Psychological Disorders Overview

Psychological disorders (mental disorders) are syndromes characterized by significant disturbances in cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior, reflecting dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes.
Psychopathology studies psychological disorders, including their symptoms, causes (etiology), and treatments.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines psychological disorders as causing significant distress in social or occupational activities.
Formal criteria for diagnosing a psychological disorder include:
- Disturbances (thoughts/feelings/behaviors) must be unusual, self-defeating, and troubling to self or others.
- Disturbances must reflect biological/psychological development dysfunction.
- Disturbances must lead to significant distress/disability.
- Disturbances cannot be typical responses to cultural events.

Proposed by Wakefield (1992), it defines psychological disorders as a harmful dysfunction if psychological mechanisms fail, leading to negative consequences.

Critics like Thomas Szasz argued mental illness is a myth used by society to control individuals.
Despite controversy, the painful experiences of individuals with mental illnesses validate their existence.

Classification systems (e.g., DSM-5) are necessary for systematic organization of psychological disorders.
DSM-5 Features:
- Provides diagnostic criteria, prevalence, and risk factors for each disorder.
- Comorbidity is common, with many individuals diagnosed with multiple disorders.

The DSM has undergone several revisions since its first edition in 1952.
Major changes include the removal of homosexuality as a disorder, a change in diagnostic criteria, and the organization of disorders.

Characterized by excessive fear and anxiety.
Common anxiety disorders include:
- Specific Phobia: Intense fear of a specific object/situation (e.g., heights, spiders).
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of humiliation in social situations.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Persistent worry about various aspects of life.
- Panic Disorder: Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks.

OCD: Presence of obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors) that disrupt daily life.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Obsession with perceived physical defects.
Hoarding Disorder: Excessive accumulation of items due to inability to discard them.

Major Depressive Disorder: Characterized by persistent sad mood, loss of interest in activities, and several other symptoms over a period of time.
Bipolar Disorder: Alternates between depressive and manic episodes characterized by extreme elation or irritability.

Characterized by disturbances in thought, perception, and behavior.
Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and negative symptoms.

Characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, or identity.
Examples include Dissociative Amnesia, Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder, and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which involves the presence of two or more distinct identities.

ADHD: Characterized by patterns of inattention and hyperactivity.
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, as well as restricted, repetitive behaviors.

Characterized by enduring patterns of behavior that are maladaptive.
Divided into three clusters:
- Cluster A: Odd or eccentric behavior (paranoid, schizoid, or schizotypal).
- Cluster B: Dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior (antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic).
- Cluster C: Anxious or fearful behavior (avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive).
Noteworthy disorders include Borderline Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder, both associated with significant challenges in interpersonal relations and societal norms.