Psychology Pedia

  MENTAL RETARDATION • Mental Retardation is defined as significantly sub average general intellectual functioning associated with significant deficit or impairment in adaptive functioning , which manifests during the developmental period ( before 18 yrs of age ). • General intellectual functioning is usually assessed on a standardised intelligence test with significantly sub average intelligence as two standard deviations below the mean ( usually an IQ of below 70 ). • Whilst adaptive behaviour is the persons ability to meet responsibilities of social , personal , occupational and interpersonal areas of life , appropriate to age , socio - cultural and educational background. • Adaptive behaviour is measured by clinical interview and standardised assessment scales. • A person with MR must have a deficit in both general intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour. • A classification of mental retardation on the basis of IQ : IQ = Mental age ÷chronological age × 100. Types of Mental

In these disorders, the fundamental disturbance is a change in mood or affect, usually to depression ( with or without associated anxiety ) or to elation. This mood change is normally accompanied by a change in the overall level of activity. Most of these disorders tend to be recurrent, and the onset of individual episodes is often related to stressful events or situations. Classification of Mood Disorder -  1) Manic episode. 2) Depressive episode. 3) Bipolar. 4) Recurrent depressive disorder. 5) Persistent mood disorder ( Cyclothymia , Dysthymia ). 6) Other mood disorder. Depression 1) Depressed mood - sadness of mood, loss of interest in activity. Decrease I & ME : interest, mood, energy. 2) Depressed cognition - sadness of mood leads to three types of depressive ideas :  hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness ( guilt ). 3) Psychomotor activity -  younger patients ( less than 40 yrs old ) - slow thinking and activity, decrease energy, monotonous voice. Older patients ( more th