Chapter 12-Psychological Disorders

Psychopathology

scientific study of mental disorders

clinical psychology

scientific study of abnormal behavior and mental processes

criteria for abnormal behavior

1. deviant behavior

2. personal distress

3. dysfunction in daily functioning (maladaptive)

biological/medical approach

the view that psychological disorders are medical diseases with a biological origin

psychological approach

emphasizes the contributions of experiences, thoughts, emotions, and personality characteristics in explaining psychological disorders

sociocultural approach

emphasizes the social contexts in which a person lives and characteristics, including gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, family relationships, and culture

biopsychosocial approach

the idea that abnormal behavior can be influenced by biological factors, psychological factors, and sociocultural factors combined

DSM-5

the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5^th edition; the major classification of psychological disorders in the United States

anxiety disorders

disabling psychological disorders that feature motor tension, hyperactivity, and apprehensive expectations and thoughts

generalized anxiety disorder

Psychological disorder marked by persistent anxiety for at least six months, and in which the individual is unable to specify the reasons for the anxiety

panic disorder

anxiety disorder in which the individual experiences recurrent, sudden onsets of intense apprehension or terror, often without warning and with no specific cause. The individual is likely afraid of having a panic attack and has experienced a panic attack before

specific phobia

psychological disorder in which an individual has an irrational, overwhelming, persistent fear of a particular object or situation

social anxiety disorder

an intense fear of being humiliated or embarrassed in social situations

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Disorder in which the individual has anxiety-provoking thoughts that will not go away and/or urges to perform repetitive, ritualistic behaviors to prevent or produce some future situation

major depressive disorder

Psychological disorder involving a major depressive episode and depressed characteristics, such as lethargy and hopelessness, for at least two weeks

bipolar disorder

Mood disorder that is characterized by extreme mood swings that include one or more episodes of mania, an overexcited, unrealistically optimistic state. These mood swings occur over a long period of time and are caused by genetics

anorexia nervosa

eating disorder that involves the relentless pursuit of thinness through starvation

bulimia nervosa

eating disorder in which an individual (typically female) consistently follows a binge-and-purge eating pattern

binge-eating disorder

eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food during which the person feels a lack of control overeating

schizophrenia

severe psychological disorder characterized by highly disordered thought processes; individuals suffering from this disorder may be referred to as psychotic because they are so far removed from reality

psychosis

their reality is not what everyone else experiences

hallucinations

sensory experiences that occur in the absence of real stimuli

delusions

false, unusual, and sometimes magical beliefs that are not part of an individual’s culture

neurodevelopmental disorders

diagnosed in childhood and are traced to genetic differences, atypical brain development, or prenatal exposure to substances that adversely affect development

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

one of the most common psychological disorders of childhood, in which individuals show one or more of the following: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Characterized by two features: persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across a variety of settings and restrictive repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities. This could also be characterized by deficits in language

Post-traumatic stress disorder

anxiety disorder that develops through exposure to a traumatic event, a severely oppressive situation, cruel abuse, or a natural or unnatural disaster

dissociative disorders

breaks in consciousness

dissociative amnesia

dissociative disorder characterized by extreme memory loss that is caused by extensive psychological stress

dissociative identity disorder

a dissociative disorder in which the individual has two or more distinct personalities or selves, each with its own memories, behaviors, and relationships

personality disorders

chronic, maladaptive cognitive-behavioral patterns that are thoroughly integrated into an individual’s personality

antisocial personality disorder

psychological disorder characterized by guiltlessness, law-breaking, exploitation of others, irresponsibility, and deceit

borderline personality disorder

psychological disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, and of marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts

Stigma

negative attitude people have towards a group

Charles Silverstein

Born in Brooklyn, New York. Had to attempt to earn a PhD twice after failing to pass his comprehensive exams the first time. Was very active in gay rights movements and political activism during his second attempt at a PhD. He wanted to “devote his professional career toward changing society’s attitude toward homosexuality, and to provide proper counseling services to the LGBT community”. He gave a presentation at the American Psychiatric Association where he argued for removing homosexuality as a mental illness in the DSM. Came out as gay after he completed his PhD.