Topic 6.2 - Psychological Disorders

Abnormal

Defined by:

• deviance from cultural norms

• distress experiences but the person

• dysfunction in daily life

• danger to self/others

Psychological Disorder

Syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion, regulation, or behavior

• significantly disturbed thoughts, emotions, or behaviors are dysfunctional or maladaptive (interfere with normal day-to-day life)

Biological Influences

• evolution

• individual genes

• brain structure & brain

Psychological Influences

• stress

• trauma

• learned helplessness

• mood-related perceptions & memories

Socio-Cultural Influences

• roles

• expectations

• definitions of normality & disorder

Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Used to classify psychological disorders, creating order and allowing psychologists to study, diagnose, & treat the disorder + research its causes

• criticized for “casting too wide of a net”

Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Perspective

Internal, unconscious drives

Humanistic Perspective

Failure to strive to one’s potential or being out of touch with one’s feelings

Behavioral Perspective

Reinforcement history, the environment

Cognitive Perspective

Irrational, dysfunctional thoughts or ways of thinking

Sociocultural Perspective

Dysfunctional society

Anxiety Disorders

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

• types: social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorders, phobias

Social Anxiety Disorder

Intense fear and avoidance of social situations

• person becomes extremely anxious in social situations and avoids going out

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Continuously tense, apprehensive, in a state of automatic nervous systems (ANS) arousal

• uncontrollable worry lasts for 6 months or more

Panic Disorder

Recurrent, unpredictable, minutes-long episodes (panic attacks) of terror and frightening sensations

• may lead to agoraphobia

Agoraphobia

Fear of public situations

Phobias

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

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions), actions (compulsions), or both

• types: hoarding disorder, body dysmorphia, trichotillomania, excoriation disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, social withdrawal, anxiety, nimbleness, and/or insomnia lasting at least a month

• only 5-10% of people develo PTSD following a traumatic event

• higher the distress, higher the risk of development

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Characterized by a chronic condition including inattention and distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

• associated with abnormal brain structure, abnormal activity patterns, and future risky/antisocial behavior

Major Depressive Disorder

State of hopelessness and lethargy lasting several weeks or months

• classified in DSM-5 as presence of at least 5 symptoms over 2 week period

• sumptoms come in episodes

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Similar to MDD but with milder symptoms lasting much longer (chronic rather than in episodes)

• aka dysthymia

• symptoms include:

Bipolar Disorder

A person alternates between hopelessness and lethargy of depression & overexcited state of mania

• 2 phases: manic & lethargy

Manic Phase

Little need for sleep; fewer inhibitions; positive mood persists

Lethargy Phase

Extreme fatigue; shame/guilt

Biological Explanations for Mood Disorders

Genetic predisposition & neurochemical imbalances

Genetic Predispositions

Risk increases if a parent or sibling is diagnosed

• twins: 1 in 2 for MDD; 7 in 10 for BP

Neurochemical Imbalances

• norepinephrine: increases arousal and boosts mood

• serotonin: “mood booster” neurotransmitter

Schizophrenia

Characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished, inappropriate emotional expression

• “schizo” means split, “phrenia” means mind; refers not to multiple personalities but to the mind’s split from reality

• 2 types: chronic & actor

• includes positive and negative symptoms

Positive Symptoms

Something added

• ex. Hallucinations, disorganized & deluded speech, inappropriate laughter, tears, or rage

Positive Symptoms

Something added

• ex. Hallucinations, disorganized & deluded speech, inappropriate laughter, tears, or rage

Chronic Schizophrenia

Usually appears in later adolescence/early adulthood

• psychotic episodes last longer with shorter recovery periods

• more negative symptoms

Acute Schizophrenia

Can begin at any age and frequently occurs in response to a traumatic event

• more positive symptoms

Somatic Symptom Disorders

In which symptoms take a somatic (bodily) form without apparent physical cause

• ex. Conversion disorder, illness anxiety disorder (formerly hypochondriasis)

Dissociative Disorders

Controversial, rare disorders in which awareness ends becomes separated from previous memories, thoughts, & feelings

• results in a fugue state, memory loss, or change in identity

• ex. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD)

Personality Disorders

Inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning

• 3 clusters: anxiety, eccentric behavior, dramatic & impulsive behavior

• ex. Antisocial Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Person exhibits lack of conscience for wrongdoing; may be aggressive & ruthless or a con artist

• symptoms can begin as early as age 8 + individuals with this may show lower emotional intelligence

• reduced activation in frontal lobe

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Characterized by an inflate sense of self-importance

• excessive need for admiration

• inability to handle criticism

• superficial & exploitative relationships

Anorexia Nervosa

Feeding & eating disorder in which a person maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly underweight

Bulimia Nervosa

A person’s binge eating is followed by inappropriate weight-loss behavior such as vomiting, laxative use, fasting, or excessive exercise