Adaptive and Maladaptive Behaviors

Normality

The state of being 'normal'

Financial security

Having a sense of financial stability

Trust issues

Lack of trust in relationships

Unhelpful parenting

Inconsistent or harsh parenting

Self-centred parents

Parents who prioritize their needs over the child's

Modeling of maladaptive behaviours

Exposure to drinking/drugs as a form of behavior modeling

Genetic predisposition

Inherited tendency towards anxiety, depression, or ADHD

Trauma

Emotional or psychological distress caused by a disturbing event

Environmental Stressors

Maladaptive behaviours can also be influenced by certain environmental stressors such as poverty/unemployment and natural disasters. A person living in an earthquake prone area would most likely become distant and avoid situation due to high levels of anxiety and fear.

This is because maladaptive behaviours develop in very stressful situations.

Socio-cultural Approach

thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are appropriate or exeptible in a particular society or culture are viewed as normal and those that are inappropriate or unacceptable are considered abnormal

Functional Approach

thoughts, feelings and behaviours are viewed as normal if the individual is able to cope with living independently in society, but considered abnormal if the individual is unable to function effectively in society.

Historical Approach

what is considered normal and abnormal in a particular society or culture depends on the area, or period of time, when the judgements are made

Medical approach

abnormal thoughts and feelings and behaviours are viewed as having an underlining biological cause and can usually be diagnosed and treated

statistical approach

based on the idea that any behaviour or characteristic in a large group of individuals in distribution in a particular way: that is, in a normal distribution if the "statistical average" thinks, feels or behaves in a certain way, it is considered normal

In simpler terms: If the statistical majority of people think a certain way, behave a certain way or feel a particular way. Then those thoughts, behaviours and feelings are considered "normal".

For example: it would considered normal to laugh when tickled because a large majority of people laugh when tickled.

Adaptive behaviours

Age-appropriate everyday living skills that help us adjust to our environment and become independent adults

Examples of adaptive behaviours

Getting dressed, going to the toilet, discussing feelings with a friend, and getting to school

Factors affecting the development of adaptive behaviours

Personality, resilience, secure attachment, family interest in education, secure and nurturing home, and financial security

Maladaptive behaviours

Behaviours that interfere with a person's daily activities and ability to adjust to certain settings/situations

Examples of maladaptive behaviours in children

Tantrums, rocking, self-harm, inability to toilet, screaming, aggressive behaviour, and disruptive behaviour

Factors influencing maladaptive behaviours

Poor attachment, unhelpful parenting, self-centred parents, modeling of maladaptive behaviours, little interest in educational needs, marital conflict, violence, abuse, neglect, genetic predisposition, personality, trauma, grief, and loss

Resilience

The ability to bounce back from challenges and stresses

Secure attachment

Development of trust and confidence

situational approach

within a society or culture, thoughts, feelings and behaviour that may be considered normal in one situation may be considered abnormal in another. For example: laughing at a funeral or wearing a tux to bed

psychological disorder

A disorder characterised by exaggerated forms of thoughts, feelings and behaviours suggesting the existence of clinically recognisable set of symptoms and behaviours that usually need treatment to be alleviated. They interfere with a person's thoughts. emotions, perceptions and behaviours.

DSM

The DSM stands for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is published by the American Psychiatric Association. It is a handbook that is used to identify and classify symptoms of mental disorders. It has undergone multiple revisions in the past due to developmental focus, new diagnostic criteria, recognition of dimensional aspects of disorders and International Classification of Diseases codes. The current version is the DSM-5

ICD -11

The IDC stands for International Classification Of Diseases. It is published by the World Health Organization. It encompasses all disorders both physical and mental. It has also gone through multiple revisions.

Differences Between the DSM and ICD

DSM -5:

- Published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA)

- Costs money

- Is a book

- Contains only mental disorders

- More specific in categorisation

ICD - 11

-Published by the World Health Organisation (WHO)

- Free

- Online

- Contains all known diseases/disorders ( Eg. Cancer, Viral/Bacterial, Mental Health Disorders)

- More generally some disorder are categorised separately in the DSM and combined into a single category in the ICD

Psychotic Disorders

A psychotic disorder is a mental disorder that can cause abnormal thinking or behaviour and a loss of contact with reality.

A common example of a psychotic disorder is Schizophrenia:

This disorder is characterised by deluded thinking, hallucinations and depression. It seen as one of the most strange of all mental illnesses as it causes people to withdraw and lose touch with reality.

Symptoms include:

- Delusions : False beliefs that are strongly held, despite evidence that they cannot be true. Can be categorised as delusions of grandeur (belief that you are extremely important) or delusion of perception ( belief that you are being watched or monitored)

- Hallucinations: False perceptions in the absence of sensory input. Most commonly, the hallucinations are auditory rather than visual. For example, a person may hear voice that are simply not there.

- Disorganised speech and behaviour such as incoherent speech.

- Word Salad - a jumble of meaningless words and phrases commonly seen in schizophrenic states.

- Other symptoms that cause social or occupational dysfunction (lack of motivation and emotions, withdrawal from social contact, or marked deterioration in functioning society socially - at work/school and in self-care.)

Prevalence:

- About 1 percent of the population will develop schizophrenia at some point in their life. Onset age for males is (18) and for girls (25).

Mood Disorders

A mood disorder is a mental health condition that primarily affects your emotional state.

A common example of a mood disorder is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Depression . This disorder is categorised by severe symptoms of flattened mood, low self-esteem, and lack of motivation for an extended amount of time.

Symptoms include:

- Insomnia

- appetite changes, or loss or gain of weight

- feelings of worthlessness

- thoughts of suicide

- difficulties concentrating

- loss of enjoyment of activities they usually enjoy

- intense feelings of sadness or guilt

- trouble initiating action

- anxious distress

- difficulties making decisions

- diminished libido

- feeling slowed down, restless or excessively busy.

Prevalence:

Around 15% of people are affected by depression at some point in life. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed before puberty but girls are 3x more likely after puberty.

Causes:

A number of factors go into the development of depression such as biological, psychological and social factors. There may be a genetic link, neurotransmitter influences, psychological issues, addiction and environmental stresses . Girls are diagnosed with depression more than males. This may be due to different biology in the brain and physiological processes or can be attributed to gender roles due to culture.

Anxiety Disorders

An anxiety disorder is a mental disorder where the frequency and intensity of feeling anxious is out of proportion to the situation and interferes with everyday life.

An anxiety disorder can encompass many things such as GAD, specific phobia and OCD.

Personality Disorder

A personality disorders are psychological disorders in which an individual shows a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving. They are consistent, long-term and extreme personality characteristics that cause a person unhappiness or impact their ability to function in their environment.

Examples of personality disorder include Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD).

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterised by extreme instability of moods and relationships with other people. Onset typically occurs in late adolescence or early

adulthood, and women are more likely to be diagnosed.

The cause of BPD is not clear, and most people with BPD are able to recover after

diagnosis and treatment. People with BPD may feel empty, emotionally detached and

impulsive, and may engage in self- harming behaviours. BPD is typically treated using

psychological therapies.

antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder (APD) is characterised by a tendency to appear calm and

charming, but this sincerity is only superficial. They are often unreliable in friendships, have

no shame or remorse, are self- centred, are incapable of love or affection, and violate the rights

of others.

Symptoms

- Compulsive Lying

- have a disregard for right or wrong

use their charm to manipulate others

- have a sense of arrogance

- impulsiveness

- hostility,

- a lack of empathy towards others, and poor or abusive relationships.

They are also usually unable to consider the negative consequences of their behaviour.

Prevalence

People will usually display some symptoms prior to turning 15. Certain symptoms may decrease throughout life, but treatment is difficult and will depend on the situation of the

individual.

specifc phobia

persistent and irrational fear of an object or situation that presents no realistic danger.

There are 4 main categories of specific phobia.

1. Animal phobias

2. Natural Environment phobias

3. Situation Phobias

4. Blood-injection-injury phobias

Symptoms of an extreme specific phobia:

- Excessive Anxiety and fear easily frightened, agitated.

- Extremely high levels of stress.

- Unable to fall or stay asleep

- Exhaustion, physical illness

- Unable to perform duties, absenteeism from school/work

- Isolation, avoiding social events

- Signficant avoidance behaviours.

Prevelance:

Most common in children

Those that persist into childhood rarely go away without treatment. Onset is different for each specific phobia.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalised Anxiety Disorder is a psychological disorder characterised by excessive anxiety about several aspects of life.

Symptoms:

- feeling very worried about events or activities

- being unable to stop worrying

- difficulty participating in everyday activities due to worry (e.g. going to school).

• restlessness

• difficulty sleeping or becoming easily tired

• difficulty concentrating

• irritability

• muscle tension.

Prevalence:

Anxiety disorders in Australia are common: approximately 14 per cent of Australians experience an anxiety disorder yearly. GAD is estimated to affect 3 per cent of Australians.

The first symptoms of GAD are usually around age 30, though it can present at any age.

Women are affected more than men, but again, it can affect anyone at any time

Causes of Specific Phobia and GAD (Flight-Fight-Freeze)

Specific phobia and GAD can both be affected by three biological factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of an anxiety disorder:

• abnormally intense fight- flight- freeze response

A person with a specific phobia of spiders will experience an intense fight-flight-freeze response when they see a spider or a milder response by simply looking at a picture of one!

Symptoms of the fight-flight- freeze response can include:

• elevated blood pressure

• tremor (shaking in the hands)

• palpitations (abnormally fast heartbeat that the person is aware of)

• diarrhoea

Causes of Specific Phobia and GAD (GABA and glutamate)

Specific phobia and GAD can both be affected by three biological factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of an anxiety disorder:

- GABA and glutamate

The neurotransmitters GABA (gamma-

amino butyric acid) and glutamate play

an important role in maintaining the right

balance in our nervous system so that our

levels of anxiety (physiological arousal)

remain at an optimal level.

In relation to anxiety disorders:

When a person has low levels of GABA, the

increased presence of glutamate increases

agitation and anxiety and can contribute to

them developing a specific phobia.

Causes of Specific Phobia and GAD (Genetic Predisposition and inherited vulnerabilities)

A person's biological make- up that can lead to

a genetic vulnerability - such as being born

with low levels of GABA or having a parent that had the disorder. This can also manifest as personality traits: This vulnerability is also expressed in personality: individuals who

are apprehensive about environmental objects

and events are more likely to develop anxiety

disorders and specific phobias.