Abnormal Behaviour

What is abnormal behavior? Well, there is no one right answer. Many definitions exist but none are entirely satisfactory. 

Abnormal behavior may be defined as behavior that is disturbing (socially  unacceptable), distressing, maladaptive (or self‐defeating), and often the    result of distorted thoughts (cognitions). Several perspectives (models,    approaches derived from data) and theories attempt to explain the causes of  abnormal behavior.

The medical perspective. Those who hold a medical perspective focus on biological and physiological factors as causes of abnormal behavior, which is treated as a disease, or mental illness, and is diagnosed through symptoms and cured through treatment. Hospitalization and drugs are often preferred methods of treatment rather than psychological investigation.

·         The biological approach to psychopathology believes that disorders have an organic or physical cause. The focus of this approach is on genetics, neurotransmitters, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy etc. The approach argues that mental disorders are related to the physical structure and functioning of the brain.

·         Behaviors such as hallucinations are 'symptoms' of mental illness as are suicidal ideas or extreme fears such as phobias about snakes and so on.  Different illnesses can be identified as 'syndromes', clusters of symptoms that go together and are caused by the illness.

·         These symptoms lead the psychiatrist to make a 'diagnosis' for example this patient is suffering from a severe psychosis, he is suffering from the medical condition we call schizophrenia.

Appropriateness

·         Drugs do not deal with the cause of the problem, they only reduce the symptoms.

·         Anti psychotics produce a range of side effects including motor tremors and weight gain. These lead a proportion of patients to discontinue treatment.

·         Patients often welcome drug therapy, as it is quicker, easier and less threatening than talk therapy.

·         Some drugs cause dependency.

·         Ethical issues including informed consent, and the dehumanizing effects of some treatments.

Evaluation of the Medical Model

Strengths:

• It is objective, being based on mature biological science.

• It has given insight into the causes of some conditions, such as GPI and Alzheimer's disease, an organic condition causing confusion in the elderly.

• Treatment is quick and, relative to alternatives, cheap and easy to administer. It has proved to be effective in controlling serious mental illness like schizophrenia allowing patients who would otherwise have to remain in hospital to live at home.

• The sickness label has reduced the fear of those with mental disorders. Historically, they were thought to be possessed by evil spirits or the devil – especially women who were burned as witches!

Weaknesses:

• The treatments have serious side-effects, for example ECT can cause memory loss, and they are not always effective. Drugs may not 'cure' the condition, but simply act as a chemical straitjacket.

• The failure to find convincing physical causes for most mental illnesses must throw the validity of the medical model into question, for example affective disorders and neuroses. For this reason, many mental disorders are called 'functional'. The test case is schizophrenia but even here genetic or neurochemical explanations are inconclusive. The medical model is therefore focused on physical causes and largely ignores environmental or psychological causes.

• There are also ethical problems in labelling someone mentally ill – Szasz says that, apart from identified diseases of the brain, most so-called mental disorders are really problems of living. Labelling can lead to discrimination and loss of rights.

• The medical model has been the one that has been most influential in determining the way that mentally disturbed people are treated, but most psychologists would say that at best, it only provides a partial explanation, and may even be totally inappropriate.

 My clinnical experiences says that 70% of psychological issues can be treated without medication which are not severe like anxiety, depression somataform disorder, headache ect. Sometimes psychiatrist makes diagnose wrong because of lack of time. As a result, drug can be harmful for patient.  Medical Model is not completely fit to describe the abnormal behavior and treatment.

The Mind And Behavior Clinic