This document discusses the diagnosis and classification of psychological problems. It outlines three proposed definitions of abnormal psychology: conformity to norms, subjective distress, and disability or dysfunction. It then discusses the importance of diagnosis, noting that diagnosis allows for communication of information, ensures comparability, enables research, and may suggest effective treatments. The document concludes by explaining the multiaxial assessment used in the DSM-IV, which evaluates multiple domains or axes to aid in treatment planning and predicting outcomes.

1. DIAGNOSIS AND CLASSIFICATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

2. What is abnormal behavior?

3. Some reasons that abnormal behavior is hard to define... No single descriptive feature is shared by all forms of abnormal behavior, and no one criterion for “abnormality” is sufficient. No discrete boundary exists between normal and abnormal behavior

5. dangerous behavior

7. CONFORMITY TO NORMS: Statistical Infrequency or Violation of Social Norms When a person’s behavior becomes patently deviant, outrageous, or otherwise nonconforming, then he or she is more likely to be categorized as “abnormal.”

13. Advantages of this Definition The statistical infrequency approach is appealing because it establishes cutoff points that are quantitative in nature. If the cutoff point on a scale is 80 and an individual scores 75, the decision to label that individual’s behavior as abnormal is relatively forward.

14. Subjective Distress Focuses on the subjective feelings and sense of well-being of the individual. Crucial consideration: whether the person feels tranquil/troubled, happy/sad, fulfilled/barren. If the person is anxiety-ridden, then he or she is malajusted regardless of whether the anxiety seems to produce overt behaviors that are deviant in some way.

15. Disability or Dysfunction For a behavior to be considered abnormal, it must create some degree of social (interpersonal) or occupational problems for the individual. For example: A lack of friendship or of relationships because of a lack interpersonal contact (social dysfunction).

16. Important points: Abnormal behavior does not necessarlity indicate mental illness.

17. Mental Illness/Mental Disorder(DSM-IV-TR) Is conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that 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 important loss of freedom.

18. In addition, this syndrome or pattern must not be merely an expectable and culturally sanctioned response to a particular event. Whatever its original cause, it must currently be considered a manifestation of a behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the individual.

19. Neither deviant behavior (e.g., religious, political, or sexual) nor conflicts that are primarily between the individual and society are mental disorders unless the deviance or conflict is a symptom of the dysfunction in the individual as described above.

20. Important points: The syndrome (cluster of abnormal behaviors) must be associated with distress, disability, or increased risk of problems. (b) A mental disorder is considered to represent a dysfunction within an individual (c) Not all deviant behaviors or conflicts with society are signs of mental disorder.

21. The Importance of Diagnosis The diagnosis of mental disorders is an expert level of categorization used by mental health professionals that enables us to make important distinctions.

24. DSM-IV DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION Is a multiaxial assessment. Each of these axes/domains should aid in treatment planning and prediction of outcome.

25. Axis I- is used to indicate the presence of any of the clinical disorders and mental retardations. Axis II- two classes of diagnoses: personality disorders and mental retardation.

26. MULTIAXIAL ASSESSMENT Axis III- is used to highlight any current medical condition that may be relevant to the conceptualization or treatment of an individual’s Axis I or Axis II clinical disorder. Axis IV- psychosocial and environmental problems relevant to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

27. Axis V- quantitative estimate (1 to 100) of an individual’s overall level of functioning.