psychological disorders

psychological disorders

psychological disorders

patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that are deviant, distressful, or dysfunctional

Early Theories

Abnormal behavior was evil spirits trying to get out.

→ Tried to make the body extremely uncomfortable

Philippe Pinel

French doctor who took of chains off of patients and decided to look into cures for the “sick”

Medical Model

used to review the physical causes of these disorders with the four steps of: etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis

Etiology

cause and development of disorder

Diagnosis

Identifying (symptoms) and distinguishing one disease from another

Treatment

Treat in a psychiatric hospital

Prognosis

Forecast about the disorder

Biopsychosocial Perspective

assumes that biological, socio-cultural, and psychological factors combine and interact to produce psychological disorders

Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Perspective

internal, unconscious drives

Behavioral Perspective

Reinforcement history, the environment

Cognitive Perspective

Irrational, dysfunctional thoughts or ways of thinking

Sociocultural Perspective

Dysfunctional society

Biomedical/Neuroscience Perspective

Organic problems, biochemical imbalances, genetic predispositions

vulnerability-stress model

says that psychological disorders result from an interaction between biological and environmental factors

learning model

theorizes that psychological disorders result from the enforcement of abnormal behavior

psychodynamic model

states that psychological disorders result from malapadative defenses against unconscious conflicts

objective tests

usually pencil and paper standardized tests to determine a diagnosis

projective tests

require psychologists to make judgements base don subject’s responses to ambiguous stimuli

Rorschach Test

subjects interpret a series of inkblots

psychologist

road term that refers to anyone with advanced training in psychology who conducts psychological testing, research, or therapy

psychiatrist

has medical degree and treats patients with mental and emotional disorders

→ Can also prescribe medication

Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

the big book of disorders

→ classify disorders and describe the symptoms

→ will NOT explain the causes or possible cures

→ multi-axial system of classification

Neurotic Disorders

Distressing but one can still function in society and act rationally

Psychotic Disorders

Person loses contact with reality, experiences distorted perceptions

Anxiety Disorders

a group of conditions where the primary symptoms are anxiety or defenses against anxiety

→ in a state of intense apprehension, uneasiness, uncertainty, or fear

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

a person is continually tense, apprehensive and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal

Panic Disorder

marked by a minutes-long episode of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking and other frightening sensations

→ Can cause secondary disorders, such as agoraphobia

Phobias

Persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Persistent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause someone to feel the need (compulsion) to engage in a particular action

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Four or more weeks of the following symptoms constitute post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, sleep problems, or jumpy anxiety

Specific Phobia

experiences intense anxiety when exposed to a particular object or situation

Social Phobia

experiences intense anxiety when exposed to certain kinds of social or performance situations

Agoraphobia

involves anxiety about losing control in public places, being situations where escape is embarrassing, or being without help in a panic attack

Psychoanalytic Perspective of Anxiety Disorders

Freud suggested that we repress our painful and intolerable ideas, feelings, and thoughts, resulting in anxiety

Behavioral Perspective of Anxiety Disorders

Learning theorists suggest that fear conditioning leads to anxiety. This anxiety then becomes associated with other objects or events (stimulus generalization) and is reinforced.

Learning Perspective of Anxiety Disorders

Investigators believe that fear responses are instilled through observational learning

Biological Perspective of Anxiety Disorders

1. Natural Selection has led our ancestors to learn to fear snakes, spiders, and other animals.

2. Twin studies suggest that our genes may be partly responsible for developing fears and anxiety. Twins are more likely to share phobias.

3. Generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and even OCD are linked with brain circuits like the anterior cingulate cortex

Somatoform Disorders

Occur when a person has physiological symptoms due to a psychological problem

→ Medical exams rule out any physical cause

Hypochondriasis

Believe that minor issues are indicative of a more serious illness despite doctors being unable to locate a cause

Conversion Disorder

the existence of severe physical problems (like blindness or paralysis) with no biological reason

Dissociative Disorders

Conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings

→ Having a sense of being unreal

Psychogenic Amnesia

A person cannot remember things with no physiological basis for the disruption in memory

Dissociative Fugue

People with psychogenic amnesia that find themselves in an unfamiliar environment

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A person has several rather than one integrated personality

→ Used to be known as Multiple Personality Disorder

→ Often connected to history of child abuse

Mood Disorders

Psychological disorders characterized by marked disturbances in emotional state which affect thinking, physical symptoms, social relationships, & behavior

Dysthymic Disorder

Suffering from mild depression every day for at least two years

Depression

Lethargy and fatigue, Feelings of worthlessness, Loss of interest in family & friends, or Loss of interest in activities

Major Depressive Disorder

A person, for no apparent reason, experiences two or more weeks of depressive moods

Seasonal Affective Disorder

A type of depression that is related to changes in seasons

Bipolar Disorder

Person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania

Unipolar

Experience moods on depressive end of spectrum

Bipolar

Experience moods on both ends of spectrum

Eating Disorders

Characterized by Problematic eating patterns, Extreme concerns about body weight, and inappropriate behaviors aimed at controlling weight

Anorexia Nervosa

characterized by Refusal to maintain a body weight in the normal range, Intense fear about gaining weight, and Highly distorted body image

Bulimia Nervosa

Habitual binge eating, Unhealthy efforts to control bodyweight (vomiting, fasting excessive exercise, or medications)

→ Can suffer from fluid & electrolyte imbalances and dental & gastrointestinal problems

Schizophrenia

a psychotic disorder where the person loses contact with reality and often have hallucinations

Positive symptoms

involve the presence of altered behavior: Delusions, Hallucinations, Disorganized Speech, and Disorganized Behavior

Delusions

false beliefs that are strongly held despite contradictory evidence

Hallucinations

Sensory or perceptual experiences that happen without external stimulus

Disorganized Behavior

Inappropriate gestures, Agitated pacing, or Unpredictable violence

Negative symptoms

involve an absence or reduction of normal behavior: extreme apathy

Paranoid Type

marked delusions or hallucinations (typically of grandeur or persecution)

Persecutory Delusions

belief one is being pursued oppressed or harassed

Grandiose Delusions

belief that one is very important and famous

Disorganized Type

characterized by disorganized behavior & speech and emotional flatness

Catatonic type

characterized by unnatural movement patterns (rigid, unmoving posture or purposeless movements)

Undifferentiated Type

Diagnosis for patients who aren't paranoid, disorganized, or catatonic types

Chronic Schizophrenia

develops slowly, more negative symptoms, and harder to treat

Acute Schizophrenia

rapidly develops, more positive symptoms, and easier to recover

Residual Schizophrenia

withdrawal, symptoms disappearing

Personality Disorder

stable patterns of experience behavior that differ noticeably from patterns that are considered normal by a person's culture

Schizoid Personality Disorder

entails social withdrawal and restricted expression of emotions (prefers to be alone)

Borderline Personality Disorder

characterized by impulsive behavior and unstable relationships, self-image, or emotions

→often in danger for suicide

→ intense mood swings

Histrionic Personality Disorder

involves attention seeking behavior and shallow emotions

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

characterized by an exaggerated sense of importance, a strong desire to be admired, and a lack of empathy

Avoidant Personality Disorder

includes social withdrawal, low self esteem, and extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation

→ afraid of rejection

Antisocial Personality Disorder

characterized by lack of respect for other people's rights feelings and needs

→ Develops around age 15

→ Deceitful, manipulative, and lacks empathy

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

characterized by a general psychological inflexibility, rigid conformity to rules and procedures, perfectionism, and excessive orderliness

→ anxious when things aren’t “right”

Paranoid Personality Disorder

characterized by a distrust of others, searching for hidden meanings, and interpreting everything as hostile

→ Quick to challenge loyalties

→ Appear cold and distant

→ Carry long grudges