Psychological Disorders (Psych 001) - Andrew Ward

psychological disorder

a syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior

moral treatment

approach to mental illness calling for dignity, kindness, and respect for those with mental illness

medical model

the concept that diseases, in this case psychological disorders, have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and, in most cases, cured, often through treatment in a hospital.

Epigenetics

"above" or "in addition to" (epi) genetics; the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

DSM-5

the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; a widely used system for classifying psychological disorders.

anxiety disorders

psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

an anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal

panic disorder

an anxiety disorder that consists of sudden, overwhelming attacks of terror

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

a disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions (compulsions)

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

a disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience

somatic symptom disorder

psychological disorder in which the symptoms take a somatic (bodily) form without apparent physical cause

illness anxiety disorder

a disorder in which a person interprets normal physical sensations as symptoms of a disease

major depressive disorder

A mood disorder in which a person experiences, in the absence of drugs or a medical condition, two or more weeks of significantly depressed moods, feelings of worthlessness, and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities.

bipolar disorder

A group of disorders in which the person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania.

bipolar 1: bipolar cycling, extreme swings

bipolar 2: depression to milder hypomania

mania

a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state in which dangerously poor judgement is common

Theory of Depression

behavioral and cognitive changes (unmotivated).

Depression is widespread (what are the common causes) and women are more likely to be depressed.

Depressive episodes self-terminate.

Depression is increasing and striking earlier

rumination

compulsive fretting; overthinking about our problems and their causes

Schizophrenia

a disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished, inappropriate emotional expression

psychotic disorders

a group of psychological disorders marked by irrational ideas, distorted perceptions, and a loss of contact with reality

Schizophrenia symptoms

Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, negative behaviour

delusion

a false belief, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders

chronic schizophrenia (process schizophrenia)

a form of schizophrenia in which symptoms usually appear by late adolescence or early adulthood. As people age, psychotic episodes last longer and recovery periods shorten.

acute schizophrenia (reactive schizophrenia)

a form of schizophrenia that can begin at any age, frequently occurs in response to an emotionally traumatic event, and has extended recovery periods, more likely to recover

neurodevelopmental disorders

central nervous system abnormalities (usually in the brain) that start in childhood and alter thinking and behaviour (as in intellectual limitations or a psychological disorder)

intellectual disability

a condition of limited mental ability, indicated by an intelligence score of 70 or below and difficulty in adapting to the demands of life; varies from mild to profound

retarded

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

a psychological disorder marked by the appearance by age 7 of one or more of three key symptoms: extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

Prevalence

The number or proportion of cases of a particular disease or condition present in a population at a given time.

Incidence

The number or rate of new cases of a particular condition during a specific time.

point prevalence

The percentage of people in a given population who have a given disorder at any particular point in time.

Rosenhan (1973)

Covert observation

Aim: to determine the validity of the process of diagnosis for mental illnesses.

Method: 8 participants including Rosenhan were accepted to 12 psychiatric hospitals in the USA. Only lie used to get in was saying they heard a voice saying "thump". When they were accepted they showed normal behaviour.

Results: 7 diagnosed with schizophrenia, 1 with manic depression (all diagnosed as insane).

Conclusion: diagnosing processes must be seriously revised and re-thought, as this study suggests a strong validity issue with it.

Evaluation:

hugely important results

large amount of psychiatric hospitals "tested" (12)

?few participants (8)

?ethical issues since it was covert (e.g. deception)