Chapter 1Abnormal Psychology: An Overview
“Cultural relativist” view of abnormality - abnormality is defined within the context of the culture,
society and time period in which it occurs (e.g., homosexuality)
Family Aggregation - extent to which a particular type of disorder tends to "run in families"
“Syndrome” - a group of clinical observations or symptoms that tend to co-occur
Classification systems – are a “human” invention and NOT perfect
Nomenclature - a "naming system" used in a classification system that allows us to organize
information
Why do we need them?
1. to structure information and for communication
2. to advance research/science and gather statistical data
3. insurance reimbursement and the health care industry
Stereotyping - assuming all individuals with the same diagnosis are the same
Labeling - a diagnostic "label" stays with a person, even if it no longer accurate
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM) - the
classifications system used in the United States
DSM Definition of Abnormality - is long and complex
Our "Working Definition of Abnormality" - behavior that is maladaptive and potentially harmful
to the individual and/or others (not in book)
Atheoretical - a classification system that is not based in any particular theory (psychoanalysis,
behaviorism, or the medical model). DSM attempts to be atheoretical.
“Abnormal” - literally means "away from the norm"
Epidemiology – study of the frequency and distribution of disorders in a population
Prevalence – proportion of active cases (point, lifetime)
Incidence – rate at which new cases occur
“Comorbidity” – co-occurrence of multiple diagnoses in one individual
Case Study - an in depth study of an individual, rich in information but
subject to low reliability an other problems
Criterion group - individuals who exhibit the symptoms of a disorder
Control group - similar to the criterion group but do NOT have the disorder
Prospective vs. Retrospective studies
Retrospective - “looking back”, memory can be poor, records incomplete, and we tend to find
what we are looking for
Prospective - identifies “at risk” persons and follows them over time, a better method
Correlation and causation - even though two things (e.g., stress and depression) are
correlated, we can NOT assume that one causes the other
Experimental method – most "rigorous" type of study. Typical “treatment outcome” study is“
experimental
Independent variable – treatment conditions (e.g., therapy vs. no therapy)
Dependent variable – outcome measure (e.g., decrease in symptoms in the two groups)
Ethical Issues - are always present in treatment outcome studies (e.g., waiting list or placebo
groups).
ABAB Design - a single case experimental design in which a "baseline" is established, a
therapy is put in place, then removed, then put in place again.
Analogue studies – research with “nonclinical” populations, animal or “non-clinical
humans,” also temporarily inducing symptoms in animals or humans.