Psychopathology

by Stirling; John

• ISBN13: 9780415192705
• ISBN10: 0415192706
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-06-21
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Psychopathologyis a concise introduction to the major classes of adult mental illness. Beginning with a historical overview, the authors consider how mental abnormality can be defined, reviewing the main classification systems and the issues raised in classification and diagnosis. Schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety and eating disorders are explored with a description of the main features of illness, and the signs, symptoms and effects of behavior for the patient as well as the impact on relatives and friends. The book brings these issues to life in a series of case studies which draw on the considerable clinical experience of both authors. Offering helpful textbook features to assist in examination and learning techniques,Psychopathologyprovides valuable information for introductory psychology students as well as nurses, social workers, special needs teachers, and other professionals in the caring services.

Table of Contents

List of tables	xiii
Acknowledgements	xv
A framework for scientific psychopathology	1	(10)
Introduction	1	(1)
Historical background	2	(1)
Mental derangement of mental illness?	2	(1)
Moral treatment	3	(1)
The modern era: brain or mind?	3	(2)
The twentieth century and science	5	(1)
The stress-diathesis model	6	(1)
What is abnormal?	6	(3)
Statistical infrequencies	7	(1)
Violation of norms	7	(1)
Maladaptive behaviour	8	(1)
Personal distress	8	(1)
Comment	8	(1)
Summary	9	(2)
Classification and paradigms of abnormal behaviour	11	(12)
Introduction	11	(1)
The ICD and DSM	12	(1)
The DSM axes	12	(2)
Criticisms of ICD and DSM	14	(3)
Reliability	15	(1)
Validity	15	(1)
Categorical versus dimensional approaches	16	(1)
Paradigms of scientific psychopathology	17	(2)
Crossing boundaries in psychopathology	19	(1)
Summary	20	(3)
The nature of schizophrenia	23	(14)
Introduction	23	(1)
Clinical picture	23	(3)
Onset	26	(1)
Course	27	(1)
Factors associated with good outcome	27	(1)
Factors associated with poor outcome	28	(1)
Epidemiology	28	(1)
Subtypes of schizophrenia	29	(5)
Four subtypes	29	(1)
Positive and negative symptoms	30	(1)
The three syndrome model	30	(1)
Two phases of illness	30	(4)
Treatment	34	(1)
Summary	35	(2)
Aetiology of schizophrenia	37	(14)
Introduction	37	(1)
Biological approaches	38	(6)
Genetic factors	38	(2)
Brain structure and schizophrenia	40	(2)
Brain function and schizophrenia	42	(2)
Psychological approaches	44	(4)
Psychodynamic explanations	44	(1)
Family theories	45	(1)
Expressed emotion (EE)	46	(1)
The cognitive---neuropsychological approach	47	(1)
Summary	48	(3)
The nature of affective disorders	51	(16)
Introduction	51	(1)
Depression	52	(1)
Major depressive illness: the clinical picture	52	(4)
Minor depressive states: the clinical picture	56	(1)
Mood disorders associated with childbirth	57	(1)
Mania: the clinical picture	58	(4)
Hypomania	59	(1)
Bipolar affective disorder	59	(3)
Epidemiology of the affective disorders	62	(1)
Treatment	62	(2)
Prognosis	64	(1)
Summary	64	(3)
Aetiology of the affective disorders	67	(12)
Introduction	67	(1)
Psychological approaches	68	(4)
Early childhood experiences	68	(1)
Psychosocial stress factors	68	(1)
Learned helplessness/hopelessness	69	(1)
Cognitive factors	70	(2)
Biological approaches	72	(3)
Genetic research	72	(1)
Neurotransmitter abnormalities	73	(2)
Summary	75	(4)
The anxiety disorders and obsessional states	79	(12)
Introduction	79	(1)
The experience of anxiety	80	(1)
Phobias	81	(4)
Specific phobias	81	(1)
Social phobia	82	(1)
Agoraphobia and panic disorder	82	(3)
Generalised anxiety	85	(1)
Adjustment reaction	85	(1)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)	85	(2)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)	87	(1)
Treatment	88	(1)
Summary	88	(3)
Aetiology of anxiety disorders	91	(10)
Introduction	91	(1)
Psychological theories	92	(4)
Psychodynamic approaches	92	(1)
Conditioning theories	92	(1)
Two-process theory	93	(1)
Preparedness	94	(1)
Cognitive approaches	95	(1)
Biological mechanisms	96	(2)
The evolutionary basis of anxiety	96	(1)
Genetic mechanisms	97	(1)
Neurotransmitter dysfunction	97	(1)
A stress-diathesis model	98	(1)
Summary	98	(3)
Eating disorders	101	(12)
Introduction	101	(1)
Anorexia nervosa	102	(5)
Clinical features	102	(2)
Treatment	104	(1)
Prognosis	104	(3)
Bulimia nervosa	107	(3)
Clinical features	107	(1)
Treatment	108	(1)
Prognosis	108	(2)
Summary	110	(3)
Vulnerability and perpetuating factors in eating disorders	113	(8)
Introduction	113	(1)
Vulnerability factors	113	(4)
Perpetuating factors	117	(1)
Summary	118	(3)
Criticisms of psychopathology	121	(10)
Introduction	121	(1)
Mental illness does not exist	122	(2)
Szasz's 'myth of mental illness'	122	(1)
Comment	123	(1)
Mental illness as a deliberate response	124	(2)
Early psycho-social models	124	(1)
Comment	125	(1)
Disease, syndrome or symptoms?	126	(1)
The right level of enquiry	126	(1)
Comment	127	(1)
Categorical versus dimensional classification	127	(1)
A mental health continuum?	127	(1)
Too much or too little science?	128	(1)
Summary	129	(2)
The future of psychopathology	131	(6)
Introduction	131	(1)
Unravelling brain--behaviour interactions	132	(1)
More eclecticism	133	(1)
Genetic mechanisms and testing	133	(1)
New treatments	134	(1)
Greater use of imaging techniques	134	(1)
Care for people with a mental illness	135	(1)
Summary	136	(1)
Three research reviews	137	(8)
Introduction	137	(1)
International pilot study of schizophrenia	138	(2)
Treatment of depression collaborative research programme	140	(2)
Effect of 'apparent control' on panic attacks	142	(3)
Study aids	145	(10)
Improving your essay writing skills	145	(8)
Practice essay 1	146	(4)
Practice essay 2	150	(3)
Final points	153	(2)
Glossary	155	(6)
Bibliography	161	(10)
Index	171