Psychologicsl Disorders 1 and 2

Abnormality Four Defining Characteristics

1. Deviance

2. Distress

3. Dysfunction

4. Danger

Deviance

Atypical thoughts or behaviours that differ from the norm

Limitation of deviance

Deviance does not necessarily indicate disorder

Distress

Psychological disorders often but not always cause strong feelings of distress

Limitation of distress

• A person who is free of distress is not necessarily psychologically health

• People with bipolar disorders have manic episodes

Dysfunction

Psychological disorders often cause dysfunction in completing everyday tasks

Limitation of dysfunction

Dysfunction can be intentional and may not be indicative of mental illness

Danger

• Psychological disorders often but not always cause a person to place themselves or others in danger

• Refers to the safety risk associated with thoughts or behaviours

Limitation of Danger

Activities that are dangerous are not always indicative of disorders like in dangerous sports

DSM functions

Standard diagnostic tool

• Categorize and describe mental disorders

• Allows researchers to talk to each other about mental disorder

Criteria of DSM

Lists symptoms but does not list possible causes, treatments, risk factors, only for assessing and diagnosing mental disorders

Categorical classifical model

• Classified items differ from each other within the same category

• Defined by rigid boundaries and can only belong to one specific kind of category

Dimensional classification model

Classified items defer from each other in degree (on a spectrum)

DSM critique

1. DSM relies too heavily on a categorical classification model

2. High degree of comorbidity

why is the categorical classification of the DSM a downside?

Critiques argue that DSM has discrete categories where only those in a specific category would receive treatment, even though others would benefit

Comorbidity

• The existence of two or more disorders at the same time

• DSM-5 has a high degree of comorbidity among many of its diagnoses

Epidemiology

Study of the distribution of health-related states and disorders within a population

Prognosis

The probable course of an illness

Acute prognosis

sudden onset, immediate treatment

Chronic prognosis

long lasting and develop over time

Episodic prognosis

recurrent phases, separated by periods of normal functioning

Prevalence

Percentage of a population that exhibits the disorder during a specific time period

Point prevalence

Measured at a specific instance in time

Limitation of Point Prevalence

Many disorders are episodic and point prevalence would not capture their display of symptoms

Annual prevalence

Measured within a year

Lifetime prevalence

Anyone who has had the disorder in their lifetime

Cherry picking

• Selecting numbers that best support a position

• Choosing prevalence that best supports a position

Symptomatology

Collection of behaviours, thoughts, feelings that may be a potential indicator of a specific psychological disorder

Heterogeneity

Where the same psychological disorder often presents with different symptoms

Generalized anxiety disorder

Persistent anxiety interfering with daily life

GAD symptoms

• Fatigue

• Sweaty palms

• Heart palpitations

• Difficulty concentrating

• Constant worrying

• Dizziness

• Sleep problems

• Muscle tension

• Nausea

• Headaches

• Mental tension

Schizophrenia

Marked by disorganized thoughts and behaviours

Positive symptoms

addition of abnormal behaviours

Examples of positive symptoms

Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking

Negative symptoms

Absence of typical behaviours

Examples of negative symptoms

loss of speech, loss of pleasure from eating

Hallucination

Perception of things that are not really there, most common is auditory

Delusion

False irrational belief

Disorganized thinking

Problems in organizing ideas/thoughts

Disorganized motor behaviour

May involve dramatic changes in movements called catatonia

Catatonic excitement

Frantic movements that seem to have no purpose at all

Catatonic stupor

Dramatic reductions in movement

Negative symptoms 5 As

Alogia anhedonia affect asociality avolition

Alogia

Reduced speech

Anhedonia

Inability to feel pleasure

Affect

Reduced emotional expression

Asociality

Lack of social interaction

Avolition

Lack of motivation

Etiology

Cause of a disorder

Biological model

Focus on genes brain and neurotransmitters

Concordance

Shared traits between twins

Neurotransmitters and disorders

Imbalances linked to disorders

Amygdala

Hyperactive in anxiety

Environmental model

Focus on surroundings and life experiences

Diathesis stress model

Disorder results from vulnerability plus stress

Low socioeconomic status

Risk factor for many disorders

Behavioural model

Disorders learned through conditioning

Reinforcement

Behaviours maintained by rewards

Depression behavioural model

Lack of reinforcement leads to depression

Feedback loop

Symptoms reinforced by attention

Somatic symptom disorder

Physical symptoms without medical cause

SSD explanation

Used unconsciously to gain attention

Learned helplessness

Giving up after repeated failure to escape

Learned helplessness and depression

Feeling no control leads to depression

Cognitive model

Disorders caused by maladaptive thinking

Cognitive distortions

Biased negative thinking patterns

Catastrophizing

Expecting worst outcomes

Overgeneralizing

Applying one event broadly

Depressogenic schemata

Negative thinking patterns in depression

Negative triad

Negative view of self world and future

Media portrayal of disorders

Often exaggerated and extreme

MBCT

Therapy improving mood and reducing relapse

Synaesthesia

One sense triggers another sensation

Synaesthesia criteria

Automatic consistent memorable emotional spatial

Agoraphobia

Fear of places where escape is difficult

Anaclitic depression

Dependence and fear of abandonment

Introjective depression

Guilt and worthlessness

Expressed emotion

Family criticism toward patient

Pessimistic explanatory style

Attributing problems to stable personal causes