PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

Twentieth century is called age of Anxiety Urbanisation, Industrialisation, Migration etc are creating anxiety among the people. Hence, the abnormal behaviours are increasing among the people. Every person has tense moments or depressions or unreasonably angry moments in life.

    Psychopathology deals with the abnormal behaviour. Psychopathology is mental illness. It is startling to know that emotional disturbances lead to health problems But it doesnot mean that effective personality adjustment is impossible in modern life.

     The word abnormal means away from the norm. Psychologists feel that individuals who show good adjustment can be called as normals.

     Major Types of Abnormal Behaviour

1. Neuroses

Mild mental disorders where a person is aware of their problems.
   Reality is not lost, but they feel distress, fear, or anxiety.
Daily life is affected, but they can still function.

2. Psychoses

Severe mental disorders where a person loses touch with reality.
They may have delusions, hallucinations, or confused thinking.
Daily functioning becomes very difficult.
3. Psycho-Physiological Disorders

Physical illnesses caused or worsened by mental stress.
Emotions like anxiety affect the body (e.g., headaches, ulcers).
Mind and body are closely connected in these disorders.
4. Personality Disorders

Long-term unhealthy patterns of thinking and behavior.
Affects relationships, emotions, and self-image.
Person may not realize their behavior is problematic.
Constant worry, fear, or nervousness without clear reason.
Person feels restless, tense, and uneasy.
Can affect sleep and concentration.
Repeated unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions).
Person feels forced to repeat behaviors (like hand washing).
They know it’s irrational but cannot stop.
Intense and irrational fear of specific objects or situations.
Fear is much stronger than the actual danger.
Leads to avoidance behavior.
Emotional conflicts show as physical symptoms (like paralysis or blindness).
No medical cause is found for these symptoms.
Often linked to stress or trauma.
Mild to moderate depression with sadness and low energy.
Person can still function but feels unhappy and hopeless.
Often triggered by life problems or stress.
Strong, false beliefs that others are against or harming them.
Person becomes suspicious and distrustful.
Thoughts are often rigid and difficult to change.
2. Manic Depressive Psychoses
Extreme mood swings between mania and depression.
Mania includes high energy, excitement, and overconfidence.
Depression includes sadness, low energy, and hopelessness.
   Types of Neuroses

1. Anxiety Reactions

    Constant worry, fear, or nervousness without clear reason.
Person feels restless, tense, and uneasy.
Can affect sleep and concentration.

2. Obsessive-Compulsive Reactions

    Repeated unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions).
Person feels forced to repeat behaviors (like hand washing).
They know it’s irrational but cannot stop.

3. Phobias 

  Intense and irrational fear of specific objects or situations.
Fear is much stronger than the actual danger.
Leads to avoidance behavior.

  

4. Hysteric Reactions

  Emotional conflicts show as physical symptoms (like paralysis or blindness).
No medical cause is found for these symptoms.
Often linked to stress or trauma.

5. Neurotic Depression 

Mild to moderate depression with sadness and low energy.
Person can still function but feels unhappy and hopeless.
Often triggered by life problems or stress.

Types of Psychoses

1. Paranoia

  Strong, false beliefs that others are against or harming them.
Person becomes suspicious and distrustful.
Thoughts are often rigid and difficult to change.

2.Manic Depressive Psychoses.

Extreme mood swings between mania and depression.
Mania includes high energy, excitement, and overconfidence.
Depression includes sadness, low energy, and hopelessness.