Mental Disorder within the Realm of Abnormal Psychology



Abstract

The main objective of this research paper is to provide description and research findings of a mental disorder which comes under the realm of the Abnormal Psychology within DSM-IV Codes of Mental Disorders. In this paper, there will be a deep focus on the overview of mental abnormalities which are the disabilities related to developmental processes with an extended and contentious history and background. Particularly, the recent definitions, descriptions, causes, symptoms, required criteria for diagnosis, and epidemic information regarding the mental disorders under the realm of abnormal psychology will be discussed and analyzed (Holmes, 2000). The research paper has been prepared by the text book of Abnormal Psychology by Dr. Ronald Comer, who has served a wide cariety of expertise positions in the programs of psychiatric outpatient, partial and residential hospitalization, family outpatient services and the children's hospitalization. His interests regarding the research in comprised of professional and pre-professional workforce development as well as behavioral policies of health care.

Mental Disorder within the Realm of Abnormal Psychology

Introduction

Mental Disorders generally regarded as (MD) are the universal disorders which usually appears in infancy before childhood and most often characterized by functioning of impaired cognition and the deficiency of two or more than two adaptive learning behaviors even in adolescences. From its historical perspective and from the DSM-IV specific criteria, it is known by the level of IQ (Intelligence Quotient) with a ranking score below than 70. Consequently, an individual with an intelligence quotient level of relatively below than average tendency may not be taken under the category of a mental retarded person (Scriver, 1995). Under the codes of DSM-IV mental disorders, the degrees of severity of different ranges of intellectual impairment, which are as follows:

IQ level of the ranges under 50-55 to around 70 is known as 317 Mild Mental Retardation.

IQ level of the ranges under 35-40 to the ranges of 50-55 is known as 318.0 Moderate Mental Retardation.

IQ level of the ranges under 20-25 to the ranges of 35-40 is known as 318.1 Severe Mental Retardation.

IQ level of the ranges below than 20 or 25 where there is a severity of the mental disorders is known as 318.2 Profound Mental Retardation (Scriver, 2005).

Historical Background

All kinds of Intellectual disabilities have been predicted with a wide variety of names within the context of history. Throughout, a lot of history regarding human beings, the people of the society was really unkind and unsympathetic to individuals with any mental disorders and their intellectual disabilities were seen as a burden on the relevant families of those individuals. Roman and Greek philosophers provided some reasoning regarding the individuals with some intellectual disabilities and said as 'barely humans'. Then in the late 13th Century, those disparaged individuals were declared as incapable of managing affairs and making their decisions by the people of England. The system of guardianship was initiated for taking charge of their legal and financial affairs (McKusick, 1994).

Thomas Wills was the first person who elaborated the ...