Chapter 15 – Psychological Disorders

Psychological Disorder

Disturbance in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that causes distress and impairs daily life.

Vulnerability-Stress Model

A model that explains how genetic predispositions interact with environmental influences to cause psychological disorders.

Comorbidity

The occurrence of more than one disorder at the same time.

Lifetime Prevalence of Psychological Disorders

Approximately 1/3 of individuals will suffer from a psychological disorder in their lifetime.

Abnormal Behavior

Behaviors that cause significant pain or distress and are not a normal response to life events.

Medical Perspective

Caused by physical disease

Psychological Perspective

Caused by a person’s past and present life experiences

Sociocultural Perspective

Influenced by cultural factors.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A disorder characterized by chronic anxiety without an identifiable source lasting 6 months or more.

Panic Disorder

Characterized by recurrent panic attacks and overwhelming anxiety.

Specific Phobia Disorder

An intense irrational fear of specific objects or situations.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety in social situations where others might judge, leading to avoidance.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Characterized by persistent thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) to reduce anxiety.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A trauma and stressor-related disorder marked by recurring distressing memories and heightened anxiety.

Causes of Conditions

Learning, Cognition, Biology, the Brain

Depression

A deep sadness and despair that does not have an identifiable cause and lasts for 2+ weeks

Bipolar Disorder

Individuals alternate between depression and mania every few days to few months

Schizophrenia

A split between mind a reality

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Excesses, such as delusions, hallucinations, incoherent speech, inappropriate affect, bizarre behavior)

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Deficits, such as apathy, blunted affect, slow movement and speech, social withdrawal

Diathesis-stress model

A theory suggesting that genetic predisposition and environmental stress contribute to the development of disorders.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities within an individual.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A disorder marked by a lack of conscience, impulsive behavior, and disregard for others' emotions.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and distortion of body image.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder involving binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, such as vomiting.

Binge Eating Disorder

Characterized by binge eating episodes without compensatory behaviors.

Intellectual Developmental Disorder

Characterized by low intellectual functioning of an IQ of 70 or below and difficulties with independent living.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

A cognitive and social-emotional disorder with social deficiencies and repetitive behaviors.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A disorder marked by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, commonly diagnosed in childhood.