Abnormal

=Abnormal psychology=

Introduction

 * Abnormal psychology focuses on diagnosing, explaining and treating humans suffering from psychological disorders. This option begins with a consideration of normal and abnormal behaviour. An understanding of issues related to diagnosis provides a framework for the subsequent study of disorders and therapeutic approaches. **
 * Although there are numerous psychological disorders this option focuses on the following three groups of disorders: **
 * ** anxiety (//for example, agoraphobia//) **
 * ** affective //(for example, depression)// **
 * ** eating (//for example, bulimia//). **


 * By studying one disorder from two of these groups of disorders, students are encouraged to develop an awareness of the range of psychological disorders. This approach embraces the etiology, symptoms and prevalence of each disorder. As a consequence of this understanding, it is possible to administer effective treatments while at the same time having an appreciation of relevant cultural and gender variations. **


 * Therapeutic approaches to treating disorders may be broadly organized into three groups: **
 * ** biomedical therapies (//for example, drug therapy//) **
 * ** individual psychological therapies (//for example, systematic desensitization, cognitive restructuring therapy//) **
 * ** group psychological therapies //(for example, encounter groups, family therapy, community‑based therapy)//. **

Source: D//iploma Programme Psychology Guide for first exams 2011//, International Baccalaureate Organization 2009
 * Therapies from each of these approaches involve the use of specific techniques that need to be applied appropriately. These approaches should reflect a considerable degree of efficacy and ethical appropriateness to the specific disorder. **

=Learning outcomes=

General framework (applicable to all topics in the option)
We will examine these learning outcomes in the context of all the specific learning outcomes listed below. Once we reach the end of this unit, we will look at how you would answer these as essay questions, selecting the most relevant information from the work you have completed.


 * To what extent do biological, cognitive and sociocultural factors influence abnormal behaviour? **

This would be an essay question. You can answer it in the context of just depression, or you could discuss it through depression and anorexia. It is important that you use the Walker-Tessner model here. **Overview** > > This essay might also be worded: //To what extent does the biological level of analysis explain abnormal behavior?// __**OR**__ //To what extent do biological factors influence the etiologies of abnormal behavior?//
 * All psychologists take a bidirectional approach to explaining behavior, no matter what level of analysis they begin with
 * Causation of any disorder is complex
 * Depression can be linked both to a genetic predisposition and to the impact of biochemical factors such as serotonin.
 * However cognitive and social factors can increase the likelihood of manifestations of depression
 * Walker-Tessner model – discusses causation as a combination of factors

**Evaluate psychological research (that is, theories and/or studies) relevant to the study of abnormal behaviour. **

Abnormal behavior covers the topics of: So - an essay question on research could focus on the whole area in general, OR on any one of these specific topics.
 * 1) Etiology
 * 2) Symptoms and prevalence
 * 3) Implementation of treatment

Concepts and diagnosis

 * 1) Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality.
 * 2) Discuss validity and reliability of diagnosis.
 * 3) Discuss cultural and ethical considerations in diagnosis (for example, cultural variation, stigmatization).

Psychological disorders
For the first 2 learning outcomes in this category we are required to choose 1 disorder from (each of) two of the following groups: Affective disorders; Eating disorders; and Anxiety disorders. Thus we will look closely at TWO disorders. Our class will explore //major depressive disorder// from Affective disorders, and //anorexia nervosa// from Eating disorders


 * 1) Describe symptoms and prevalence of one disorder from two groups
 * Depression - Click on the Depression page
 * Anorexia
 * 1) Analyse etiologies (in terms of biological, cognitive and/or sociocultural factors) of one disorder from two groups
 * Depression - Click on <span class="wiki_link">the Depression page
 * Anorexia
 * 1) Discuss cultural and gender variations in prevalence of disorders.
 * Depression - Click on <span class="wiki_link">the Depression page
 * Anorexia

Implementing treatment

 * Examine biomedical, individual and group approaches to treatment. **
 * [[file:Approaches to treatment.docx]]

Evaluate the use of biomedical, individual and group approaches to the treatment of one disorder.

**Discuss the use of eclectic approaches to treatment.**


 * A student outline for you to assess [[file:Discuss the use of eclectic approaches to treatment.docx]]


 * Discuss the relationship between etiology and therapeutic approach in relation to one disorder. **