Should a woman who uses illicit drugs, or abuses licit drugs, during pregnancy be criminally held responsible for child abuse? What action (if any) do you believe should be taken with such a person? (Please be sure to follow the guidelines for discussion question submissions to assure you can gain the most points possible)

Part 1:

The definition of abnormal behavior has been scrutinized and redefined due to the varying perspectives and theories. The terms adaptive and maladaptive have been used to describe a continuum of behaviors from what would be functional to those that would significantly disrupt the functioning of an individual’s daily life.

Describe the major schools of thought concerning abnormal behavior. Which one do you think is the most plausible definition based on today’s world view regarding abnormal behavior? Explain your rationale for making this choice utilizing your course and text readings.
Describe the term maladaptive and how it is used in the context of abnormal psychology. Using examples, explain the difference between adaptive and maladaptive behaviors.

Part 2:

The diagnosis of a mental disorder is based on a specific set of criteria derived from case studies and research. DSM-5 provides a system of diagnosing mental disorders based on established symptoms and conditions. A diagnosis is a shorthand method to describe a set of particular symptoms for a disorder. Improper use of a diagnosis can have a negative impact when it is used to label individuals.

Review current information on the use of the DSM-5 and explain how diagnostic criteria are used to establish a mental illness.
Describe some of the issues regarding labeling individuals with a mental disorder. Explain some ways in which the mental health field and the public in general have lessened this issue.

Part 3:

The presenting symptoms or functioning skills can at times be representative of different disorders. For example, both intellectual disability disorder and dementia describe significant deficits in everyday functioning. Behavior disorders from an everyday point of view are also a difficult area to define. One of the challenges with evaluating children is the influence of several factors such as social, cognitive, and motor development as well as environmental factors.

Describe the diagnostic criteria for intellectual disability disorder and dementia based on the current DSM. Explain the major differences between the two disorders. Describe some of the ways in which a person may be diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder. Describe some of the ways a person may be diagnosed with dementia.
Describe the main types of behavior disorders in children and explain how these disorders can be differentiated from a child that may be exhibiting disruptive behaviors for other reasons.

Part 4:

Somatic symptom disorder has a long history. Sigmund Freud described a case of Anna, who displayed several physical conditions (e.g., pain, dizziness, numbness, and visual disturbances) with no apparent medical cause. Also, schizophrenia is not actually one single disorder but a spectrum of disorders that fall along a continuum of symptoms and functioning levels.

Describe somatic symptom disorder, and if the disorder can be diagnosed if the person has an actual physical illness.
Describe the basic criteria for schizophrenia based on the current DSM criteria. Explain the differences between negative and positive symptoms.
Explain the prognosis of an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia based on age and gender factors.
Justify your answers with appropriate reasoning and research from your text and course readings. Comment on the postings of at least two peers, and provide an analysis of each peer’s postings while also suggesting specific additions or clarifications for improving the discussion question response