Health Psychology Stress Coping and Well-Being Psychological Disorders

Psychological Disorders

Word Count (excluding subheadings and questions): 836

First Assignment

Option 1 - Perspectives on Psychological Disorder

Medical Perspective: Webpage: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-illness/DS01104

The medical perspective on psychological disorders proposes that abnormal behavior can have a root physiological cause. Physiological causes of abnormal behavior include chemical imbalances or brain injuries. Changes in brain biochemistry can affect a mood and personality which can be seen as a symptom of mental disorder. Causes of brain chemistry changes include viruses, toxins, or brain injury. Brain tumors are a good example of a medical condition that may interrupt chemical production and neurotransmitters which could result in behavior that is out of the ordinary for a particular patient. The medical perspective is valid and useful as abnormal behavior can be diagnosed and treated through medical examination.

Sociocultural perspective: Webpage: http://www.thehormoneshop.com/mentalillness.htm

The sociocultural perspective emphasizes the effect that social context has on behavior and attitudes toward behavior. From this viewpoint, a particular behavior could be viewed as "normal" within one social group and "abnormal" in another. The social setting is seen as one that not only supports or accepts certain behavior, that may be seen as abnormal outside the social context, but may teach them or pass them down to younger members. The context can include economic, social, or cultural factors. This perspective is supported by research. For example, studies have documented increased occurrences of mental illness among impoverish communities. Another example includes a heightened rate of mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among groups of people who experience extremely stressful situations such as unemployment, natural disaster, or war.

Option 2 - How do you know you are normal?

Szasz theory: The Myth of Mental Illness

Webpage: http://www.all-about-psychology.com/the-myth-of-mental-illness.html

Thomas Szasz purports that contemporary beliefs about mental illness are fundamentally flawed in that they are based on the idea that mental illness is a disorder of the nervous system or can be explained as a "disease." Contrastly, Szasz believed that "mental illness" is not an "illness" at all but simply odd behavior. The distinction he makes is between "having a disease" and "doing" something that is considered by society as odd or strange. For him a person who displays odd behavior does not necessarily have anything wrong with his/her mental abilities.

The Rosenhan research: Webpage: http://www.bonkersinstitute.org/rosenhan.html

Psychologist David Rosenhan conducted research, entitled, "On Being Sane in Insane Places," in 1973 that looked into the validity of psychiatric diagnosis. The research was conducted in a two parts. The first part involved the admission of healthy "pseudo-patients" into mental hospitals who were misdiagnosed as having ongoing mental illness. And the second part included an exercise that resulted in mental health workers misidentifying ill patients as "healthy" ones. Concluding the study, Rosenhan believed that sane patients could not be distinguished from the insane and warned of dehumanizing practices found in psychiatric institutions. His conclusions have been influential in the field of psychiatry. He recommended greater education and renewed efforts in diagnoses, labeling, and treatment approaches.

Second Assignment

Psychophysiological Disorder Chapter 14, p.485; Webpage: http://www.slideshare.net/dennis43/psychophysiological-disorders-thomas-g-bowers-phd

Psychophysiological disorders are conditions where the emotional or psychological state of the patient can cause or make worse physical symptoms or disease. Unlike hypochondria, a psychological disorder whereas the patient perceives illness, pain, or symptoms that do not actually exist, psychophysiological disorders produce physical harm to the body. Psychophysiological disorders are also called psychosomatic disorders. Physical symptoms can show throughout the body including skin irritations, digestive problems, or hallucinations. Physical symptoms affected by emotional stress can include nausea, tension headaches, ulcers, asthma, chest pain, or anorexia. Psychosomatic illnesses can be very serious and even result in death.

Treatment of Psychophysiological disorders addresses not only the physical symptoms but seek to discover the root emotional or psychological cause. This holistic approach includes such treatment as relaxation techniques, meditation, and biofeedback. Doctors who treat Psychophysiological patients also look into harmful life patterns such as smoking, obesity or other stress causing factors that can be eliminated or reduce in order to have a positive health outcome.

Psychoneuroimmunology and Stress Chapter 14, p. 487

Webpage: http://www.apa.org/monitor/jun02/brightfuture.aspx

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a field of study that is primarily concerned with the relationship between the nervous and immune systems, and the relationship between mental and physical health. Similar to Psychophysiological medicine, Psychoneuroimmunology has an interdisciplinary approach to healing. This field involves studies in psychology, immunology, endocrinology, physiology, and more.