Abnormal and Clinical Psychology

Abnormal and Clinical Psychology

For: Charmaine Walters
By Toni-Samantha Wildish

Introduction:

This research paper aims to explain the core concepts of Abnormal Clinical Psychology. In order to serve the purpose, the entailing discussion ought to explain number of disorders and dysfunctions that are considered as abnormal. It also focuses over explaining and describing the diagnostic process within the DSM.

Discussion and Analysis:

From the research it is observed that different scholars have proposed the explanation of normal and abnormal behaviour in different manners. According to Garfield, (2007), if the person can function adequately and perform daily activities efficiently and is satisfied with life, then it is considered as a normal person. Abnormality, on the other hand, is deviating from a normal of standard rules. This can be seen as disturbances in someone’s behaviour. Trull, & Prinsten, (2012), similarly provided the basic characteristics of both behaviours and stated that if an individual is able to adopt to the current situation and possesses with the ability to solve simple issues then is said to be normal. Moreover, individual is normal if he is handing stress and anxiety. The author further stated that basic characteristic of abnormality is the inability to cope with everyday and forgetting things Mayo (1998).

Richard, & Huproch, (2011), similarly argued that lack of confidence and gratification, way o thinking shall be different in terms of normal and abnormal behaviour. Plante, (2011), added that the manner of judging and perceiving things will remain different. Within the field of clinical psychology, it is observed that different and varying concepts of normal and abnormal behaviour is noted. The varying characteristics are influenced by socio-cultural factors including DSM. Moreover, there are multiple models present that can be used to explain varying concepts and to diagnose whether one’s behaviour is normal or abnormal.

Within the context of assessing one’s behaviour it is observed that it cannot be influenced with someone’s opinion and therefore every process must generate the similar nature of results as everyone involved. Similarly, Beinart, Kennedy, & Llewelyn, (2009), argued that one must not manipulate the results that are generated, and therefore every time the similar process is applied, it must generate similar results.

Focusing over the definition of Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) person not performing different functions adequately shall be classified as abnormal and if this abnormal behaviour patterns are not controlled and the person remains unpredictable then it is most definitely abnormal. However, the passage of time has changed the social norms, as well as the culture is changing. For example, if a child was born out of wedlock in the Victorian age the mother would be put in an Asylum as classified as mentally ill, as today 40%of children are born out of wedlock without the risk of being declared mentally insane (NIH, 2000). However, these activities may vary from culture to culture. There are strict cultures, for example in the middle east countries where it is expectable to cut the limb as the punishment for stealing, yet in western culture such practices are regarded as forbidden.

There are certain models to evaluate the abnormal behaviour. The usefulness of the model is depended on how the behaviour is modelled. Carr, (2012), in this regard, argued that abnormality can be studied in varying ways. For example, behaviours can be studied with the thinking processes, can be compared with emotional process and even with the biological process.

Behavioural process is learning of behaviour, thinking and emotional processes. It is also based on the study of consciousness in faulty thinking of perception while unconscious is repressed memories and emotions. Biological is genetic, this is where individual genetically had this passed down from another family member. Structural damage, on the other hand, is from an accident or may even be from birth or can be the cause of chemicals in the form drugs or from pollution.

Another manner is to assess the behaviour is the biological and biomedical. The main assumptions of these processes are psychological disorders that are illnesses or diseases that affect nervous system (Carr, 2012). Abnormal behaviour affects one’s emotions and thinking, this is caused by biological dysfunctions. We need to understand what is going wrong with the brain and have to understand that level of mental illness that is involved.

The Biological model of abnormality is the only model which is not based on psychological assumptions. It states that the biochemical, brain, and neuroanotomy are all physical entries working together to meditate the psychological process. The usefulness of a biological model is it does provide structured, logical systems of treatment and diagnosis. If the mental illness has some physical cause, the patients can’t be at fault, stating otherwise, the person cannot be responsible for abnormal functioning (Plante, 2011).

There is a lot of evidence that biochemical and genetic factors can be associated with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, this model is also very well established sciences such as medicine.

This treatment is done by gaining access to the unconsciousness and then it explores the conflicts, so the patient can resolve and confront their problems. By this method of treatment regarding psychological distress, illnesses could at least be treated (Richard, & Huproch, 2011). Behavioural model, on the other hand, looks at how to assess behaviours that are abnormal. Maladaptive learning can be treated if change the environment, so the un-learning can take place.

As a result, this particular model has led to development of behavioural therapies that have shown a high level success. Once the symptoms are alleviated the problems disappear, it also widely lends itself to scientific study and evaluation. However, the cognitive model focuses on the disorder to work with the patient to change their thoughts to increase reinforcement (Trull, & Prinsten, 2012). For a positive outlook, there is a lot of evidence of maladaptive thought processes in people that suffer from psychological disorders; it also promotes psychological well being to teach people how to take control of their lives.

There is another model considered as the third force in psychology, this model focuses on the individual as a whole (Carl Rogers) as he says everyone’s problems are individual and unique. There are a lot of case histories to back up the humanistic model, it also has an optimistic view on personalities and is an ethical model, as it looks at the person rather than just the diagnosis and there is able to facilitate human capacity for self-cure.

However, there are some issues linked with the model. The problems come from one’s interpretations, so such things as a spec scan inside the brain help diagnose the mental illness. They inject the person with a radioactive isotate, and then the scan machine snaps a picture of the brain, showing the different colour. For example Bipolar will show the amount of red in the brain, showing little activity. According to Neil Niven (2000) by diagnosing this it helps the person to get the right medication to live a near to normal life.

The Use of DSM:

There are number of developments occurring in the model of DSM. DSM-IV uses a number of large categories to identify disorders that appear under a smaller number of mare general ICD-10 categories. Neither of these makes a distinction between psychosis and neurosis; however ICD-10 uses the term neurotic and DSM-IV uses the term psychotic.

There are three main goals of classificatory systems, including;

• Providing shorthand language regarding the disorder,

• Understanding the disorder

• Setting up a treatment plan

The three goals can be attained if classificatory systems are valid and reliable. Here it is critical to mention the fact that reliability refers to consistency where different users have to come up with the same diagnosis.

Reliability in fact is as good as a medical diagnosis. Similarly, DSM-IV uses multi-axial classification that provides a mare in-depth assessment rather than just a single diagnostic label. The ICD-10 does not have separate axes, V.A problem with diagnosing for example schizophrenia is involved on the individual’s behaviour. Rosenhan (1973) challenged that one cannot distinguish the sane from the insane in psychiatric hospital, but his study was flawed (Neil Niven, 2000).

Jakobsen et al, (2005) used operational criteria checklist (OPCRIT). This is a symptom checklist that provides explicit and clear descriptions of the symptoms. When it was compared against ICD-10 it reflected high level of reliability. Checklist on DSM-IV and ICD-10 has very good reliability and standard forms (Micheal & Eysenck, 2009)

The difference between neuroses and psychoses is psychoses in genetic: For the mental state having lost touch with reality and may have paranoia, delusions and hallucinations. A neurosis is a mental distress that does not affect the person’s thoughts or daily functioning (Garfield, 2007).

Conclusion:

There are number of disorders including OCD, phobias, chronic anxiety, and there are mood disorders include bipolar, manic/depression. The mood and anxiety disorders focus group are observed to have a diverse interest. From preclinical psychopharmacological studies in rodents, to epidemiological studies to look at the risk for suicide, they study and look at rodent behaviours to genetic and biochemical approaches. There are therapies for anxiety and mood disorders, such as CBT which focuses on the patient, to change unwanted thoughts and gain control over unwanted behaviours (Richard Gross, 2000). The causes for these include genetics (child with parents having the disorder are a high risk) experiences (a traumatic event) and psychological (person overestimating danger).

The practitioners turn to models and theories to explain mental health, for example biological model looks at psychological conditions that underlie abnormal behaviours, and Psychodynamic model looking at Freud’s theory of personality, the Humanistic says that an inner psychic feeling of well being maintains a full lifestyle. Brain imaging studies in mood and anxiety have made it possible to investigate synaptic and molecular providing brain imagination and the findings on bipolar, depression and anxiety disorders.

Reasons for psychopathological disorders can be inherited, which is one of the most common reasons for mental health. Genes can increase the risk of mental illness, but a traumatic experience could trigger a mental health episode. If a woman is pregnant and the unborn baby is exposed to toxins, drugs or alcohol this can also cause mental illness.

If someone has a negative experience in life such as if you lose a loved one through death or a break-up from a relationship, financial stress or even the way you have been brought up, leading to poor self-esteem. This can also include a history of sexual or physical abuse.

Bad life experiences can lead to a pattern of unhealthy thinking leading to metal illness, such as distorted or pessimism distorted way of thinking. (mayo clinic) Distorted or pessimistic thinking can alter the way the patient may think rationally.

Treatment for mental health varies on the mental illness, but also on the individual as everyone is different. In some cases a combination of treatments will be more effective; there will usually be a team approach to make sure all the medical, social and psychiatric needs are met.

The team for treatment may include a psychiatrist , a doctor who can diagnose mental health illnesses, A Psychotherapist, such as a CBT Therapist counsellor or psychologist also include a family doctor, social worker, a pharmacist or even a family doctor (Mayo Clinic, 1998).

Medications do not cure mental health, but they can be found to improve symptoms. Medications can also make psychotherapy a lot more effective. There are a number of medications used for mental health. An example are anti-depressants, these drugs can be used to help symptoms such as sadness, having lack of energy, having no interest in day to day activities and feeling hopeless, Bipolar patients require mood-stabilizer medication, this drug is also sometimes effective to treat depression and anxiety.

Then there are anti anxiety medications that are generally fast acting and relieve depressive tendencies, relieving in as little as 30 to 60 minutes. However these drugs can cause dependency on them. Schizophrenia sufferers use antipsychotic medication which is also called neuroleptics. These drugs are used to treat psychotic disorders, as well as bipolar, and to treat depression with the antidepressants. There are some cases of mental health so severe that the patient will need hospitalisation or residential treatment.

References

Department of Health & Human Services. (2000).Mental Health. Available: www.nih.gov.

Mayo Clinic. (1998).Normal & Abnormality. Available: www.Mayoclinic.org

Micheal W. Eysenck (2009).A2 Level Psychology. Sussex: Psychology Press

Neil Niven (2000). Health Psychology for Health Care Professionals. Edinburgh: Churchill. Livingstone.

Richard Gross, Rob Mcileen, Hugh Coollan, Alan Clamp & Julia Russell (2000). Psychology a new introduction for A2. Tonbridge, Kent: Hodder &Stoughton S.

Department of Health & Human Services. (2000).Mental Health. Available: www.nih.gov.

Carr, A, (2012). Clinical psychology: an introduction. London: Routledge,

Beinart, H, Kennedy, P, & Llewelyn, S, (2009). Clinical psychology in practice, Boston: John Wiley and Sons

Plante, T, (2011). Contemporary clinical psychology, New York: John Wiley and Sons

Richard, D, & Huproch, S, (2011). Clinical psychology: assessment, treatment, and research. Academic Press, Boston

Trull, T, & Prinsten, M, (2012). Clinical psychology: London: Cengage Learning

Garfield, S, (2007). Clinical Psychology: the study of personality and behaviour. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers