Mental Disorders and Treatment

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• inordinate worry about a variety of scenarios

• symptoms (lasting 6mo+): agitation, tiredness, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension

Agoraphobia

• worry about situations that could be difficult to escape or get help

• symptoms: intense distress and anxiety

Specific Phobia

• disproportionate fear response to a specific object or situation

Social Anxiety Disorder

• fear of situations in which someone may be subject to evaluation by others

Panic Disorder

• repeated panic attacks

• symptoms: rapid heartbeat, sweating, shaking, choking sensation, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vertigo

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• intrusive thoughts (obsessions)

• repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) to relieve stress

Hoarding Disorder

• chronic difficulty getting rid of possessions regardless of their value

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• results from exposure to death, serious injury, or sexual violence

• intrusion symptoms: flashbacks, nightmares

• avoidance symptoms: distressing thoughts, feelings, memories

• 2+ negative changes in mood and cognition

• 2+ arousal symptoms: temper tantrums, irritability, self-destructive behaviors, difficulty sleep or concentrating

Major Depressive Disorder

symptoms over a 2-week period: persistent negative mood, diminished satisfaction, weight loss, insomnia or hypersomnia, agitation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, suicidal thoughts

Persistent Depressive Disorder

• chronic depressed mood that lasts 2+ years in adults and 1+ year(s) in children

• symptoms: lack of appetite or overeating, insomnia or hypersomnia, fatigue, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating

Bipolar I

• manic episode followed or preceded by a major depressive episode

• manic: period of greatly elevated mood (increased energy, irritability, activity) lasting 1+ week(s)

• major depressive: symptoms of MDD lasting 2+ weeks

Bipolar II

• hypomanic episode: similar to manic but lasts 4+ days

• major depressive episode

Schizophrenia

2+ symptoms over 6+ months: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, reduced emotional expression

Dissociative Identity Disorder

• two or more personality states or identities that control one’s behavior

• inability to recall important information

Dissociative Amnesia

• inability to recall autobiographical info

Cluster A

paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder

Paranoid Personality Disorder

• pattern of pervasive distrust and suspicion of others

Schizoid Personality Disorder

• detachment from relationships and restricted range of emotions

• symptoms: avoidance of social interaction, prefers solitary activities, flat and expressionless

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

• deficient social and interpersonal skills

• difficulty maintaining relationships

• symptoms: perceptual distortions, odd thinking, speech, beliefs, and behavior

Cluster B

Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder

• disregard and violation of others through deceit, manipulation, exploitation, present since age 15 but not diagnosed until 18

• impulsive behaviors

Borderline Personality Disorder

• instability in relationships and self-image

• marked impulsivity

• concerned with abandonment and goes to great lengths to avoid this

Histrionic Personality Disorder

• excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior

• uncomfortable if they are not the center of attention

• behave in a melodramatic, theatrical, flirtatious manner

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

• need for admiration

• lack of empathy

• exaggerated sense of self-importance

• conceited, boastful demeanor

Cluster C

Avoidant Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder

• social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, hypersensitivity to negative evaluation

• avoids significant interpersonal or social involvement due to fear of ridicule or embarrassment

Dependent Personality Disorder

• chronic need to be taken care of

• fear of separation and abandonment

• indecisive and needs constant reassurance

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

• preoccupation with orderliness

• painstaking attention to rules and details

• perfectionism interferes with ability to complete tasks

• inflexible, inability to throw objects away

Anorexia Nervosa

• restriction of food intake

• intense fear of gaining weight

• distorted perception of body image

Bulimia Nervosa

• repeated binge eating followed by inappropriate methods to prevent weight gain (induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives)

• distorted perception of body image

Autism Spectrum Disorder

• persistent problems in social interaction

• reduced ability to share emotions & interests

• repetitive behaviors

• fixation on restricted interests

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• chronic inattention, impulsivity/hyperactivity

• difficulty sitting still, impatient behavior

Psychodynamic Therapy

• free association - speaks freely

• interpretation - therapist helps

• childhood things

• talk through things, stream of consciousness

Cognitive Therapy

• changing how one thinks

• change unwanted thoughts to positive ones

• fear hierarchies: ranking fears

Behavioral Therapy

• principles of learning, especially conditioning, to reduce unwanted responses

• exposure therapy

• aversive conditioning: used to associate negative feelings with the behavior

• token economy: rewarding behavior

• applied behavioral analysis (ABA): reinforce habits you want to see used

• biofeedback: a device that records data, learn how to slow panic

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• change thinking to change behavior

• fear hierarchies to exposure therapy

• DBT: acknowledge your feelings

• REBT: changing behavior/attitude

• therapy is driven by therapist

Client-Centered Therapy

• let the client create their own goals

• being genuine

• unconditional positive regard

• empathy

Group Therapy

• small groups

• learning from others

• saving money

Hypnosis

• heightened suggestibility

• focused attention

• deep relaxation

Psychosurgery

• lesioning: surgically aiming at brain function altering

• last resort for OCD & depression

• non-invasive: shock therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation

Psychoactive Drugs

• antianxiety

• antidepressants

• antipsychotics

• mood stabilizing drugs

Antianxiety

depresses activities of the nervous system

antidepressants (SSRI)

increase the amount of norepinephrine and serotonin

antipsychotics

block dopamine activity in the brain - tardive dyskinesia (facial spasms)

mood stabilizing drugs

unknown affects transmitters, flattens cycles of mania and depression