Abnormal Psychology - Coursework Example

Abnormal Psychology Table of Contents Task 3 Introduction 3 Rosenhan Experiment 4 Different Definition of Psychological Abnormality 4 Assumption and Treatment of Psychological Abnormities 7 Biological Prospective 7 Assumption 7 Treatment 7 Evidence 8 Psychological Prospective 8 Assumption 8 Treatment 9 Evidences 9 Culture, Gender and Socio-Economic Group Influence the Incidence and Diagnosis of Psychological Disorders 10 Cultural 10 Gender 10 Socio-Economic Group 11 Conclusion 11 Task 2 12 References 15 Task 1 Introduction In the history of medical science, psychotherapists attempted to determine aspects regarding normal behaviour in the people. Moreover, people concerned over treating mental illness are regarded as psychiatry. Besides, psychiatrists are trained specialised medical representatives undertaking the task to deal with mental illness over other forms of illnesses in the patients. In this regard, the psychologist named David Rosenhan has conducted a famous experiment i.e. ‘Rosenhan experiment’ in order to authenticate the intervention of psychiatric diagnosis. Moreover, the conclusion of the experiment has been published in the form of journal i.e. ‘On being sane in insane places’ during the year 1973, which has been considered as one of the most important as well as influencing over psychiatric diagnosis. Moreover, the prior aim of the experiment was to validate the aspect that the psychiatrists of healthcare are not able to determine the difference among the inhabitants, who are sane and those are insane (Rosenhan, 1973). Correspondingly, this paper intends to address the aspect of psychological abnormality and its treatment initiative by evaluating the aspect of strengths and weaknesses of various psychological abnormalities. Moreover, emphasis will also be laid towards determining the impact of culture, gender as well as socio-economic group in the diagnosis of psychological disorders. Rosenhan Experiment Rosenhan experiment has been carried out over two different aspects, as initially, it involves with determining the use of healthy associates including paediatrician, three psychologists, psychiatrist, painter, housewife and Rosenhan, who were being sane attempted to be admitted in different hospitals of the US. Moreover, their approach to the hospital with the false representation of their problem was been admitted as well as diagnosed with the aspect of psychiatric disorders. In this respect, after few days of their admission, they represented to behave normally, affirmed the medical representative that they no longer experience additional hallucinations, but they were forced to be admitted and take antipsychotic drugs as prior condition of release. Moreover, the average time that they admitted in the hospital was 19 days. Later on, offended administration of the hospital challenging Rosenhan over admitting the pseudo patients over which they detect the mental issues. Moreover, in the succeeding week, out of 193 new patients, 41 patients have been selected as pseudo patients. From the experiment, Roshehan concluded the fact that in psychiatric hospitals, there is nothing regarded to sane or insane patients. Moreover, arguments have been made regarding the demerits of the aspect of dehumanization and labelling in healthcare institutes. Nevertheless, through the experiment, Roshehan suggested that community health facility is a needful approach of mental health intervention, as it focuses over specific problem rather than labelling the psychiatrics (Barlow & Durand, 2014; Rosenhan, 1973). Different Definition of Psychological Abnormality In general perspective, psychological abnormality is defined as an unusual behaviour, act, emotion, thoughts and feeling an individual develops that differentiate him/her from other people and which can be or cannot be understood, because of mental disorder in the people. Additionally, many behavioural acts can be regarded as abnormal and in this regard, psychology deals with the behaviour of the people in terms of clinical practice. Besides, in the history, at various points of instances, different definitions have been attempted to determine the act that is regarded to be considered as abnormalities, which differentiate sane and insane people. Conceptually, the aspect of psychological abnormalities has attracted various researchers, who were investigated towards determining abnormal behaviour in order to determine effective treatments initiatives for the people whether with the mechanism of medication or psychosocial care (Barlow & Durand, 2014). Correspondingly, on the basis of the medical model of psychological disorder, abnormality is defined as the biological or the psychological factors responsible for disturbing the mental estate of the people and causing abnormal behaviour. Besides, as per the approach of medical psychological disorder, abnormality is treated as normal diseases and categories in relation to mental illness. The major strength that has been recognised in the definition is that physicians treat the issues with the process of diagnosis and provide effective cure based on the required treatment initiatives. Moreover, hospitalisation and the use of drugs are regarded as effective treatment mechanism of such problems. On the other hand, major limitation that has been recognised is that the treatment of such problem may possibly have various side effects and may not always be effective (Cherry, 2015; McLeod, 2014). Moreover, in psychodynamic perspective, psychological abnormality is defined as the disorder that eventually is the consequence of anxiety, which has been significantly been developed because of the unresolved or unconscious aspects. The key strength of the definition is that the treatment mechanism focuses over identification as well as resolving the conflicting situations. The key limitation of the definition for which it has been criticised is that it is regarded to be an unscientific approach of measuring human behaviour. Besides, it been highly subjective owing to which it is impossible to be analysed in a scientifically manner (McLeod, 2007a). On the contrary, with respect to behaviour perspective, psychological abnormality is defined as abnormal behaviour or act that significantly resulted from ineffective or defective learning as well as conditioning. The key strength of the definition is that the approach of the definition is highly scientific and emphasis over objective measurement. On the other hand, the major limitation is that it is likely to ignore the aspect of medication and is deterministic (McLeod, 2013). Defining psychological abnormality on the basis of cognitive perspective, it has been affirmed that people behave abnormally, because their thoughts as well as behaviours are often based on wrong assumptions. The key strength that has been identified in the definition is that treatments oriented over developing new thought are based on new values. Moreover, the therapy helps to adopt the unlearning maladaptive behaviour with the useful ones. Additionally, like other definitions, it also ignores the biological aspects as well as the scientific method and focuses over humanism (McLeod, 2007b). Assumption and Treatment of Psychological Abnormities Biological Prospective Assumption Assumption based on the perspective of biological approach of psychological disorders, abnormalities relatively arise in the people because of ineffective working of internal organs. Additionally, it has been argued that psychological disorders arise from physical ill health and dysfunction of the brain. Moreover, it has been assumed that behaviours relating to hallucinations in the people reflect the symptom of mental illness and the different illnesses, which are been recognized as syndromes are regarded as clusters of symptoms that significantly arise due the mental illness (McLeod, 2014). Treatment In the context of treating the people, who are having the symptoms of psychological abnormalities are based on hospitalisation and drugs rather than utilising the approach of psychological investigation of the people, as the initiative of curing the patients. Besides, the types of the drugs that are been used in the treatment highly depends on the symptoms that has been recognised in the patients. Besides, in accordance with the approach of biological perspective, it is relatively affirmed that the psychological issues of the people may be structural based on brain functioning, biological factors i.e. neurotransmitter imbalance and may be because of the genetic factors. Thus, the treatment initiative is highly based on determining the aspect is responsible for psychological abnormalities, so that effective drugs interventions (McLeod, 2014). Evidence With regard to the effectiveness of the biological perception of treating abnormalities, Hunsley & et. al. (2013) affirmed that medication treatment initiatives are undertaken in treating the issues of depression. Besides, the study concluded with the evidence that the combination of treatment of depression by medication i.e. using effective drugs is beneficial as compared to other treatment procedures. Psychological Prospective Assumption It has been affirmed earlier that psychological perspective of measuring the disorder is the mechanism, which regarded to be an alternative mechanism of curing the issues over biological methods. Besides, in accordance with this perspective, the disorder in the people majorly arises because of anxiety that people develop in themselves because of the unresolved as well as unconscious conflicting scenarios. The key assumption that has been outlining in this perspective is that behaviour as well as their feelings is derived from their unconscious motives. In addition, it has been assumed that old aged behaviour is relatively based on the childhood experiences. Moreover, the personality is divided into three aspects including id, ego and super-ego. Nevertheless, another assumption that has been made is that the personality of the people are been significantly been twisted and transformed as the drives altered in different scenarios of conflicts in the young age of the people (McLeod, 2013). Treatment The treatment mechanism under the psychological perspective of abnormalities ignores the aspect of scientific mechanism and indeed focuses over psychological behaviour of an individual through the sense of building the relationships with the people having mental health issues. Additionally, treatment mechanism in psychological perspective focuses over using various psychological theories that particularly emphasize the unconsciousness as well as the structures of personality of the people. Moreover, case study approach, dream analysis, association, projective tests and hypnosis are few treatment mechanisms that are been utilised by the psychotherapists in curing the disabilities of the people. Nevertheless, the approach of the treatment initiative highly focuses over determining the reasons because of which people develop the issues of anxiety in their behaviour and recommending effective measure of cure (McLeod, 2013). Evidences With regard to the effectiveness of psychotherapy method of treating the mental disorder, Shedler (2010) reflected that people who undertake the treatment based on psychodynamic therapy are able to improve their health conditions after the end of the treatment. Moreover, the practitioners, who are engaged in such treatment initiatives are high skilled for which psychodynamic theory and practice is identified to be important to provide acute care to the patients. Culture, Gender and Socio-Economic Group Influence the Incidence and Diagnosis of Psychological Disorders Cultural With regard to psychological disorders, various cultural factors like language, regions and spirituality, traditions and beliefs, migration history and other related factors have significant impact, as each culture has its specified boundaries and ethical standards that people need to follow. Moreover, the cultural rules and regulations are highly arbitrary and when people fail to compel the social and moral behaviour, the act is regarded to be abnormal. Besides, information regarding family members and cultural variable plays an important role in the diagnosis of psychological disorders, because within the context of culture, shared beliefs as well as behaviours is widely accepted and regarded to have some customary practices during the course of psychological disorder in the people (Pearson Education, n.d.). Gender Correspondingly, according to report of WHO (2015), gender aspects are been highly correlated with various psychological disorders including depression, anxiety and issues of somatic. Moreover, it has been affirmed that depression are much likely to be noticed in women over males. On the other hand, the rate of alcohol consumption and its related disorders are high in men and are mostly diagnosed with personality disorder. Thus, in relation to this aspect, it can be affirmed that gender differences recognised to have significant impact over the rate of incident and accordingly, the diagnosis of the patient is been carried out. Socio-Economic Group The aspects of social economic group includes the level of income, working condition, lifestyle, social environment and housing, social support and access towards the healthcare. In this regard, Skapinakis & et. al. (2006) affirmed the fact that people with lower satisfaction in socio-economic needs are identified to be suffering from the issue of mental disorders to a large extent. Moreover, it has been affirmed that in some of the nations, people suffering with the issue of poverty has been identified to commit suicide because they faces difficulty to have their basic necessity in their life (Kuruvilla & Jacob, 2007). Thus, the aspect of determining the social-economic status of the people having the issue mental disorder becomes integral to cure the issues in effective manner. Conclusion Psychiatric disorder is also regarded as mental disorder that led to change in the behavioural pattern and causes suffering or reduces the ability of the people to carry out their ordinary life. Additionally, mental disorder is generally associated with individuals’ feeling, act and perception, as the issue is highly associated with mental condition and functioning of the nervous system. Besides, the perspective of psychological disorder has been defined in various aspects that include biological, cognitive, behavioural and psychodynamic perspective. Moreover, psychological perspective emphasis the treatment of disorder based on the utilisation of theories and understanding human psychology and on the other hand, biological prospective focuses over using drugs to cure mental disorder. Nevertheless, discussion also affirmed that cultural, gender as well as social-economic group has significant influence over the diagnosis of mental health issues. Task 2 Psychological Disorder (Depression) Symptoms Similarities & Differences Key Points with Critical Analysis Depressive disorder is regarded as one of the most common psychological disorders, which is involved with mood, feelings and thoughts of the people. Additionally, the aspect of depression highly interferes normal functioning and influence an individual to develop disorder. Individuals having the issue of depression not recognised to experience similar kind of symptoms. Additionally, in the people, strictness, frequency as well as period of symptoms differ based on the individuals’ illness. On the other hand, the functional changes that are relatively reflected during the time of depression are often regarded as neurovegetative signs. The issue of depression is relatively interconnected with mood disorder that develops the feeling of sadness and even loss of interest. Similarly, depression disorder like other psychological disorder led towards developing the feelings of sadness and event loss of interest of the suffered person over the activities that one enjoyed or love to act. Psychological disorder i.e. depressive in general is regarded as the syndrome, which reflect the group of symptoms. Furthermore, these symptoms develop the mood of sadness and irritation that exceeds the normal sadness in the people. Psychological disorder is related to depression, which is largely impacting millions of people worldwide and create huge public health problems. Depression disorder is further sub divided into two different types including endogenous depression and neurotic depression. Endogenous depression disorder relatively associated with the body as well as genetic origin. On the other hand, neurotic depression emerges due to the environmental precipitating factors that include loss of some special person in life and jobs. Moreover, this affirmed the fact that the nervous system causes brain to develop physical symptoms, which significantly resulted to diminished or appreciate activity level in a people suffering from the same. With regard to the signs and symptoms of depression, it can be affirmed that the symptoms vary from people to people from mild to severe extent. One of the most common symptoms that are found in almost all the depressive people regarding their feelings is sad mood. Moreover, in similar context, it can also be affirmed that this disorder can even enlarge to create other emotional as well as physical issues in the people and decreases their ability to function normally in working and normal life. Each of the psychological disorders has its own causes and affect, as each disorder has its own emotional as well as behavioural symptoms. More specifically, the signs and symptoms of depression has been further characterized and related to only developing negative thoughts, feelings, moods or behaviour. Besides, it also changes the functionality of the body. In this regard, it can be affirmed that the issues of depression will further create other problems like body aches, sleeping disorder, eating issues and other related problems. On the other perspective, depression or depressive disorder is one of the most common and severe medical complications or illnesses, which perceive to have negative impact over the how people feels, think as well as act. Certainly, some people can also recognise to notice effective prevention from problem through seeking psychologists and health counsellors. Additionally, the loss of the interest in certain activities that people once enjoyed to perform is another possibility of depression. On the other hand, the symptoms related to depression includes frequent development of the feelings of death, suicides and weaknesses to deal with the various situations, or emotions slow down are also been the key symptoms of depression. Relatively, in certain cases, the act of social isolation, dramatic alteration of appetite also leads to depression problems. Moreover, in this regard, the two psychological disorder i.e. depression and anxiety are mostly be interchanged and interlinked. However, people who are having the issue of depression are relatively experiencing symptoms like that of the people having the anxiety disorder. Moreover, the common symptoms include nervousness, irritability as well as sleeping and concentration issues. Besides, while concerning over the issues of depression, it can be critically argued that depression issue is likely to be noticed in the people after they faces the problem of anxiety, as the people dealing with anxiety often develop sad feelings and end up with drained and hopeless perceptions once the level of anxiety has been raised. Correspondingly, the key causes of the issue of depression are relatively known in most of the incidents. However, in many researches, psychologists reflected that it is highly linked with chemical alteration in the functioning of the brain or relatively a persons genes. Moreover, through seeking the doctor or psychiatrist and taking the medications, people are able to cope with depression to be relieved from the symptoms. Symptoms of depression includes difficulty in the level of concentrating, recognise the facts as well as the level of decisions making. Notably, the other symptoms like fatigue as well as decreased in the level of energy towards the task. Moreover, in some scenario, the felling of guilty, worthlessness and inadequate level of support along with hopelessness and pessimism develop the issue of depression. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, irritability, and restlessness are other symptoms that are recognised in the people with depression. Besides, in terms of similarity and differences in other forms of psychological disorder, it has been affirmed that most of the people who experience the problem of depression are certainly having anxiety disorders. However, there is no evidence regarding why one disorder develop the other, but it is very much clear that people who experience depression will likely to experience other disorders too. Besides, with the aspect of depression, various risk factors are associated that includes felling of loneliness, lack and inadequate social support to the people and feeling of ignorance, stressful life, impact of marital life and relationship problems. Moreover, financial strain, trauma or abuse, increase in alcohol or drug consumption, unemployment and other health problems as well as the chronic pain are other risk factors in depression disorder. In the normal life, people significantly face various difficulties in which some of the incidents relatively develop the feeling of sadness. People who are relatively unable to deal with the scenario, relatively faces the issues of depression. On the other hand, increase in the level of some psychical complications also increases the possibility of depression. As affirmed earlier that psychological disorder i.e. depression varies and it symptoms varies from people to people, but in this regard, some of the common signs and symptoms that are recognised includes helplessness and hopelessness that some people develop in their mind and accordingly, are unable to recover from different situations. Moreover, the felling of anger or irritability over certain acts and activities above the level of tolerance also tempt and make people nervous. With regard to similarity and difference, it has also been affirmed that in other forms of the psychological disorder, people have the feeling of both positive and negative impacts that are likely to happen. However, in depression, people often assume over the negative attitudes and future and does not even likely to think in the positive manner and reveal that anything in the word is worth preventing. On the contrary, it has also been highlighted that depression is not a disease rather it is an adverse psychological issue that people relatively faces in some instances. Thus, based on the approach, it can be affirmed that depression disorder can be treated with effective medications and psychological counselling and it has been evidently recognised to be an effective mean of care for most of the peoples. Source: (Sussex Directories, Inc., 2015; helpguide.org, 2015; Calm Clinic, 2015; Dryden-Edwards, 2014; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) References American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Treatment Works: Major Depressive Disorder: a Patient and Family Guide. American Psychiatric Pub. Barlow, D. & Durand, V., 2014. Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach. Cengage Learning. Cherry, K., 2015. What Is Abnormal Psychology? Abnormal Psychology. [Online] Available at: http://psychology.about.com/od/abnormalpsychology/f/abnormal-psychology.htm [Accessed May 07, 2015]. 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