AP Psych - Unit 5.4 Selection of Categories of Psychological Disorders

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

common features include;

• early onset (signs & symptoms)

• functional impairments

• difficulties manifesting social relationships, communication and learning

symptoms can range from mild to severe

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

characterized by symptoms of;

• inattention

• hyperactivity

• impulsivity

results in an individual having a hard time sustaining focus, constantly moving, and acting without thinking

• genetic causes; disorder tends to run in families

• neurological causes; difference in brain structure and function

• environmental causes; prenatal exposure to teratogens

commonly diagnosed in male childrenpres

Autism Spectrum Disorder

characterized by;

• challenges with social communication (social cues)

• restricted interests and movement

• repetitive behaviors

• increased sensitivity to certain sensations

• a need for a routine

• genetic causes; brain structure, mutations, and/or inheritance

• environmental causes; prenatal exposure to toxins and complications during pregnancy/birth

presentation and variety of symptoms vary widely

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorder

a serious mental condition in which people interpret reality abnormally

individuals may show symptoms in one or more of five key areas;

• delusions

• disorganized thinking

• hallucinations

• flat affect

• catatonia

potential causes include;

• genetics—fetuses are vulnerable if a relative has schizophrenia

• mid-pregnancy viral infection

• abnormalities in brain structure and activity

Positive Symptoms

refer to the presence of inappropriate behaviors

Negative Symptoms

refer to the absence in appropriate behaviors

Delusions

• beliefs held with complete conviction, even though they are based on a mistaken, strange or unrealistic view

• a positive symptom of schizophrenia

Delusions of Persecution

a category of false beliefs in which individuals believe that someone is plotting against them

• police, spies, aliens, or other people

most common type of delusion

Delusions of Grandeur

• the belief that one has exceptional abilities, powers, wealth, and/or fame

Delusions of Reference

• the belief that unrelated occurrences have special meanings or hidden messages

Delusions of Love

• believing that someone is completely infatuated with you

Hallucinations

false perceptions that cause people to see, hear, feel, taste, or smell things that exist only in their minds

• most common type is auditory hallucinations; the individual will either hear friendly or demanding voices

seem very real to the person experiencing them

a positive symptom of schizophrenia

Catatonia

• a condition that affects a person’s movement and behaviors

• can be expressed as a positive or negative symptom

Catatonic Excitement

• individuals will experience sudden movements and become highly active

• characterized with out of control movements

• a positive symptom of schizophrenia

Catatonic Stupor

• results in the individual being in state of near unresponsiveness

• they will exhibit minimal movement and/or speech

• a negative symptom of schizophrenia

Flat Affect

• individual will experience a reduction in emotional expression and may talk in a monotone voice

• a negative symptom of schizophrenia

Alogia

• characterized by diminished speech

• negative symptom of schizophrenia

Disorganized Speech/Thinking

• a positive symptom that adds abnormal cognitive or linguistic functions

• caused by a breakdown in selective attention

Word Salad

• occurs when an individual throws words together in a sentence without any logical connections

Loose Associations

• refers to when an individual jumps from one topic to another, but there is little to no connection between the topics

Tangential Speech

• occurs when a person strays off topic and never connects back to the original point

Avolition

• a lack of motivation that makes completing tasks feel arduous

• causes individuals to struggle with starting or finishing simple tasks

Anhedonia

• a lack of interest, enjoyment, or pleasure from life’s experiences

Dopamine Hypothesis

proposes that elevated or decreased levels of dopamine can contribute to the onset or intensity of schizophrenia symptoms

• too much dopamine activity —> positive symptoms

• too little dopamine activity —> negative symptoms

Acute Symptoms

• appear suddenly and are more reactive to the environment

• often triggered by stress or major life events

Chronic Symptoms

• develop over time and remain persistent in a person’s life

• often lead to functional decline if not properly managed

Mood Disorders

• conditions that severely impact how an individuals feels and how they interact with the world

Depressive Disorders

physical changes include;

• fatigue

• abnormal sleeping patterns

• changes in appetite

cognitive/mood changes include;

• difficulties with concentration

• trouble with remembering details

• suicidal ideation

• negative thoughts

• irregular sleep patterns

• reduced interest in most activities

Major Depressive Disorder

DSM-5 criteria—symptoms must persist for at least 2 weeks

characterized by;

• periods of diminished interest in most activities

• significant sleep or appetite challenges

• negative thoughts

symptoms are severe

Persistent Depressive Disorder

DSM-5 criteria—symptoms must last for at least 2 years

characterized by symptoms that are less intense but longer lasting

individuals will likely be able to complete their daily activities, but they will feel sorrowful

Causes of Depressive Disorders

• biological factors —> neurotransmitter imbalances and inherited vulnerabilities

• cognitive influences —> self criticism and pessimistic thoughts

• sociocultural influences —> traumatic events and major life changes

• behavioral factors —> poor diet, lack of exercise, substance abuse, and/or inadequate coping mechanisms

Bipolar Disorder

a mental health condition that involves extreme mood shifts between two states;

• mania

• depression

these mood swings vary in intensity and duration from person to person

Manic Episodes

• moments of hyperactivity, euphoria, optimism, and impulsivity

Depressive Episodes

• moments of low energy, sadness, and hopelessness

Bipolar Cycling

• occurs when an individual experiences alternating periods of mania and depression

• length of these cycles vary

Bipolar I Disorder

• the most severe form of bipolar disorders

• characterized by at least one full manic episode and depressive episodes that typically last around 2 weeks

Bipolar II Disorder

less severe form

characterized by hypomanic episodes

• less severe than full mania but are still noticeable

followed by one or more major depressive episodes

Anxiety Disorders

often consist of excessive fear and worry

• these feelings go beyond normal unease and are strong enough to impact an individual’s ability to perform their daily activities

Specific Phobia

an intense and irrational fear that is directed at a particular object, situation, or idea

• Natural/Environmental Type (fear of water)

• Medical/Injury (fear of injections)

• Animal (fear of snakes)

• Situational (fear of enclosed spaces)

• Other (fear of dolls)

Agoraphobia

• the fear of public situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available

• people will avoid being outside their home, in a crowd, in public spaces, or on public transportation

Panic Disorder

characterized by intense, unexpected episodes of fear that are accompanied by a variety of physical symptoms

• rapid heartbeat

• sweating

• shortness of breath

after several panic attacks, an individual may fear their next panic attack, causing them to develop agoraphobia

Ataque De Nervous

• a culture-bound anxiety disorder that is experienced mainly by people of Caribbean or Iberian descent

• includes symptoms that are similar to panic attacks

Culture-Bound Disorders

• psychological conditions that are specific to a particular cultural group

Social Anxiety Disorders

• characterized by an intense fear and avoidance of social situations where one might be judged, criticized, or watched by others

• driven by the fear of embarrassment/scrutiny

Taijin Kyofusho

• a form of social anxiety that is mainly found in Japanese culture

• the fear focuses on offending or displeasing others

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

involves continuous/excessive tension and apprehension towards an aspect of an individual’s life, such as their health, work, school, or finances.

• sometimes, the individual’s anxiety is free-floating

Obsessions

intrusive, unwanted thoughts that repeatedly pop into a person’s mind

can be difficult for the individual to dismiss these thoughts, which can lead to constant doubt and worry

Compulsions

• repetitive behaviors that are done to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions

• temporarily relieve stress

• often time-consuming and dysfunctional

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• characterized by unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive actions that help reduce anxiety (compulsions)

• individuals will experience a continuous cycle of obsessions, anxiety, compulsions, and temporary relief

Hoarding Disorder

• the act of acquiring an overabundant amount of possessions and having difficulty with discarding them, regardless of their actual value

• individuals may experience significant anxiety at the thought of getting rid of items due to the fear that they may need them later

Selected Dissociative Disorders

• involve a disconnection or separation from a person’s consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, or perception

• the disconnection can cause an individual to feel detached from oneself

• usually caused by traumatic events or abnormal brain activity

Dissociative Amnesia

people who have experienced no severe brain injuries suddenly experience large memory gaps

individuals may be unable to recall important personal information and trauma-related specific memories

can be;

• localized (forget specific events)

• selective (forget specific aspects of an event)

• generalized

Dissociative Fugue

• occurs when an individual suddenly experiences a loss of memory and/or a change in identity, often in response to a stressful situation

• involves the individual traveling unexpectedly

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

a rare condition that is marked by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities

• the separate identities can have their own sets of voices and mannerisms

individuals will tend to experience gaps in memory, changes in preferences, and a sense of detachment from oneself.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

individuals with this disorder often re-experience the traumatic event through flashbacks or nightmares

may experience;

• intrusive thoughts

• an avoidance from situations or items that remind them of the traumatic event

• social withdraw

Anorexia Nervosa

characterized by extreme food restriction, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image

can lead to;

• nutritional deficiencies

• organ damage

• weakened bones

• life-threatening complications

Bulimia Nervosa

characterized by a cycle of binge eating and purging

purging can take the form of;

• vomiting

• laxative usage

• excessive exercise

• fasting

Paranoid Personality Disorders

• characterized by persistent suspicion and distrust towards others

• can cause individuals to face difficulties when trying to create and maintain social relationships with relatives, friends, or coworkers

• Cluster A disorder

Schizoid Personality Disorder

• characterized by a lack of desire to form personal relationships with others and difficulty with expressing strong emotions

• individuals will prefer solitude

• indifferent towards praise or criticism

• Cluster A disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

• characterized by eccentric behaviors and mannerisms that cause others to become uncomfortable

• individuals will have very few long lasting relationships

• Cluster A

Antisocial Personality Disorder

• mainly characterized by a disregard for social norms and other people

• people will act insensitively towards peers

• may engage in criminal behavior

• Cluster B

Borderline Personality Disorder

• described as an inability to efficiently regulate emotions and behaviors

• individuals’ impulsivity may cause them to engage in harmful actions

• Cluster B

Histrionic Personality Disorder

• individuals with this disorder will behave inappropriately in order to receive attention

• if they are not at the center if attention, they will feel uncomfortable

• marked by erratic emotions and an unstable self-image

• Cluster B

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

• marked by self-absorbance and an overly high sense of importance

• individual will expect praise and be offended by constructive criticism

• fantasies of success and power

• Cluster B

Avoidant Personality Disorder

• individuals will exhibit social inhibition, sensitivity to criticism, and extreme timidity

• symptoms stem from a fear of rejection

• Cluster C

Dependent Personality Disorder

• marked by an excessive need to receive help and care from others

• tend to be extreme clingy

• have a fear of abandonment

• Cluster C

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

• characterized by an extreme fixation on perfection and organization

• people will have rigid schedules that are uncompromisable