Psych/Soc Deck 3: Psychological Disorders & Treatment

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive, uncontrollable anxiety about multiple aspects of life for 6 months or longer.

Example:
A student constantly worries about grades, finances, health, and family despite no immediate danger.

Panic Disorder

Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by persistent worry about future attacks.

Example:
Someone suddenly experiences racing heart, sweating, and fear of dying while sitting at home.

Specific Phobia

Intense fear of a specific object or situation.

Example:
Fear of spiders or flying.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations.

Example:
Avoiding class presentations because of fear of humiliation.

GAD vs Panic Disorder

GAD
Chronic worry.

Panic Disorder
Sudden episodes of intense fear.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessions
Intrusive thoughts.

Compulsions
Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety.

Example:
Fear of germs → washing hands repeatedly.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Symptoms after experiencing or witnessing trauma.

Includes:

• Flashbacks

• Nightmares

• Hypervigilance

• Avoidance

Acute Stress Disorder

Similar to PTSD but lasts 3 days to 1 month after trauma.

PTSD vs Acute Stress Disorder

Acute Stress

3 days–1 month

PTSD

More than 1 month

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Depressed mood or loss of interest lasting at least 2 weeks.

Symptoms:

• Sleep changes

• Appetite changes

• Low energy

• Poor concentration

• Feelings of worthlessness

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Less severe depression lasting 2 years or longer.

Bipolar I Disorder

At least one manic episode.

Depression may or may not occur.

Bipolar II Disorder

Hypomania + major depression.

No full manic episode.

Bipolar I vs Bipolar II

Bipolar I → Mania

Bipolar II → Hypomania + Depression

Mania

Elevated mood

Little need for sleep

Grandiosity

Risk-taking

Rapid speech

Hypomania

Similar to mania but less severe and does not significantly impair functioning.

Schizophrenia

Psychotic disorder lasting 6 months or longer.

Positive symptoms of Schizophrenia

Added behaviors.

Examples:

• Hallucinations

• Delusions

  • Disorganized speech

Negative symptoms of Schizophrenia

Loss of normal behaviors.

Examples:

• Flat affect

• Avolition

• Alogia

• Anhedonia

Positive vs Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Positive

Things ADDED

Negative

Things LOST

Hallucination

False sensory perception.

Seeing or hearing something that isn't there

Delusion

False fixed belief.

Common delusion types

Persecutory

Grandiose

Reference

Somatic

Control

Personality disorder

Enduring, inflexible pattern of behavior causing impairment.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Disregard for others.

Lack of remorse.

Violation of laws.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Instability in relationships.

Impulsivity.

Fear of abandonment.

Emotional instability.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Grandiosity.

Need for admiration.

Lack of empathy.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Social inhibition because of fear of criticism.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Changes maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.

Behavioral Therapy

Focuses only on changing behaviors.

Uses conditioning principles.

Exposure Therapy

Gradual exposure to feared stimuli.

Treats:

• Phobias

• OCD

• PTSD

Psychoanalysis

Freud.

Explores unconscious conflicts.

Humanistic Therapy

Carl Rogers.

Unconditional positive regard.

Self-actualization.

Biomedical Therapy

Treats disorders using medication or medical procedures.

Repression

Unconsciously blocking distressing thoughts.

Denial

Refusing to accept reality.

Projection

Attributing your own unacceptable thoughts to someone else.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions to a safer target.

Reaction Formation

Behaving opposite to one's true feelings.

Regression

Returning to behaviors from an earlier developmental stage.

Rationalization

Creating logical excuses for unacceptable behavior.

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.

Example:
An aggressive person becomes a boxer.

Projection vs Displacement

Projection

"I accuse YOU of what I'M feeling."

Displacement

"I take my emotions out on someone safer."

Repression vs Suppression

Repression

Unconscious.

Suppression

Conscious.

Denial vs Rationalization

Denial

"This isn't happening."

Rationalization

"It happened because..."

Reaction Formation vs Sublimation

reaction Formation

Act opposite.

Sublimation

Redirect the impulse into something productive.

A patient repeatedly checks the stove 30 times before leaving home because they fear the house will burn down.

OCD.

Obsession: fear of fire.

Compulsion: repeated checking.

A college student has worried constantly about school, money, and health for the past year.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

A patient believes the FBI implanted a chip in their brain.

Delusion.

Specifically, a persecutory/control-type delusion.

A patient hears voices commenting on everything they do.

Auditory hallucinations.

Positive symptom of schizophrenia.

A woman survives a serious car accident and has nightmares and flashbacks for two weeks.

Acute Stress Disorder.

Six months later, the nightmares and avoidance continue.

PTSD

A patient becomes extremely energetic, sleeps only two hours per night, spends thousands of dollars impulsively, and believes they have supernatural powers.

Manic episode → Bipolar I Disorder.

After being yelled at by their boss, a person goes home and yells at their younger sibling.

Displacement

A student who cheated on an exam constantly accuses classmates of cheating.

Projection

Someone who has aggressive urges becomes a successful martial arts instructor.

Sublimation