psych - psychological disorders

anxiety disorders

disorders in which the main symptom is excessive or unrealistic anxiety and fearfulness

biopsychosocial model of abnormality

abnormal behavior is seen as the result of the combined and interacting forces of biological, psychological, social, and cultural influences

- the social dynamics that exist impact the way that we think about things and ourselves which then combines with biological factors

bipolar disorder

Severe mood swings between major depressive episodes and manic episodes

symptoms: Excessive energy/excitement, Decreased need for sleep, Racing thoughts, More talkative, Increased activity

duration: at least one week

causes of anxiety disorders

• Behavioral: disordered behavior is learned

• Cognitive: excessive anxiety from illogical, irrational thought processes

• Biological: chemical imbalances, genetics

causes of mood disorders

• Behavioral: link to depression to learned helplessness

• Cognitive: distorted, illogical thinking; cognitive triad

• Biological: variation in neurotransmitter levels; genetics

compulsions

behavioral things that people do to relieve the stress or anxiety caused by the obsessions

criteria to determine abnormality

1. Is the behavior unusual?

2. Does the behavior go against social norms?

3. Does the behavior cause the person significant subjective discomfort?

4. Is the behavior maladaptive or result in an inability to function?

5. Does the behavior cause the person to be dangerous to self or others?

delusions

false beliefs held by a person who refuses to accept evidence of their falseness

delusions of grandeur

when people believe that they are powerful or special

delusions of persecution

the belief that others are out to harm them in some way

delusion of reference

something that is available to a large number of people takes on special meaning to the individual

(ex: if oranges were on sale the individual would believe that they have a vitamin c deficiency and they need to go buy oranges)

diagnostic labels

benefits:

• Explanation for patients/families

• Guide treatment

• Common language for professionals

negatives:

• Can be long lasting (medical or educational record)

• Affect how mentally ill individuals are viewed by self/others (self stigma often prevents people from seeking treatment)

DSM-5

• Published in 2013

• Manual of psychological disorders and their symptoms; The criteria that must be met in order to diagnose someone with a psychological disorder

• Describes 250 disorders

• First major revision since 1994

hallucinations

false sensory perceptions, such as hearing voices that do not really exist

- auditory hallucinations are most common, next is visual, everything else comes after

major depression

Severe depression — too severe for circumstances or no apparent external cause

symptoms: Depressed mood, Weight loss/gain, Sleep problems, Thoughts of death, Loss of energy or interest, Feelings of guilt

duration: Most of the day and everyday for at least 2 weeks but it could be months

obsessions

unwanted thoughts that the individual has trouble controlling

OCD

disorder in which intruding, recurring thoughts (obsessions) create anxiety that is relieved by performing a repetitive, ritualistic behavior or mental act (compulsion)

• the most commonly used treatment is exposure and response prevention

panic disorder

disorder in which panic attacks occur frequently enough to cause the person difficulty in adjusting to daily life

• Panic attack - sudden, intense, panic; multiple physical and emotional symptoms (ex:sweating, trembling/shaking, chest pain, etc)

phobic disorders

an irrational, persistent fear of an object, situation, or social activity

Social phobias (social anxiety disorder)

Fear of negative evaluation in social situations

• 3 types of social situations that are considered: performance based (ex: performing in front of others), social interaction (ex: meeting new people), and being observed in social settings (ex: won’t eat in public because others can watch)

specific phobias

Fear of objects, situations, or events

agoraphobia

fear of place/situation from which escape is difficult or impossible

PTSD

Exposure to a major stressor (threat of death or serious injury along with feelings of fear or extreme hopelessness)

symptoms: “re-experiencing” of the event (images, thoughts, dreams), Avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, and Increased arousal (insomnia, hyper vigilance, difficulty concentrating)

duration: At least 1 month

schizophrenia

a long-lasting psychotic disorder, in which there is an inability to distinguish fantasy from reality as well as disturbances in thinking, emotions, behavior, and perceptions

symptoms: Delusions, Hallucinations, Disorganized speech, Gross disorganized or catatonic behavior

• Negative symptoms - flat affect (emotion), alogia (reduction or absence of speech), avolition (a lack of motivation), anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure in things that were initially pleasurable)

duration:  Disturbance for at least 6 months (at least 1 month of characteristic symptoms noted above)

stress vulnerability model

explains that mental illness arises from a combination of an individual's pre-existing vulnerability (such as genetics) and the presence of stressors (like trauma, abuse, or drug use)