MCP 815: INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION
Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
To define key terms used in the study of psychopathology, describe the compassionate view and
perspective of psychological disorders.
Sub-topics: definitions of terms, views and perspectives of psychological disorders
Definition of terms
Psychological disorder is a condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors.
Psychopathology is the study of psychological disorders, including their symptoms,
etiology/origin (i.e., their causes), and treatment. The term psychopathology can also refer to the
manifestation of a psychological disorder
Co – morbidity- co-occurrence of two disorders in the same individual
Diagnosis - determination of which disorder a set of symptoms represents
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) authoritative
index of mental disorders and the criteria for their diagnosis; published by the American
Psychiatric Association (APA)
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) authoritative index of mental and physical
diseases, including infectious diseases, and the criteria for their diagnosis; published by the World
Health Organization (WHO)
The compassionate view of psychological disorders - argues that:
1. Psychological disorders represent extremes of inner experience and behavior. These
episodes should not be considered problematic unless the accompanying thoughts and
behaviors become extreme and have a disruptive effect on one’s life.
2. People with psychological disorders are not embodiments/examples of their disorders.
Terms such as schizophrenics, depressives, or phobics are not labels that objectify people
who suffer from these conditions. There should be no biases and disparaging assumptions
about them. It is important to remember that a psychological disorder is not what a person
is; it is something that a person has—through no fault of his or her own. As is the case
with cancer or diabetes, those with psychological disorders suffer debilitating, often painful
conditions that are not of their own choosing. These individuals deserve to be viewed and
treated with compassion, understanding, and dignity.
Perspectives on psychological disorders - Mental health professionals may adopt different
perspectives in attempting to understand or explain the underlying mechanisms that contribute to
the development of a psychological disorder. The perspective used in explaining a psychological
disorder is extremely important, in that it will consist of explicit assumptions regarding how best
to study and deal the disorder; its etiology, and what kinds of therapies or treatments are most
beneficial. Different perspectives provide alternate ways for how to think about the nature of
psychopathology:
1. Supernatural perspectives of psychological disorders
This perspective attributes mental disorders to divine forces beyond scientific understanding.
Those afflicted were thought to be practitioners of black magic or are possessed demons/evil
spirits, cursed, defied the gods, paying back for sins, disobedience. Some cultures continue to hold
this supernatural belief.
2. Biological perspectives of psychological disorders
- Linked to biological phenomena, such as genetic factors, chemical imbalances, and brain
abnormalities;
- It has gained considerable attention and acceptance in recent decades (Wyatt & Midkiff,
2006).
- Several studies indicates that most psychological disorders have a genetic component; i.e.
heritable.
- Researchers are searching for specific genes and genetic mutations that contribute to mental
disorders.
- Neural imaging technology has revealed how abnormalities in brain structure and function
might be directly involved in many disorders,
- neurotransmitters and hormones have possible connections with mental disorders
- The biological perspective is key in the study of psychological disorders.
3. The diathesis-stress model of psychological disorders
- Many psychological disorders develop not from a single cause, but from a delicate fusion
between partly biological and partly psychosocial factors.
- The diathesis-stress model (Zuckerman, 1999) integrates biological and psychosocial factors
to predict the likelihood of a disorder.
- This diathesis-stress model suggests that people with an underlying predisposition for a
disorder are more likely to develop a disorder when faced with adverse environmental or
psychological events (i.e., stress), such as childhood maltreatment, negative life events,
trauma, etc.
- A diathesis is not always a biological vulnerability to an illness; some diatheses may be
psychological (e.g., a tendency to think about life events in a pessimistic, self-defeating way).
- The key assumption of the diathesis-stress model is that both factors, diathesis and stress, are
necessary in the development of a disorder; the different level of stress needed to produce the
disorder is inversely proportional to the level of diathesis.
ACTIVITY: Discuss mental illness from your cultural perspective and describe how mentally ill
people are taken care off in your culture
SUMMARY: Psychopathology is the study of psychological disorders. Individuals experiencing
psychological disorders ought to be viewed from a compassionate perspective. To effectively
support such individual there is need to understand the cultural perspective of the disorder.