Unit Seven: Psychological Disorders

Psychological Disorders

Deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors - understanding has developed over time from evil spirits to madness - treatments developed as well from beatings, burnings, drownings, castration, and isolation

Medical Model of Psychological Disorders

Concept that diseases, like psychological disorders, have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and in many cases cured through treatment - mental health issues are diagnosed based on symptoms

Biopsychosocial Approach of Psychological Disorders

There are biological, psychological, and cultural influences on mental health disorders - some mental health disorders are more prominent in certain environments (ex. stress or eating disorders in America)

DSM-IV-TR

A system used by psychologists to classify disorders - describes various disorders without attributing - doesn’t presume causes

Labeling Disorders

Labels help give psychologists an idea of how and what they are treating - some disorders carry a stigmatizing power (stereotypes)

Types of Psychological Disorders

• Anxiety

• Somatoform Disorders

• Dissociative Disorders

• Mood Disorders

• Schizophrenia

• Personality Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety, or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety

• Generalized Anxiety Disorders

• Panic Disorder

• Phobia

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Somatoform Disorders

Symptoms take a bodily form without apparent physical cause - the symptoms are real, but are unexplainable

• Conversion Disorder

• Hypochondriasis

Dissociative Disorders

Conscious awareness is separated from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings - extremely rare - ex. dissociative identity disorder

Mood Disorders

Characterized by emotional extremes

• Major Depressive Disorder

• Mania

• Bipolar Disorder

Schizophrenia

Characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perception, and inappropriate emotions and actions

Personality Disorders

Characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social function (ex. Antisocial Personality Disorder)

Subtypes of Schizophrenia

• Paranoid

• Disorganized

• Catatonic

• Undifferentiated

• Residual

Two Perspectives for Understanding Anxiety Disorders

Learning Perspective:

• Fear conditioning

• Observational learning

Biological Perspective:

• Natural selection

• Genes

• The brain

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Skepticism where people doubt if it’s genuine, sometimes because of timing or location - some with DID experience a switch in handiness - people with DID exhibit heightened activity in brain areas associated with control and inhibition of traumatic memories - some psychologists believe DID fits better as an anxiety disorder

Facts about Mood Disorders

• Depression leads to behavioral and cognitive changes

• Depression is widespread

• Women are twice as vulnerable to major depression

• Most major depressive episodes lead to suicide attempts

• Stressful events typically trigger depression

• Each generation is getting hit earlier and earlier

Two Perspectives for Understanding Mood Disorders

Biological Perspective:

• Genetic influences

• Depressed brain is a slower brain

• Biochemical influences

Social-Cognitive Perspective:

• Negative thoughts and negative moods interact

• Depression’s vicious cycles

Causes of Schizophrenia

• Brain Abnormalities

  • Too much dopamine

  • Abnormal brain activity

  • Maternal virus during pregnancy

• Genetic Factors

• Psychological Factors

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Unemotional and fearless - there is genetic vulnerability - early signs include impulsivity, low anxiety, no concern for social rewards