Psychological disorders (week 15)

What is psychopathology?

The study of mental suffering and disorders. It combines the Greek roots: psych (mind), pathos (suffering), and logos (study). It refers to deviations from normal mental functioning.

How do we define normal mental functioning?

Accurate perception of reality, self-control, positive self-esteem, healthy social relationships, and productivity or creativity.

What are the main criteria for defining abnormality?

• Deviation from cultural norms

• Maladaptive behavior

  • Interference in everyday functioning

  • Harmfulness (to oneself or others)

• Personal distress

  • Ego-syntonic - others suffer

  • Ego-dystonic - patient suffers

What is the 3 D’s model of abnormality?

Deviance (from social norms), Dysfunction (maladaptive behavior), and Distress (subjective suffering).

What tools are used to diagnose psychological disorders?

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and the ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases).

What does the DSM-5 include?

• Detailed diagnostic criteria

• descriptions of associated features

  • laboratory findings, results from physical exams

• summary of the relevant scientific literature

  • Age of onset, course, prevalence, risk and prognosis factors, cultural and gender factors, differential diagnosis

What are some criticisms of the DSM?

Too many diagnoses, over-reliance on categorical (vs. dimensional) definitions, questionable reliability, and risk of negative effect of diagnosis

Why is classification useful in psychology?

It allows better communication between professionals and facilitates research into causes and treatments of mental disorders.

What are the two main types of causes of mental illness?

Somatogenic: physical or biological causes (e.g., brain structure, neurotransmitters). Psychogenic: mental stressors (e.g., trauma, maladaptive beliefs).

What are somatogenic mental disorders?

Mental disorders that originate from physiological (Dopamine imbalance in schizophrenia or Serotonin deficits in depression?) or anatomical causes (Plagues and tangles Alzheimer’s disease)

What are psychogenic mental disorders? What are three types of origin?

Mental disorders that arise primarily from psychological causes like trauma, stress, unconscious conflict, or maladaptive thinking patterns.

Direct experience

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Social learning

• Learned helplessness effect in depression

Maladaptive beliefs

• Low SE

• Global, Stable, Internal attributions for failure

What are vulnerability factors in the vulnerability-stress model?

• genetic factors

• biological characteristics

• psychological traits

• previous maladaptive learning

• low social support

What are stressors in the vulnerability-stress model?

• economic adversity

• eviormental trauma

• interpersonal stresses or losses

• occupational setbacks

What are common psychological disorders?

Neurodevelopmental, psychotic, mood, anxiety, dissociative, somatic, eating, sleep, impulse control, personality, substance-related, and neurocognitive disorders.

What is the NEMESIS study?

A large-scale Dutch study on mental health prevalence using interviews and surveys. It shows that nearly 50% of Dutch adults experience a mental disorder in their lifetime.

What are key findings from the NEMESIS study?

Women and young adults are more likely to have mental illness. Anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders are most common. Urban living and lower education are linked to higher prevalence.

What did the Kessler et al. (1994/2007) studies show?

Similar prevalence trends in the U.S.: women show more anxiety and mood disorders, men more substance and antisocial disorders. Disorders decrease with age and higher socioeconomic status.

What are the diagnostic criteria for personality disorders?

Enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture

• Inflexible & Pervasive (Their patterns of behavior and thought are rigid (they don’t adapt) and show up in many areas of life — work, relationships, family, etc.)

• Distress or Impairment (The person (or those around them) experiences emotional suffering, or it interferes with daily functioning)

• Stable & Long duration

Manifested in two (or more) of the following areas:

• Cognition (How you perceive and interpret yourself, others, and events (e.g., paranoia)

• Affectivity (Emotional responses — intensity, range, appropriateness, stability)

• Interpersonal functioning

• Impulse control

What are the three clusters of personality disorders?

Type A (odd/eccentric)

• paranoid

• schizoid

• schizotypal
  
  Type B (dramatic/erratic)

• antisocial

• borderline

• histrionic

• narcissistic
  
  Type C (anxious/fearful)

• avoidant

• dependent

• obsessive-compulsive

What is Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Disregard / Violation rights of others with:

• Nonconformity to social norms

• Deceit

• Impulsiveness

• Aggression

• Irresponsibility / Risk-taking

• Lack of remorse

Social factors:

• Parental neglect & hostility

• Easily provoked

Biological factors:

• Low serotonin

• Prefronal cotrex deficit —> low Impulse control

• Low arousal

What are the causes of Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Social: parental neglect, hostile environments. Biological: low serotonin, prefrontal cortex deficits, and low arousal — some overlap with normal adolescent behavior.

What are some sympoms of schizophrenia?

positive symptoms

• hallucinations

• delusions

• disorganized thought

  
  negative symptoms

• flat affect

• loss of motivation

• psychomotor disturbances.

What causes schizophrenia?

Linked to dopamine imbalance and structural/functional brain abnormalities. Treated with antipsychotic medication (with side effects) and psychosocial therapies.

What are common treatments for schizophrenia?

Medication for psychosis, therapy for social skills and coping, family therapy, and in severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).