Prevalence –
the number of active cases in a population during any given
period of time
Prevalence is typically expressed as percentages
Different types of prevalence estimates include point
prevalence, one-year prevalence, and lifetime prevalence
Epidemiology –
the study of the distribution of diseases, disorders, or health-
related behaviors in a given population
Incidence –
the number of new cases in a population over a given period of
time
Incidence figures are typically lower than prevalence figures,
because they exclude already existing cases
Psychopathology - the field
concerned with the nature,
development & treatment of
mental disorders
HISTORY!
Demonology - the doctrine that an evil spirit or
being can dwell within a person and control
their mind/body
led to exorcism - the ritualistic casting out of spirits
Early Biological explanations - Hippocrates
mental disorders into 3 categories; mania, melancholia & phrenitis/brain fever
personal unconsciousness, collective unconsciousness (common to all humans)
extraversion, introversion
Alfred & individual psychology
people tied to their society as fulfilment found by doing things for social good
believe thinking rationally leads to feeling & behaving better
Childhood experiences shape adult personality
There are unconscious influences on behavior.
The causes & purposes of human behavior are
not always obvious
Behaviorism (observable behavior)
Classical conditioning , Ivan Pavlov
UCS, UCR, CS, CR, extinction
stimulus,response
Operant conditioning (Edward Thorndike)
effects of consequences on behavior
law of effect - behavior rewarded will be repeated, vice versa
B.F. Skinner - reinforcements
Positive reinforcement: presence of something strengthens tendency to repeat behavior
Negative reinforcement: absence of something strengthens tendency to repeat behavior
Modeling
Bandura, Menlove - reduce fear in dogs of children
behavior therapy
attempt to change behavior, thoughts & feelings by applying methods used in clinical context
systematic desensitization (Wolpe) 1. deep muscle relaxation, 2. gradual exposure to list of fears
intermittent reinforcement (rewarding it only some times)
Cognitive therapy
Aaron Beck
Ellis's rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
sustained emotional reactions due to
internal sentences repeated to
themselves
reflect unspoken assumptions
eliminates self-defeating beliefs
Stigma - destructive beliefs &
attitudes held by a society
ascribed to groups considered
different in some manner
4 Characteristics of Stigma
1. Label is applied to people who are different, distinguishing them from others
2. Label is linked to undesirable attributes by society
3. People with the label are seen as different, creating "us VS them" mentality
4. Discrimination against the labelled occurs
Fighting against stigma; strategies
Insurance coverage, policies & laws
Employment, decriminalization
Housing, personal contact, education
support&advocacy groups, mental health evaluations, edu+training
Defining Mental Disorder
Difficult but fundamental to do so.
occurs within the individual.
personal distress or disorder
not culturally specific to events
not primarily due to social dev.
Key characteristics
Personal distress
Disability
Violation of social norms (deviance)
Dysfunction
APA Definition : A clinically significant behavioural or psychological syndrome or a pattern that occurs in an
individual and is associated with present distress (e.g. a painful symptom) or disability (i.e.
impairment in one or more important areas of functioning) or with a significantly increased risk of
suffering death pain, disability or an important loss of freedom. In addition, this syndrome or pattern
must not be merely an expectable and culturally sanctioned response to a particular event, for
example, the death of a loved one. Whatever its original cause, it must currently be considered a
manifestation of a behavioural, psychological or biological dysfunction in the individual.
Mental Health Profession
Clinical psychologists must have a PHD or psy.d ~ 4-8 yrs of graduate study
learn techniques of assessment & diagnosis of psychopathology, +psychotherapy