Psychological Disorders and Treatments: DSM-5, Models, and Therapy Types

Psychological Disorder

A disturbance in thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that causes distress, suffering, and difficulty functioning in daily life

Medical Model

The concept that psychological disorders are sicknesses that need to be diagnosed and treated like physical illnesses

Biopsychosocial Model

The idea that disorders come from biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors working together

DSM-5

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) used to classify disorders and guide diagnosis and treatment

Psychotherapy

Treatment using psychological techniques with trained professionals instead of medication

Biomedical Therapy

Treatment using medications, medical procedures, or other biological methods

Psychoanalysis

Freud's therapy focused on bringing unconscious conflicts into awareness

Humanistic Therapy

Focuses on personal growth, self-awareness, and self-acceptance

Behavior Therapy

Uses learning principles to change unwanted behaviors

Exposure Therapy

Gradually exposes someone to feared objects or situations to reduce anxiety

Systematic Desensitization

A type of exposure therapy using relaxation and gradual exposure to fears

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Changes negative thinking patterns and unhealthy behaviors

Major Depressive Disorder

Depressed mood lasting 2 weeks or more with sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Persistent excessive worry with no clear cause, often with tension and trouble concentrating

Panic Disorder

Repeated panic attacks with sudden terror, chest pain, choking feeling, and fear of the next attack

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Disorder involving unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and repeated behaviors (compulsions)

Bipolar Disorder

Alternates between depression and mania

Mania

An overexcited state with little need for sleep, irritability, impulsiveness, and risky behavior

Schizophrenia

Disorder involving delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and inappropriate emotional expression

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

A rare disorder where a person shows 2 or more distinct and alternating identities

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Lack of conscience, guilt, and empathy, often with manipulation or aggression

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Childhood disorder involving communication difficulties, social problems, repetitive behaviors, and fixated interests

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Extreme inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsiveness

Anorexia Nervosa

Starving oneself despite being underweight and having a distorted body image

Bulimia Nervosa

Binge eating followed by vomiting, laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise

Binge-Eating Disorder

Frequent binge eating followed by guilt or distress without purging

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Disorder caused after severe trauma with flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety

Posttraumatic Growth

Positive psychological changes after struggling through trauma

Addiction

Compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences

Tolerance

Needing more of a drug over time to get the same effect

Withdrawal

Physical and emotional discomfort after stopping a drug

Stimulants

Drugs that speed up body functions and neural activity like caffeine or nicotine

Depressants

Drugs that slow body functions and neural activity like alcohol or opioids

Preventative Mental Health

Actions taken before serious mental illness develops like exercise, sleep, and stress management

Therapeutic Alliance

The trusting relationship between therapist and client

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A biomedical therapy using electric currents to trigger brief seizures, often for severe depression

Resilience

The ability to recover from stress, trauma, or hardship

Pros of Diagnostic Labels

Helps diagnosis, treatment planning, professional communication, and insurance approval

Cons of Diagnostic Labels

Can create stigma, bias, and self-fulfilling labels