Mental Illness - AP Psych

Psychological disorder

Clinically significant disturbances in an individuals cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior

Models of abnormalities

Biological (medical), psychodynamic, behaviorism(learned), cognitive(illogical thinking), sociocultural

Psychodynamic

Repressing one’s memories

Psychopathology

Scientific study of origins, symptoms, & development of psychological disorder

Diagnosis needs to be on a basis of

Symptoms & treated by therapy

Biopsychosocial approach

Social cultural (roles, expectations, normality, disorder definitions)

Psych influences (stress trauma learned helplessness, mood perceptions, memories)

Classifying disorder

Describe symptoms, predict future, imply treatment, stimulate research into causes

DSM stands for

Diagnostic & statistical manual of mental disorder

Who is vulnerable?

Varies by disorder but gender, poverty, ethnicity

anxiety disorders

distressing persistent or dysfunctional anxiety

GAD (general anxiety disorder)

called free floating anxiety, pathological worry

causes for GAD

maltreated children, can be accompanied by depressed mood

DSM criteria for GAD

have it for 6 months, present most days w/ 3 or more symptoms, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, heart palpitations, jittery, ringing in ears, edgy sleep deprived

panic disorder

anxiety tornado, anxiety escalates into panic attack

panic attack

sudden episode of extreme anxiety, pounding heart, rapid breathing, breathiness, chocking sensation, sweating, trembling, chills, hot flashes, peaks w/in 10 mins then subsides

phobias

persistent irrational fear of an object, event, or activity causing them to avoid it

specific phobia

(simple phobia) terrified of a particular object or situation, will experience a panic attack

social phobia

(social anxiety) paralyzed fear of social situations, fear of being embarrassed, judged, or evaluated by others

agoraphobia

fear of “market place”, fear of having a panic attack in public which is difficult to escape, become prisoners in own home

OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)

life is dominated by repetitive thoughts & behavior

compulsions

repetitive behaviors/rituals/mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession (praying, counting, etc)

obsessions

recurrent, persistent intrusive & unwanted thoughts, image, or urges that cause anxiety or distress (contaminations, something bad will happen etc)

PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)

persistence of memory

symptoms of PTSD

stressor, intrusion (nightmares/flashbacks), avoidance, negative alteration in cognition/mood alterations in arousal & reactivity (sleep issues, irritable, aggressive)

PTSD & brain

sensitive limbic system, right temporal lobe activation, children decreases size of hippocampus

learning perspective of anxiety, OCD & PTSD

observational learning, classical conditioning, cognitive influence

biological perspective of anxiety, OCD & PTSD

biological predisposition to fear, compulsive acts exaggerate behavior that contribute our survival

brain affecting anxiety, OCD & PTSD

anterior cingulate cortex: monitors our actions & checks for errors (hyperactive in OCD)

amygdala: creates fear circuits

depression is like

a psychic hibernation that slows us down

DSM criteria for major depression

must have for 2 wks w/ 5 symptoms, at least 1 symptom is depressed mood/loss interest in most activities, significant weight loss, insomnia, psychomotor agitation (fidgety), daily fatigue, inability to concentrate, recurrent thoughts of death, feel worthless

DSM criteria for persistent depressive

less severe form of depression, similar symptoms but less intense, 2 years 2 symptoms, problems regulating appetite, low energy, low self esteem, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness

bipolar disorder

abnormal moods of mania & depression, more dysfunctional than depression (2x more work days loss), affect women & men equally

manic episodes

begins suddenly & symptoms escalate rapidly, euphoric excited state for 7 days or longer, overtalkative, little need for sleep, elated, speech is loud, flighty, & hard to interrupt

behavioral/cognitive changes in mood disorders

inactive/unmotivated thoughts, 2x women diagnosed, episodes self terminate (20% chronic condition), caused by stress, starts more in adolescents than before (depression)

depressed brain

frontal lobes less active, frontal lobes 7% smaller, hippocampus vulnerable to stress related damage, norepinephrine/serotonin

social/cognitive perspective for mood disorders

negative thoughts/moods interact, learned helplessness, rumination/overthinking about our problems

mild form of mania

free flowing of thinking (composers, artist, poets etc)

somatic symptom disorder

psychological disorder in which symptoms take somatic form w/o physical cause

conversion disorder

(functional neurological symptom disorder), person experiences specific genuine physical symptoms but no physiological basis for symptoms

illness anxiety disorder

(hypochondriasis) person interprets normal physical sensations as symptoms of disease

cycle of illness anxiety

seek out physician, physician reaffirms nothing is physically wrong, pt doesnt believe them, they seek out another physician

dissociative disorder

conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts & feelings (vietnam vet)

dissociation

sense of being unreal/separated

understanding dissociation

not rare itself, purpose is to protect a person from being emotionally overwhelmed from trauma (playing guitar 7 singing)

dissociative identity disorder DID

person exhibits 2 or more distinct & alternating personalities

about DID

each personality has own voice & mannerism, original personality denies awareness of others

studies done w/ those who had DID

handedness switches w/ personalities, visual acuity shifts & eye muscle balance, heightened activity in brain areas w/ control, inhibition & traumatic memories, symptoms a way of dealing w/ anxiety

psychodynamic perspective of DID

defense against anxiety caused by eruption of unacceptable impulses

learning perspective of DID

behaviors reinforced by anxiety reduction

anorexia nervosa

person maintains starvation diet despite being significantly underweight

DSM criteria for anorexia nervosa

starts as weight loss diet, usually adolescents (9/10 female), feelings of fat/fear, obsess over weight, exercise excessively, & 1/2 display binge-purge cycles

bulima nervosa

alternates binge eating (high caloric food) w/ purging (vomiting) excessive exercise or fasting

DSM criteria for bulima

triggered by weight loss diet broken by gorging on forbidden food, binge-purge eaters, (women in late teens early 20’s), depression & anxiety during binges, weight fluctuations b/w above or in normal ranges

binge-eating disorder

significant binge-eating episodes followed by distress, disgust, guilt, but w/o purging

schizophrenia

means split mind, have a lose grip on reality

delusions

fragmented, bizarre & distorted false beliefs

hallucinations

sensory experiences that arent there (more auditory)

hallucinations & delusions cause…

paranoia feeling of persecution

symptoms for schizophrenia

inappropriate emotions, flat effect, difficulty reading facial expressions, catatonia, compulsive acts or rubbing arm

flat effect

no emotion

catatonia

sit motionless for hours

chronic schizophrenia

recovery doubtful, social w/drawal, more men, develops suddenly, in response to stress

acute

develops suddenly, in response to after life stress, recovery more likely, symptoms treated w/ meds

positive symptoms (adding to) of schizophrenia

delusions, hallucinations, disorganized talk, inappropriate emotions, neologism (make up words), echolalia (parroting), word salad (mixture of words)

negative symptoms (taking away) of schizophrenia

toneless voices, no emotion, alogia (speech slows), avolition (inability to take care of ones self), catatonic

causes of schizophrenia

(biochemical) excess dopamine receptors = positive symptoms, low brain activity in frontal lobe, increased activity in amygdala, cortex, corpus callosum, thalamus

risk factors of schizophrenia

abnormalities from prenatal development/birth, maternal diabetes, older paternal age, oxygen deprivation, flu while in womb

psychological factors of schizophrenia

parent w/ schizophrenia (especially mom) or exposed to prenatal risk, birth complications, separation from parents, short attention span, disruptive behavior, emotional unpredictability, poor peer relations

paranoid PD

difficulty trusting others, unjustified suspicion, perceive innocent remarks as threatening, hold grudges

schizoid PD

prefer isolation, no desire for relationships, difficulty expressing emotions/reacting appropriately

schizotypal PD

no close friends, dress unusual, unusual beliefs, have unusual powers, experience hallucinations

antisocial PD

disregard others feelings/no remorse, persistent lying, stealing, impulses, irresponsible

borderline PD

impulsive risky behavior, unstable/intense emotions, low self esteem, mood swings as response to stress, suicidal thoughts

histrionic PD

attention seeker, excessive emotions, strong opinions no facts, easily influenced, shallow

narcissistic PD

belief of being special/important, fantasy about power/success, failure to recognize others, exaggeration of challenges, belief you envy them & they envy you, needs praise

avoidant PD

sensitive to criticism/rejection, feel inadequate, avoid activities w/ interpersonal contact, social inhibited

dependent PD

excessive dependence on others, submissive/clingy, needs assurance, tolerance of abusive tx

OCD PD

obsess over orderliness rules & details, perfectionism, desire to be in control, neglect friends due to projects, rigid/stubborn