Chapter 1 (introduction and Historical overview) Flashcards
(50 cards)
Stigma has four characteristics:
- A label is applied to a group of people that distinguishes them from others (e.g., “crazy”).
- The label is linked to deviant or undesirable attributes by society (e.g., crazy people are dangerous).
- People with the label are seen as essentially different from those without the label, contributing to an “us” versus “them” mentality (e.g., we are not like those crazy people).
- People with the label are discriminated against unfairly (e.g., a clinic for crazy people can’t be built in our neighborhood).
Stigma
refers to the destructive beliefs and attitudes held by a society that are ascribed to groups considered different in some manner, such as people with psychological disorders.
Knowing more about a psychological disorder leads to..
greater desire for more social distance from people with some psychological disorders
Two factors that can reduce stigma are
- Contact (coming in contact reduces stigma)
- Fimilariarity (knowing someone with a severe mental illness)
The DSM-5-TR definition of mental disorder includes the following:
- The disorder occurs within the individual.
- It involves clinically significant difficulties in thinking, feeling, or behaving.
- It usually involves personal distress of some sort, such as in social relationships or occupational
functioning. - It involves dysfunction in psychological, developmental, and/or neurobiological processes that
support mental functioning. - It is not a culturally specific reaction to an event (e.g., death of a loved one).
- It is not primarily a result of social deviance or conflict with society.
What is personal distress in the context of psychological disorders?
Personal distress refers to a person’s behavior being classified as disordered if it causes significant distress, such as anxiety or sadness. For example, Felicia felt distress about her difficulty in paying attention and social consequences, while Jose felt distress due to fear of popping balloons.
How is disability related to psychological disorders?
Disability refers to impairment in important areas of life, such as work or relationships. For example, substance use disorders can lead to social or occupational disability, and phobias can prevent activities like traveling. However, not all psychological disorders cause disability, such as with bulimia nervosa, where people may not experience impairment.
What is the definition of dysfunction in psychological disorders?
Dysfunction refers to when something isn’t working as it should, especially in the brain and behavior. According to the DSM-5-TR, developmental, psychological, and biological dysfunctions are interrelated, meaning the brain affects behavior and vice versa, leading to dysfunction in both areas.
How were unusual behaviors explained before the age of scientific inquiry?
Before scientific inquiry, unusual behaviors were often attributed to supernatural causes, such as the displeasure of the gods or possession by demons. Natural events like eclipses and diseases were also seen as supernatural manifestations beyond human control.
What was the practice of exorcism and how was it used to treat troubled behavior?
Exorcism was the ritualistic casting out of evil spirits, believed to be causing abnormal behavior. It often included elaborate rites such as prayer, noisemaking, and forced consumption of unpleasant brews. In extreme cases, measures like flogging and starvation were used to expel demons from the afflicted person.
How did Hippocrates contribute to the understanding of psychological disorders?
Hippocrates, often considered the father of modern medicine, separated mental illness from superstition and believed psychological disorders had natural causes. He proposed that imbalances in bodily fluids, or humors (blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm), led to disorders. He also viewed the brain as the organ responsible for conscious thought and emotion, laying the foundation for the idea that physical health impacts mental health.
What happened to the understanding of psychological disorders during the Dark Ages?
During the Dark Ages, after the death of Galen, the Church gained influence, and supernatural explanations for psychological disorders reemerged. Monks in monasteries cared for the sick, using prayers, relics, and potions. However, in the Islamic world, figures like al-Razi and Ibn Sina continued the influence of Galen, treating psychological disorders with more advanced, clinical methods and describing conditions similar to modern-day diagnoses.
What were lunacy trials, and how were they conducted in 13th-century England?
Lunacy trials, held from the 13th century in England, were legal proceedings to determine a person’s mental health. These trials focused on the person’s memory, intellect, and behavior. If a person was judged insane, the Crown could take guardianship of their estate. The term “lunacy” comes from Paracelsus’ theory that odd behavior was caused by a misalignment of the moon and stars.
asylums
nused leprosy hospitals were converted to asylums, refuges for the housing and care of people with psychological disorders.
What was the history of St. Mary of Bethlehem (Bedlam) and its role in the treatment of people with psychological disorders?
St. Mary of Bethlehem, founded in 1243, became a notorious hospital for people with psychological disorders. By the 18th century, it became a tourist attraction, with visitors paying to view the patients. The conditions were poor, and treatments were often crude and painful. For example, Benjamin Rush, an early American psychiatrist, believed psychological disorders were caused by excess blood in the brain, and he used bloodletting and frightening treatments to “cure” patients.
What reforms did Philippe Pinel introduce in the treatment of people with psychological disorders?
Philippe Pinel is known for advocating more humane treatment for people with psychological disorders. While in charge of La Bicêtre asylum, he promoted compassionate care, replacing harsh conditions like chains with light rooms and purposeful activities. However, historical research shows that it was Jean-Baptiste Pussin, a former patient, who first removed the chains. Pinel reserved the most humane treatment for the upper classes, while lower-class patients still faced coercion and straitjackets.
What was moral treatment, and why was it abandoned?
Moral treatment was a humane approach to mental health care in the 19th century, where patients had close contact with attendants, engaged in purposeful activities, and led lives as normal as possible. It was practiced in institutions like the Friends’ Asylum and Hartford Retreat. However, it was largely abandoned as larger public hospitals, promoted by Dorothea Dix, were created to accommodate more people, but they lacked the small, individualized care that characterized moral treatment.
How did discoveries in brain anatomy in the 19th and early 20th centuries contribute to understanding psychological disorders?
By the mid-1800s, discoveries linked specific brain areas to behavior. Paul Broca identified the left frontal lobe as essential for speaking, and Carl Wernicke linked the temporal lobe to speech comprehension. The identification of syphilis as a brain infection causing general paresis showed how brain damage could lead to psychological disorders. These findings established causal links between brain abnormalities and behavior, lending credibility to biological approaches to understanding psychological disorders.
How did Francis Galton’s work on genetics contribute to the study of psychological disorders, and what controversial movement did he help create?
Francis Galton, considered the originator of genetic research, studied twins and linked many behavioral traits to heredity. He coined the terms “nature” (genetics) and “nurture” (environment). His work led to early studies on the heritability of psychological disorders like schizophrenia and depression. However, Galton is also credited with creating the eugenics movement, which sought to eliminate “undesirable” traits from the population, leading to forced sterilization and other harmful practices, particularly in the U.S. during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Was originated by two Italian physicians, Ugo Cerletti and Lucino Bini. Cerletti was interested in epilepsy and was seeking a way to induce seizures experimentally. He found that by applying electric shocks to the sides of the human head he could produce full epileptic seizures. Then, in Rome in 1938, he used the technique on a person with schizophrenia.
Who was Charcot and how did he influence the treatment of hysteria?
Charcot, a prominent figure in Parisian society, became interested in psychological interpretations of hysteria after observing symptoms in women. His support of hypnosis as a treatment for hysteria helped legitimize it among medical professionals during his time.
What was the main treatment method used by Josef Breuer for Anna O.?
Josef Breuer used hypnosis to help Anna O. recall and express repressed emotions, which led to symptom relief. This method became known as the cathartic method.
What did Breuer and Freud’s 1895 publication Studies in Hysteria primarily focus on?
The publication focused on hysteria, especially the case of Anna O., and the idea that repressed memories and emotions could cause psychological symptoms.
