Abnormal Psychology Paper

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Pages: 4

The field of abnormal psychology encompasses disorders including: disorders diagnosed in infancy and childhood; emotional and affective disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar; personality disorders, eating disorders, sexual identity disorders and substance abuse disorders among others. The DSM-V and ICD-10 are the most widely used systems for categorizing and describing mental health disorders encapsulated within abnormal psychology.
In looking at disorders first diagnosed in childhood, my Critical annotation of the book “Abnormal Child Psychology” was focused on developmental and learning disorders. Developmental and learning disorders, captures intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders and childhood onset schizophrenia
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Cluster A is consisted of paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders where individuals diagnosed with these disorders share the characteristic of being “odd or eccentric” (DSM-V, 2013, p. 646). The disorders in cluster B are antisocial, borderline, histrionic and narcissistic as individuals with these are usually considered “dramatic, emotional or erratic” (DSM-V, 2013, p. 646). Cluster C on the other hand, encompasses avoidant, dependent and obsessive compulsive personality disorders where individuals having these disorder “appear anxious or fearful” (DSM-V, 2013, p. …show more content…
The term anorexia nervosa was coined by Gull in the 1870’s. Anorexia has been thought of and viewed by Burch a psychoanalyst as being representative of a struggle for control where the “limitation of food intake might be one of the only ways the anorexic could feel in control of her life” (Worobey, Tepper & Kanarek, 2006, p. 211). Anorexia is defined by criteria inclusive of; having a body weight of 85% or less of what their minimal body weight should be, having a distorted body image in terms of perception and physical appearance. In terms of prevalence, anorexia is more commonly found in females predominantly during the adolescent phase. Among the identified physiological consequences associated with anorexia are; gastrointestinal, hematological, cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric and osteopathic.
In treating eating disorders, a multidimensional approach is recommended and may include medical management, psychiatric and psychological services. Psychological techniques/approaches deemed efficacious in treating eating disorders includes; family therapy, cognitive behavior therapy and interpersonal therapy. Correspondingly, psychopharmacological treatments used include appetite stimulants, neuroleptics and antidepressants where effectiveness is generally short lived