person has disturbances in thought and perception, and bizarre behaviour

Anxiety Disorders

• Several disorders where the main symptom is anxiety, this could be particular irrational fears such as in phobias, or general anxiety.

• Also cover panic attacks, where the person suddenly is overwhelmed by intense anxiety

Mood disorders

• Disturbances of normal mood ranging from extreme depression to abnormal elation (‘mania’)

• The condition can be unipolar (depression) or bi-polar (alternating between periods of depression and mania)

Somatoform disorders

• Somatoform disorders are problems that seem to be medical but are actually psychological.

• This could be pain or paralysis

• For example, a mother who loses the use of her right arm when her son joins the army

• Also included in this category is hypochondriasis – the erroneous belief that one has a fatal disease!

Impulse control disorders

• This is when the individual is unable to resist an impulse or temptation, eg kleptomania involving compulsive stealing for no personal gain, or

• Trichotillomania, the habitual pulling out of one’s hair for pleasure or tension relief

Personality disorders

• The person has some permanent personality characteristics which often deviate from social norms and can cause distress to others, for example, a psychopath may display superficial

charm and pathological lying

• Psychopaths feel no guilt for wrong actions.

• They may commit sexual assaults or violent crimes for which they feel no remorse.

Another personality disorder is OCD.

Dissociative disorders

• Dissociative disorders cause losses or changes in memory and identity.

• Included in this category are multiple personality and amnesia (memory loss)

• The cause could be a traumatic experience

Factitious disorders

• This is when a person produces physical or psychological symptoms in order to assume a ‘sick role’ or gain financial benefits or reduced responsibility, because they are ‘ill’.

Eating disorders

• The most common are Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa.

• The person has severe disturbances in eating behaviour

• False beliefs about body shape and image

• The reason could be biological, social, or psychological.

Axis I: Clinical disorders, including major mental disorders, and learning disordersAxis II: Personality disorders and mental retardation (although developmental disorders, such as Autism, were coded on Axis II in the previous edition, these disorders are now included on Axis I)Axis III: Acute medical conditions and physical disordersAxis IV: Psychosocial and environmental factors contributing to the disorder (PALS)Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning or Children's Global Assessment Scale for children and teens under the age of 18

Describe the DSM Bullet points of evaluationConsidering reliability and

validity

Describe the use of the DSM and the strengths and

weaknesses of each. [10 mins]

• Must be able to describe (Ao1) two methods to define abnormal behaviour.

• Must be able to describe (Ao1) the use of the DSM to diagnose abnormality.

• Should be able to evaluate (Ao2) the two methods of definition and the use of the DSM.

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