Abnormal Psychology ppt

Abnormal Psychology

• Definition: The scientific study of mental disorders and their treatment.

Diagnosis and Classification of Mental Disorders

• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM):

  • Most widely used diagnostic system for disorders.

  • DSM-V, published in 2013 by the American Psychiatric Association.

  • First edition appeared in 1952, listing about 60 disorders; now over 300 known disorders.

  • Health insurance companies require DSM-V classification for therapy coverage.

• Criticism:

  • Blurs line between normal behavior and pathology.

Criteria for a Behavior/Thought Process to be a “Disorder”

1. Atypical (statistically infrequent).

2. Maladaptive (prevents successful functioning).

3. Personally distressing.

4. Irrational (distorted cognitions).

Major Categories of Mental Disorders

• Three Major Categories:

  • Anxiety Disorders

  • Mood Disorders

  • Schizophrenic Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

• Overview:

  • Excessive anxiety leads to personal distress and atypical, maladaptive, and irrational behavior.

• Specific Disorders:

  • Specific Phobia

  • Social Phobia & Agoraphobia

  • Panic Disorder

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Specific Phobia

• Definition:

  • Marked and persistent fear of specific objects/situations.

• Example:

  • Woman housebound due to fear of birds, irrational thoughts about threats.

Causes of Specific Phobias

• Classical conditioning: Little Albert study.

• Biological predispositions.

Social Phobia

• Definition:

  • Marked fear of social performance situations.

• Example:

  • Avoids eating in public.

Agoraphobia

• Definition:

  • Fear of situations where escape may be difficult.

• Example:

  • Avoids crowded buses/trains and prefers to stay home.

Panic Disorder

• Definition:

  • Recurrent panic attacks that may occur unexpectedly.

• Explanation:

  • Fear-of-fear hypothesis related to agoraphobia.

• Panic Attack Effects:

  • Can mimic heart attacks.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Definition:

  • Excessive, uncontrollable anxiety about various aspects of life for at least 6 months.

• Biological Basis:

  • Involves GABA neurotransmitter dysfunction.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Definition:

  • Recurrent obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (ritualistic behaviors).

• Neurotransmitter Involvement:

  • Possible serotonin imbalance.

• Brain Regions:

  • Elevated activity in the orbital frontal cortex and caudate nucleus.

• Case Study:

  • Severe OCD patient improved after brain injury that removed affected regions.

Mood Disorders

• Overview:

  • Involve excessive and unwarranted emotional changes.

• Types of Mood Disorders:

  • Major Depressive Disorder

  • Bipolar Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder

• Definition:

  • One or more major depressive episodes lasting at least two weeks with symptoms such as:

  • Intense hopelessness, low self-esteem, extreme fatigue, mood changes.

• Distinction:

  • Normal sadness after life events vs. major depressive disorder.

• Biological Explanations:

  • Neurotransmitter imbalances, especially serotonin and norepinephrine.

  • Higher concordance rates in identical twins vs. fraternal twins.

Bipolar Disorder

• Definition:

  • Mood swings between depression and mania.

• Manic Episodes:

  • Elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, impulsivity.

• Types:

  • Bipolar I (full-blown manic/depressive episodes)

  • Bipolar II (milder manic episodes).

• Biological Explanations:

  • Strong genetic factors; research on specific vulnerability genes.

Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

• Lithium:

  • Mineral salt used to stabilize mood.

  • Must be monitored for toxicity.

• Alternative Medications:

  • Anticonvulsants for patients with side effects from lithium.

Schizophrenic Disorders

• Prevalence:

  • 1% of the population; more initiate in late adolescence/young adulthood.

• Characteristics:

  • Loss of reality contact, termed "split mind".

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

• Positive Symptoms:

  • Hallucinations and delusions.

• Negative Symptoms:

  • Lack of emotions, reduced energy, social withdrawal.

• Disorganized Symptoms:

  • Disorganized speech and behavior, emotional flatness.

DSM-V Classification of Schizophrenia

1. Hallucinations

2. Delusions

3. Disorganized speech

4. Disorganized/catatonic behavior

5. Negative symptoms

Subtypes of Schizophrenic Disorder

• Types Include:

  • Disorganized, Catatonic, Paranoid, Undifferentiated, Residual.

Type I and Type II Schizophrenia

• Type I: Positive symptoms; better recovery chances.

• Type II: Negative symptoms; often linked to permanent brain abnormalities.

Personality Disorders

• Definition:

  • Pervasive patterns of maladaptive behavior beginning in childhood/adolescence.

• Prevalence:

  • Affects 10-14% of the population.

Types of Personality Disorders

• Paranoid

• Schizotypal

• Schizoid

• Antisocial

• Borderline

• Histrionic

• Narcissistic

• Avoidant

• Dependent

• Obsessive-Compulsive

Specific Examples of Disorders

• Antisocial Personality Disorder:

  • Lack of regard for others; impulsive and aggressive behavior.

• Borderline Personality Disorder:

  • Intense, unstable relationships and fear of abandonment.