Quiz : L10 Psych Disorders 1,2,3,4

Terminology in Psychological Disorders

• Insanity

  • Not a psychological term; it's a legal term used in courts to determine accountability for actions.

  • Focuses on whether the individual understands the consequences of their actions.

  • If deemed insane, individuals may be treated for psychiatric conditions instead of facing criminal justice consequences.

  • Categorical Nature:

  • Treats individuals as either sane or insane, with no in-between.

  • Categorical variables have clear categories (e.g., alive/dead, pregnant/not pregnant) unlike psychological disorders.

Psychological Disorders vs. Categorical Variables

• Psychological Disorders are considered along a continuum rather than as categorical conditions.

  • Individuals can fall at different points along the spectrum of a disorder (e.g., depression, anxiety).

Abnormal Psychology

• The term abnormal used to describe psychological disorders reflects early psychological thinking, meaning rare or not typical behavior.

• Historically, behaviors considered abnormal included both maladaptive behaviors (like hallucinations) and extraordinarily gifted abilities (e.g., speaking multiple languages).

• Modern connotations of abnormal have shifted to imply negative behaviors, making it less desirable in psychological jargon.

Current Terminology in Psychology

• Preferable terms: Psychological disorders or Mental disorders

• These include behaviors that produce the 3 D’s or 4 D’s:

  • Disturbance: Disruption to life/function.

  • Dysfunction: Impairment in daily functioning.

  • Distress: Personal or interpersonal suffering.

  • Danger (sometimes): Risk of harm to self or others.

Definition of Mental Disorders

• According to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual):

  • A mental disorder is a syndrome that results in significant disturbance of cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior reflecting dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes.

  • This condition is associated with significant distress in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

DSM Overview

• DSM stands for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

  • Recognized as the standard reference for diagnosis of mental disorders.

  • Currently on the 5th edition (DSM-5), published in 2013.

  • It includes a standardized list of disorders, symptoms, and diagnostic criteria.

  • Evolved from a wartime effort to standardize terms among psychologists and psychiatrists to allow for consistent diagnosis.

Psychological Measurement

Projective Tests

• Used to infer unconscious motives from ambiguous stimuli (e.g., Rorschach inkblot test, Thematic Apperception Test).

• Historically derived from psychodynamic theories.

• Criticism: Low reliability and validity due to subjectivity in interpretation.

Objective Tests

• Objective Tests (e.g., MMPI - Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory):

  • Structured inventories that are standardized, providing high reliability and validity.

  • Use self-report measures asking respondents about their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

Types of Psychological Disorders

Major Psychological Disorders vs. Personality Disorders

• Major Psychological Disorders have symptoms that rise and fall.

• Personality Disorders are inflexible, pervasive, and persistent.

Anxiety Disorders

• Normal fear or anxiety can become disordered when it is disproportionate or irrational, impacting daily functioning.

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• A chronic worry for six months with at least three symptoms: restlessness, fatigue, concentration issues, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbances.

• Worry chaining: leads to increased anxiety.

2.Panic Disorder

• Characterized by unexpected panic attacks involving intense fear, physiological symptoms (e.g., trembling, shortness of breath), which last for 10-30 minutes.

• 10 minutes is more typical

• Not all panic attacks indicate panic disorder; frequency and unexpected nature matter.

3.Phobias

• Incapacitating fear of a specific object, activity, or situation.

  • Specific Phobias: Fear of certain objects/situations (e.g., arachnophobia - fear of spiders).

  • Social Phobias: Intense fear of social interactions, fear of being judged.

Pt2

Overview of Psychological Disorders

• Psychological disorders affect thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, disrupting day-to-day functioning.

• They are listed in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

Anxiety Disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Definition: OCD is characterized by uncontrollable obsessive thoughts (obsessions) and compulsive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety.

Characteristics of Obsessions

• Repetitive, intrusive thoughts that create anxiety or distress.

• Common themes include contamination, fears of harming others, or fears of losing control.

Characteristics of Compulsions

• Ritualized behaviors performed in response to obsessions, aimed at reducing anxiety.

• Examples include:

  • Hand Washing: Excessive handwashing due to fear of germs or contamination, following specific patterns (e.g., washing hands exactly nine times).

  • Checking: Doubts about whether doors are locked, leading individuals to check multiple times (e.g., locking and unlocking a door repeatedly).

Distinction from Normal Behavior

• Individuals with OCD exhibit compulsions to an extent that disrupts their daily lives, unlike those with general cleanliness preferences or habits.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Definition: PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

• Symptoms:

  • Intrusive Thoughts: Unwanted thoughts related to the traumatic event invading daily life.

  • Nightmares and Flashbacks: Reliving the trauma in vivid detail while awake or asleep.

  • Avoidance: Actively avoiding reminders of the trauma, such as conversations or activities related to it.

  • Increased Reaction: Symptoms like irritability, insomnia, and difficulties concentrating.

Mood Disorders

Major Depressive Disorder

• Definition: Characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in life activities.

• Symptoms (Five required for diagnosis):

  • Depressed mood most of the day.

  • Diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities.

  • Significant weight loss or gain without dieting.

  • Sleep disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia).

  • Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.

  • Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt.

  • Diminished ability to think or concentrate.

  • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Bipolar Disorder

• Definition: Characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania or hypomania.

• States:

  • Depressive Episode: Similar symptoms to major depressive disorder.

  • Manic Episode: Marked by an elevated mood, increased energy, impulsivity, inflated self-esteem, and decreased need for sleep.

• Risks of Mania: May result in risky behaviors such as excessive spending, impulsive decisions, or destructive actions.

Schizophrenia

• Definition: A severe, chronic mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, leading to hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking.

• Symptoms:

  • Positive Symptoms: Excess of certain thoughts/emotions (e.g., hallucinations, delusions).

  • Examples: Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices), delusions of persecution (believing one is being harmed).

  • Negative Symptoms: Absence of normal emotional responses (e.g., flat affect, lack of motivation).

  • Disorganized Symptoms: Disjointed thinking and erratic behavior (e.g., word salad).

• Genetic Factors: Higher incidence found in those with family history; risk increases with genetic similarity.

Key Terminology

• Distressful: Symptoms that cause significant discomfort or impairment in daily functioning.

• Dysfunctional: Inability to carry out important activities or maintain relationships due to symptoms.

• Diathesis-Stress Model: Psychological disorders can arise from an interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental stressors.

Conclusion

• Understanding psychological disorders is crucial to destigmatizing the conditions and supporting those affected. Effective treatment combines medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes, highlighting the need for individualized care.

Pt 3

Overview of Personality Disorders

• Definition: Persistent, inflexible, and enduring behavior patterns that impair social and occupational functioning.

• Diagnosis: Must start in early adulthood; prohibited before age 18 due to fluctuating behaviors in teenagers.

Characteristics of Personality Disorders

• Disruption: Must disrupt an individual's social or occupational life.

• Ego-Syntonic vs Ego-Dystonic: Personality disorders are typically ego-syntonic, meaning individuals do not recognize their behavior as problematic.

Classification of Personality Disorders

• Cluster A: Odd/Eccentric Disorders

  • Paranoid Personality Disorder: Marked by irrational beliefs that others are out to exploit or deceive.

  • Schizoid Personality Disorder: Characterized by a preference for solitude and emotional flatness, lacking desire for social intimacy.

  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Features social anxiety with lasting high anxiety levels, eccentric behaviors, and magical thinking.

• Cluster B: Dramatic/Emotional Disorders

  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD):

  • Key Characteristics: Unstable emotions, sense of self, relationships, and impulsivity.

  • Behavior: Idealizes then demonizes people and engages in self-destructive behaviors (e.g., cutting).

  • Antisocial Personality Disorder:

  • Characteristics: Lack of remorse for hurting others, manipulative and deceitful behavior, potential criminality.

  • Early signs: Must have shown conduct disorder behaviors by age 15.

  • Narcissistic Personality Disorder:

  • Features: Sense of superiority, need for admiration, egocentrism, hiding insecurities.

  • Histrionic Personality Disorder:

  • Characteristics: Excessive emotionality, theatrical behavior, and a need for attention, whether positive or negative.

• Cluster C: Anxious/Fearful Disorders

  • Avoidant Personality Disorder: Extreme sensitivity to criticism and fear of inadequacy, leading to social withdrawal despite longing for acceptance.

  • Dependent Personality Disorder: Overreliance on one or two individuals for decision-making and direction, low self-esteem.

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Characterized by excessive orderliness and rigidity, not to be confused with OCD which involves compulsions.

Treatment and Diagnosis

• Challenges: Diagnosis can be complex due to overlap among disorders, leading to common diagnoses like "Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDNOS)."

• Emerging Models: The dimensional model suggests moving beyond discrete diagnoses to rating personality traits across a spectrum.

Summary of Key Points

• Personality disorders are complex, involving a mix of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.

• Awareness and recognition of these conditions have evolved significantly over time.

• Treatments vary widely, with promising interventions focused on early detection and behavioral modification.

Pt4 

Concerns About the Diagnostic System in Psychology

• Over Diagnosis

  • Increased rates of diagnoses for psychological disorders over the past 20-30 years are debated.

  • Possible explanations include:

    • True increase in disorders, such as autism and attention deficit disorder.

    • Improved diagnostic systems catching previously unrecognized cases.

    • Potential over-diagnosis leading to misdiagnosis.

  • The impact of these theories influences how psychologists respond to changing diagnosis rates.

• Pathologizing Everyday Problems

  • Expansion of what qualifies as a psychological disorder raises concerns.

  • Normal individual differences may be treated as pathological conditions, causing stigma.

• Labeling and Behavior Interpretation

  • Labels can affect how behaviors are interpreted; e.g., "good" vs. "bad" person labels can skew perceptions of actions.

  • Rosenhan's study (1973) highlights issues with labeling and diagnosis.

• Illusion of Objectivity in DSM

  • The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) gets viewed as an objective truth but is influenced by culture.

  • Historical examples include homosexuality and nymphomania(Hypersexulity) being classified as disorders.

• Out of Touch with Science

  • Current diagnostic practices focus on symptoms rather than underlying biological mechanisms of disorders.

  • Calls for a shift towards understanding neurological roots of psychological conditions.

Introduction to Therapy Approaches

• Therapies broadly categorized into:

  • Psychotherapy (talk-based therapies)

  • Biomedical Therapies (medication and other medical interventions)

Types of Psychotherapy

• Psychodynamic Therapy

  • Focused on unconscious influences and childhood experiences.

  • Techniques include free association and dream analysis.

• Existential-Humanistic Therapy

  • Emphasizes self-acceptance, personal growth.

  • Client-centered therapy focuses on providing a supportive environment.

• Behavioral Therapy

  • Addresses specific behavior changes through conditioning methods.

  • Includes techniques such as exposure therapy and systematic desensitization.

• Cognitive Therapy

  • Focuses on changing negative thought patterns into positive ones.

  • Helps clients develop better coping strategies through re-evaluation of beliefs.

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Integrates cognitive and behavioral approaches to address mental health issues.

• Group Therapy

  • Clients interact with others facing similar issues facilitating social support.

• Family Therapy

  • Treats families as a unit, addressing dynamics affecting individual behaviors.

Biomedical Therapies

• Pharmacotherapy

  • Broad category that includes antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers.

  • Antipsychotics: Treat severe disorders like schizophrenia.

  • Antidepressants: Commonly SSRIs like Zoloft, addressing depression and anxiety.

  • Mood Stabilizers: Used for conditions like bipolar disorder.

• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

  • A treatment for severe depression involving controlled electrical stimulation of the brain.

• Other Techniques

  • Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS): A non-invasive method applying magnetic pulses to the brain.

  • Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): Invasive procedure involving implanted devices to stimulate brain regions.

Conclusion

• Effectiveness of Therapy

  • Different types of therapies yield varying results for different disorders.

  • Importance of individualized treatment and combination of methods (both psychotherapy and medication) for best outcomes.

  • Lifestyle changes (exercise, nutrition, social interaction) play a significant role in mental health management.

Important Quotes:
"The good news stories in medicine are early detection, early intervention."
"Different sores have different salves."

• Reflections on personalizing treatment approaches for each individual.