Lesson 03: psychopathology

Psychopathology is the scientific study of mental disorders, focusing on their symptoms, causes, development, and treatment. It examines abnormal thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that deviate from social norms and impair functioning.

Core Definition

Psychopathology encompasses the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. It distinguishes between descriptive approaches, which catalog observable behaviors, and explanatory models that explore underlying causes like biology or cognition.

Key Approaches

·         Biological: Emphasizes genetics, brain chemistry, and neurology as roots of disorders

·         Cognitive-Behavioral: Views issues as learned maladaptive patterns or distorted thinking.

·         Biopsychosocial: Integrates biology, psychology, and environment, often via the diathesis-stress model

This field, rooted in works like Karl Jaspers' General Psychopathology, guides diagnosis using tools like the DSM-5 and informs therapies from medication to counseling.