Introduction to Psychopathology

Goals for today:

• Scientist-practitioner model (3 parts to the study of disorders)

• Historical and current conceptions of psychopathology

DescriptionDescription

CausationCausation

Treatment/OutcomeTreatment/Outcome

Study ofStudy ofPsychologicalPsychological

DisordersDisorders

Scientist-Practitioner Model

• IncidenceIncidence– how many new cases of a disorder occur within a how many new cases of a disorder occur within a

given time?given time?

• SymptomsSymptoms• Sex ratioSex ratio• PrevalencePrevalence

– how many people in a population as a whole have a disorder?how many people in a population as a whole have a disorder?

DescriptionDescription

CausationCausation

Treatment/OutcomeTreatment/Outcome

Study ofStudy ofPsychologicalPsychological

DisordersDisorders

• CourseCourse– Typical pattern of developmentTypical pattern of development

• PrognosisPrognosis– Predicted development/outcome Predicted development/outcome

DescriptionDescription

CausationCausation

Treatment/OutcomeTreatment/Outcome

Study ofStudy ofPsychologicalPsychological

DisordersDisorders

DescriptionDescription

CausationCausation

Treatment/OutcomeTreatment/Outcome

Study ofStudy ofPsychologicalPsychological

DisordersDisorders

Scientist-Practitioner Model

• Multiple CausationMultiple Causation– biology, psychology, biology, psychology,

learning history, culture, learning history, culture, and social factorsand social factors

DescriptionDescription

CausationCausation

Treatment/OutcomeTreatment/Outcome

Study ofStudy ofPsychologicalPsychological

DisordersDisorders

• EtiologyEtiology– the study of why a disorder beginsthe study of why a disorder begins

DescriptionDescription

CausationCausation

Treatment/OutcomeTreatment/Outcome

Study ofStudy ofPsychologicalPsychological

DisordersDisorders

Scientist-Practitioner Model

DescriptionDescription

CausationCausation

Treatment/OutcomeTreatment/Outcome

Study ofStudy ofPsychologicalPsychological

DisordersDisorders

• What are the costs and benefits of treatments?What are the costs and benefits of treatments?• Which treatments work best (for which Which treatments work best (for which

disorders, which people, etc.?)disorders, which people, etc.?)

The Fisher King

Small Group Exercise on Perspectives in Causation

How has abnormal behavior been conceptualized over the course of history?

Historical Perspectives on Abnormality

Biological Theories

Similar to physical disease, mental illness = breakdown of some systems of body (e.g., syphillis).

Supernatural Theories

Divine intervention, curses, demonic possession, and personal sin.

Psychological Theories

Mental disorders as the result of learning, trauma, orother psychosocial causes.

Historical Perspectives on Abnormality

Biological Theories

“Madness tape, #3 -- recent history of biologicaltheories and therapies