A report of mental illness
Introduction/scope/abstract
Abnormal psychology is a subdivision of psychology. It deals with the study, clarification and treating of behavior that deviates from the norm. The behavior of concern here is that which is addressed in a clinical context (ICD, p. 144). It refers to a range of unusual behaviors, thinking and emotions that will require an individual to seek the aid of a mental health professional. Abnormal psychology studies mental processes and the behavior of abnormal people (Mangal, 2008, p. 1). Psychopathology is a pattern of behavior that is abnormal and is usually dysfunctional and distressing. This could result in the victim being dangerous to others and to self. Abnormal behavior can be defined using a criterion, which include danger to self and to others, personal distress, violation of social norms, statistical rarity and maladaptive behavior. Schizophrenia is the Psychopathology chosen. It is a disorder where deterioration of a person’s ability to communicate, recognize reality his or her thinking processes and emotional responses occur (Birchwood, Birchwood & Jackson, 2001, p. 1). The deterioration result in the impairment of the person’s functioning and thus, results in lowered thinking capacity.
Scope:
The study of the abnormal people can be done until a decision is made concerning the behaviors of the normal and the abnormal. Abnormal psychology should shade light on the normality and abnormality concepts given the various environmental situations. Human behavior has roots in basic needs and motives (Mangal, 2008, p. 2). Blocking of motives or basic needs denial results in stress and frustrations ending in maladjustments. Abnormal psychology should include the study of abnormal and normal people since the abnormal should try to adjust and behave like normal people. The topic should also include the study of basic needs, motives, stress and frustrations. Abnormal psychology should provide an explanation and description of the causes of abnormal behavior. This will include such factors as symptoms, conditions that generate such behavior and syndromes. This will also provide common knowledge on behavioral disorders.
Normality and abnormality
Normal means to conform to the regular or standard behavior patterns. Abnormality is the behavior that does not conform to the normal behavior patterns (ICD, p. 145). It is however, difficult to come to an agreement on the degree of abnormality that should be awarded to certain behavior patterns. Normality and abnormality can be defined using a certain criteria. The criteria can be grouped into descriptive and explanatory criteria (Mangal, 2008, p. 6). Descriptive criteria provide the typed of behaviors that are considered abnormal or normal. Explanatory criteria include the assumed processes that underlie abnormal behavior.
Statistical infrequency
A literal meaning of normality assumes that there is behavior that occurs frequently in certain situations. Thus, the behavior that occurs less frequently is considered abnormal (ICD, p. 145). Numbers can be useful especially when dealing with scores of personality measures, or IQ scores used to measure intelligence. Numbers enable the measurement of those that score average behavior and those that score extremes. Statistically, behavior that is unusual is attributed to mental illness. This is because of the assumption that a person suffering from a psychiatric condition will help in the understanding of strange behavior. It is however, functional to note that not all statistically infrequent behavior is a sign of mental illness. Statistical criterion of normality and abnormality assumes that average is normal behavior. If an individual deviates from average than he or she is said to be abnormal (Mangal, 2008, p. 8). This type of criteria is not adequate because this above average are considered retards instead of genius.
Deviation from social norms
This refers to what frequently occurs in a particular context. Deviation is the occurrence of unexpected behavior in a given situation. Expected behavior is that which the culture and rules of a given society deem right for a given context (ICD, p. 146). The people who violate such cultures and rules of the society are assumed to be having attributes of madness. There are however, several problems that come with this issue. The problems include the fact that social norms vary depending on the culture and social situation of a society. There is also historical variation and controversies depending on the group that is more powerful than the other is.
Problems with diagnosis, classification systems, Dsm-iv-Tr, Icd-10, labeling, validity and reliability, methods of investigations
DSM-IV-TR is the current system used in the classification of mental disorders. The classification is used to classify categories that are the presence and absence of disorder and dimensions that is the degree of disorder. The classification system also has information on exclusion criteria, inclusion criteria, disorders and associated features. The classification is done via five axes where each axis includes categories that describe symptoms. Diagnosis using this kind of classification has problems, in that, it can lead to stigmatization. Condensation can lead to information loss, and categories are not homogenous. ICD-10 classification system contains additional items, which include loss of normal social inhibitions and indiscretions (First & Tasman, 2011, p. 321). The system is hierarchical and does not require a practitioner to observe a change in the mood of the patient. Three axes are considered and personality disorder is not treated as being separate from other mental disorders.
Modern diagnosis has been able to take advantage of the recent medical breakthroughs. Brain imaging technology has been useful in the diagnosis of such disorders as Alzheimer’s disease. The reception of diagnosis can be a difficult experience for others. The reception can also be a relief for others (ICD, P. 149). It is also vital to ask whether the systems in use are either reliable or not. Inter-reliability and test-retest reliability are forms of reliability that are used to observe the same person and make a decision. If the decisions made are the same, then the system is reliable, if not, then the system is not reliable. DSM-IV, ICD-10 are the diagnostic systems that are used to test inter-rater reliability.
The main concern of a diagnostic system is whether people are correctly diagnosed as having disorders or not. It is difficult to tell if a person has a disorder without the use of a diagnostic system (ICD, P. 150). Structured interviews should be used since they increase the reliability of the diagnosis and hence chances are the diagnosis will also be valid (Hersen & Beidel, 2011, p. 96).
Psychopathology
Symptoms and diagnosis
The symptoms associated with schizophrenia include delusions, emotional and volitional changes, experiences of control, and disorders of thinking and auditory hallucinations (Birchwood, Birchwood & Jackson, 2001, p. 8). Diagnosis helps to understand the reasons and causes of certain behavior that are symptoms of functioning that is disordered. Diagnosis precedes treatment and hence it determines the treatment or lack of one. The health practitioners should therefore, accurately interpret diagnostic procedures (Hersen & Beidel, 2011, p. 128). There is evidence that improvement has been realized in the reliability of diagnosing schizophrenia but problems still exist (Birchwood, Birchwood & Jackson, 2001, p. 10). The diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia as defined by DSM-IV-TR are divided into six sets, which are labeled A-F. The criterion is useful because most conditions are known to mimic the schizophrenia symptoms. The correct application of the criteria improves the likelihood of a reliable diagnosis. The criteria include the fact that the patient should have two or more symptoms related to the disease for at least one month. The patient should have the symptoms continuously for six months, and then the diagnosis can be done.
Explanations include Biological, psychological and social
Biological explanation
This is a theory that suggests that behavior is related to the changes that take place in the brain. The degree of shared genes dictates the degree of risk. Identical twins leave room for other factors to contribute to the risk involved. The theory assumes that behavior whether normal or abnormal is inherited from parents in the form of genes (Birchwood, Birchwood & Jackson, 2001, p. 35). There are structural brain abnormalities such as larger cerebral ventricles, which means that the brain cells are lost, and reduction of gray matter.
Psychosocial explanation
This is a theory that explains the two sides of psychological explanations. The two sides are the socio-cultural, which is the role that family and society plays. The other is the psychological side, which takes the perspective of psychology. The socio-cultural explanations include social labeling, life events and family relations. Both theories try to provide an explanation of the reason why schizophrenia is developed. They also try to provide a means through which the condition can be cured or controlled. Adverse family environment such as criticism, highly expressed emotions could lead to relapse or increased stress.
Possible treatments
The outcomes of treatment depend on such factors as the quality of transaction between the treatment program and the individual, characteristics of the individual’s life and the readiness of the individual to receive treatment. The recommended treatment for this illness is the biopsychosocial treatment, which combines psychosocial, pharmacotherapy and social support. The treatments work through the strengthening of personal, biological and environmental factors that help in the protection against relapse. Rehabilitation should be integrated with psychiatric treatment in order to restore persons with this illness. The restoration will enable the person to function well and attain a certain level of quality life (Nathan & Gorman, 2007, p. 243).
Skills training and support help the patient with this illness to acquire affiliative and instrumental skills to enhance community functioning. Family interventions reduce the likelihood of relapse while the admission in hospitals improves the interactions between family and patient (Nathan & Gorman, 2007, p. 243). Cognitive, behavioral psychotherapy helps in reducing the severity of such symptoms as depression, negative symptoms, delusions and hallucinations. The treatments are efficient especially when delivered in a comprehensive, well-coordinated and continuous manner.
Definition of recovery, what constitutes recovery, is recovery permanent, remission or relapse. Placebo effect
Recovery is the restoration of normal condition. Recovery depends on an individual’s definition and measurement of recovery. Others argue that one does not recover from this illness but rather follows an inevitable decline. Some opt to take a realistic view though complex. There is clinical recovery where one loses the positive psychotic symptoms of the illness. Complete recovery is the loss of the symptoms and the return of normal levels of functioning. Social recovery is the social and occupational independence (Birchwood, Birchwood & Jackson, 2001, p. 21). Psychosocial recovery is that which is marked by the absence of such difficulties as trauma, anxiety, hopelessness and depression. Such family environments as highly expressed emotions, over involved family members and negative criticism could lead to a relapse.
References:
Birchwood, J, Birchwood, M & Jackson, C, 2001, Schizophrenia, New York: Psychology Press.
First, M & Tasman, A, 2011, Clinical guide to the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, New
York: John Wiley & Sons.
Hersen, M & Beidel, D, 2011, Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
ICD, Abnormal Psychology,
http://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/Secondary/BusinessAndEconomics/IBResources/PearsonBaccalaureate/Samples/SampleMaterialPsychology/PsychologyChapter5.pdf
Mangal, S, 2008, Abnormal psychology, Delhi India: Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Nathan, P & Gorman, J, 2007, A guide to treatments that work, New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
