Definition of psychopathology

For my psychopathology class this semester, I had to do two little blurbs on my definition of normal/abnormal, or what I consider psychopathology. (The class itself was pretty much a rote memorization of the DSM-IV.) If you recall, I got a little hung up on the word "normal" in my first essay. The second essay focused more on how my understanding of psychopathology developed over the semester. So, here it is. I'm still sort of meh about these type of essays.

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My definition of psychopathology has not changed a great deal over the past semester. In reviewing my earlier paper on the definition of abnormality, I see I was fixated on the designation of normal versus abnormal. I believe these are value-laden terms that do not truly encompass the phenomenology of psychopathology. My understanding of psychopathology has deepened due to my increased knowledge of the criteria and various presentations of disorders, and I continue to believe that some are better conceptualized in a categorical fashion while others appear to be more dimensional. My appreciation of biopsychosocial conceptualization of psychopathology has expanded and it continues to be my main source of understanding the various disorders.

My greatest insight over the past semester has stemmed from my personal experience of intense psychological distress through pregnancy and miscarriage. As noted in class, it is difficult to diagnose a pregnant woman with a wide range of mental disorders since many are considered common elements of the condition. Because of this designation of normality, my significant feelings of depression and anxiety felt invalidated. The fact that these feelings are common did not lessen my distress. As my physical health problems progressed, I was shocked at how quickly and completely my mental health deteriorated.

My definition of psychopathology has not changed so much as it has been deepened by my experience with it. I now have a greater appreciation of the interrelatedness between the various elements of physical and mental health and one’s environment. Moreover, I feel a tremendous sense of empathy for the fear and isolation that can accompany a traumatic event or deteriorating emotional state. I see that it can be just as frustrating to be told that a condition is normal rather than abnormal. Despite this, I strive to remember that that the human condition can be a painful one and that a therapist’s job is often not so much to eliminate a client’s pain, but to help them work through it and find the meaning within it.