psychological disorders pt. 1

What were psychological disorders thought to be at first?

Possession by demons and were treated by exorcism, drowning, drilling holes into one’s head.

What happened in the 15th and 16th Century?

Creation of asylums and the beginning of medical notion of psychological illnesses

What happened in the 19th century?

Hypnosis or mesmerism became a popular treatment which led to the creation of psychoanalysis as a therapeutic treatment.

What are psychological disorders?

A condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

Harmful dysfunction

the dysfunction by itself does not determine a disorder; it must be harmful in that it leads to negative consequences for the individual.

What is abnormal behavior?

1. statistically unusual; “deviance”, non-adaptive for the individual; 2. impairs the individual’s everyday adaptive behavior, 3. personal distress; describing their pain

Stereotypes of psychological disorders

1. Incurable- sometimes treatment is a failure.

2. People with disorders are violent and dangerous- only a modest association, media blows this out of proportion.

American Psychiatric Association Definition of Mental Disorders

• There are significant disturbances in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

• The disturbances reflect some kind of biological, psychological, or developmental dysfunction

• The disturbances lead to significant distress or disability in one’s life

• The disturbances do not reflect expected or culturally approved responses to certain events

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

DSM-I, DSM-II, DSM- III, DSM- IV, DSM- 5. Classification approach to diagnosis. Standardizes diagnosis and treatment.

Comorbidity

presence of two or more chorionic conditions

What are the different types of psychological disorders?

Anxiety disorders, OCD, and mood disorders.

Anxiety Disorders

Characterized by excessive and persistent fear & anxiety, & disturbances in behavior.

Specific phobia

experiences excessive, distressing, & persistent fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation.

Social Anxiety Disorder

extreme & persistent fear or anxiety & avoidance of social situations in which the person could potentially be evaluated negatively by others.

Panic Disorder

experience recurrent & unexpected panic attacks

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

a relatively continuous state of excessive, uncontrollable, & pointless worry & apprehension.

What is the etiology of anxiety disorders?

Biological factors, conditioning and learning, cognitive factors, and personality, and stress.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Generally involve intrusive, unpleasant thoughts and repetitive behaviors

Obsessions

persistent, unintentional, & unwanted thoughts & urges that are highly intrusive, unpleasant & distressing

Compulsions

repetitive & ritualistic acts that are typically carried out as a means to minimize the distress that obsessions trigger or to reduce the likelihood of a feared event.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

involves excessive preoccupation with an imagined defect in physical appearance.

Hoarding Disorder

characterized by persistent difficulty in parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value or usefulness.

What are the causes of OCD?

A brain region that is believed to play a critical role in OCD is the orbitofrontal cortex, abnormalities in these regions may product the symptoms of OCD.

Mood Disorders

Characterized by severe disturbances in mood & emotions, most often depression, but also mania & elation.

Major Depressive Disorder

depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day and lost of interest & pleasure in usual activities.

Bipolar Disorder

mood state that alternates from one emotional extreme to the other

Manic Episode

distinct period of abnormally & persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood & abnormally & persistently increased activity or energy lasting at least one week, most of the time each day.

What is the etiology behind mood disorders?

genetic vulnerability, neurochemical factors, cognitive factors, interpersonal roots, and precipitating stress.