Psych101- Lecture 3 Notes
PSYC101 - Lecture 3 - Psychological Disorders
Introduction
Psychological disorders are referred to by various terms:
Mental illness
Psychiatric disorder
Psychiatric illness
Psychopathology
Importance of defining psychological disorders and understanding their historical context and diagnostic criteria.
Four main models of abnormality:
Biological model
Psychological model
Sociocultural model
Biopsychosocial model
Use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) for diagnosing and classifying disorders.
Discussion of the prevalence of disorders and implications of labeling.
Definition of Psychological Disorders
A psychological (mental) disorder is defined as:
“Any condition characterized by cognitive and emotional disturbances, abnormal behaviors, impaired functioning, or any combination of these.” (APA, 2023d, para. 1)
Effects on daily life include:
Disruption in work or school attendance.
Historical context:
Traces back to “a genetic event 550 million years ago that set the stage for our mental illnesses today” (DeAngelis, 2013, para. 1).
Evolution of the Dlg gene influencing behavioral regulation and susceptibility to mental disorders (DeAngelis, 2013).
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
The DSM-5 aids in:
Defining and classifying mental disorders to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and research (APA, 2023, para. 1).
Provides a common language for professionals in psychology.
Video Takeaways from Crash Course Psychology #28
The diagnosis process for psychological disorders is not flawless:
Individuals may report symptoms that do not necessarily confirm a disorder.
Biological and environmental causes are significant in diagnostic considerations.
Mental health statistics:
Approximately 450 million people worldwide suffer from mental or behavioral disorders.
Psychological disorders are characterized as:
Deviant
Distressful
Dysfunctional patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.
Models of Abnormality
Biological Model
Also known as the biomedical model. It posits:
Mental disorders result from biological abnormalities.
Treatment typically involves pharmacological interventions (Deacon, 2013).
Psychological Model
Focuses on:
Unconscious processes, learned responses, illogical thinking patterns.
Emphasis on unraveling repressed thoughts and cognitive perspectives.
Sociocultural Model
Highlights:
Cultural influences and social behaviors impacting mental disorders.
Various factors including socioeconomic status and primary language.
Biopsychosocial Model
Integrates elements from:
Biological, psychological, and sociocultural models.
A holistic view of mental illness and treatment approaches.
Diagnosing and Classifying Disorders
DSM-5 updates include:
New diagnostics, criterion modifications, and updated research.
Available in 18 different languages for global accessibility.
Prevalence of mental illness in the U.S.:
Nearly one in five U.S. adults (19%) experience some form of mental illness.
One in 24 adults (4.1%) has a serious mental illness.
One in 12 adults (8.5%) has a diagnosable substance use disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2023).
Stigma associated with mental illness can hinder diagnoses.
Pros and Cons of Labeling Psychological Disorders
Pros
Provides understanding of behaviors and emotions.
Cons
Potential for stigmatization due to labeling.
Lesson 1 Summary
Covered definitions and criteria for psychological disorders, historical context, models of abnormality, diagnostic tools, and implications of labeling.
Lesson 2: Anxiety and Mood Disorders
Introduction
Focus on anxiety, dissociative, and mood disorders:
Definitions, commonalities, symptoms, effects, and treatments.
Anxiety Disorders
Defined as:
“Any of a group of disorders that have as their central organizing theme the emotional state of fear, worry, or excessive apprehension.” (APA, 2023a, para. 1)
Types of anxiety disorders include:
Phobias
Panic disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Acute stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Prevalence:
Over 40 million adults in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder (19.1%).
Approximately 7% of children aged 3-17 experience anxiety annually.
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms include:
Restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, headaches, and sleep issues (NIMH, 2023a, para. 4).
Panic Disorder symptoms include:
Panic attacks with symptoms such as racing heart, chest pain, impending doom (NIMH, 2023a, para. 6).
Social Anxiety Disorder symptoms include:
Anxiety in social situations, fear of judgment (NIMH, 2023a, para. 9).
Phobia Symptoms include:
Intense anxiety when encountering feared objects or situations (NIMH, 2023a, para. 11).
Risk Factors for Anxiety Disorders
Shyness or distress in new situations during childhood.
History of anxiety or other mental disorders in relatives.
Exposure to stressful environmental events (NIMH, 2023a, para. 18).
Treatments for Anxiety Disorders
Combination of:
Psychotherapy
Medication
Stress management techniques (exercise, mindfulness, meditation) (NIMH, 2023a).
Dissociative Disorders
Defined as:
“Any of a group of disorders characterized by a sudden or gradual disruption in the normal integrative functions of consciousness, memory, or perception of the environment.” (APA, 2023b, para. 1)
Types include:
Dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, dissociative identity disorder.
Prevalence:
Up to 75% experience depersonalization episodes in life (NAMI, 2023d).
Symptoms of Dissociative Disorders
Significant memory loss, out-of-body experiences, emotional numbness, lack of self-identity (NAMI, 2023d, para. 5).
Treatments for Dissociative Disorders
Include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (NAMI, 2023d).
Mood Disorders
Defined as:
“A psychiatric condition in which the principal feature is a prolonged, pervasive emotional disturbance.” (APA, 2023e, para. 1)
Examples include:
Major depressive disorder
Bipolar disorder.
Major Depressive Disorder
Prevalence:
Approximately 21 million adults in the U.S. (8.4%) experience major depressive episodes in 2020 (NAMI, 2023e).
Symptoms include:
Changes in sleep, appetite, concentration, energy, loss of interest, physical aches, suicidal thoughts (NAMI, 2023c).
Causes include:
Trauma, genetics, brain changes, and medical problems (NAMI, 2023e).
Treatments include:
Psychotherapy, medications, exercise, and alternative therapies (NAMI, 2023e).
Bipolar Disorder
Average onset age is about 25.
Prevalence:
2.8% of U.S. population diagnosed with bipolar disorder (NAMI, 2023d).
Symptoms include:
Extreme mood swings between mania and depression (NAMI, 2023d).
Treatments include:
Therapy and various medications.
Lesson 2 Summary
Explored definitions, symptoms, prevalence, and treatment of anxiety, dissociative, and mood disorders.
Lesson 3: Eating Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and Schizophrenia
Introduction
Examination of eating disorders, substance use disorders, and schizophrenia.
Importance of professional diagnosis and treatment.
Eating Disorders
Defined as:
“Any disorder characterized primarily by a pathological disturbance of attitudes and behaviors related to food.” (APA, 2023c, para. 1)
Types include:
Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Binge-eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa
Subtypes:
Restrictive
Binge-purge type.
Symptoms include:
Extreme thinness, intense fear of gaining weight, and distorted body image (NIMH, 2023f).
Bulimia Nervosa
Characterized by binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors.
Symptoms include:
Physical health complications like sore throat, decayed teeth, and electrolyte imbalances (NIMH, 2023f).
Binge-Eating Disorder
Most common eating disorder in the U.S.
Symptoms of distress related to eating behaviors (NIMH, 2023f).
Comorbidities with Eating Disorders
Often co-occur with:
Depression
Anxiety disorders (Woodside & Staab, 2006).
Factors linked to eating disorders include genetics and societal pressures (NIMH, 2023f).
Substance Use Disorders
Defined as:
“A treatable mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to their inability to control their use of substances.” (NIMH, 2023h, para. 1)
Prevalence:
46.3 million individuals aged 12+ met the criteria for substance use disorder (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023).
Contributing factors include:
Genetics, trauma, and mental illness (NIMH, 2023h).
Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
Individualized based on complaints and may include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Family therapy and medications (NIMH, 2023).
Schizophrenia
Defined as:
“A psychotic disorder characterized by disturbances in cognition, emotional responsiveness, and behavior.” (APA, 2023f, para. 1)
Prevalence:
Estimates range from 0.25% to 0.64% in the U.S. (NIMH, 2023g).
Symptoms include:
Hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive impairments (NIMH, 2023g).
Treatment includes:
Antipsychotic medications and various therapeutic approaches (NIMH, 2023).
Lesson 3 Summary
Discussed definitions, prevalence, symptoms, comorbidities, and treatments of eating disorders, substance use disorders, and schizophrenia.
Lecture Recap
Definitions of psychological disorders were provided along with their models of understanding.
Anxiety, dissociative, and mood disorders were covered in detail concerning their prevalence, symptoms, and treatments.
Eating disorders, substance use disorders, and schizophrenia were also discussed in terms of definitions, prevalence, and treatment options.
Future topics will include motivation, emotion, and stress, with a focus on coping strategies.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2023). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm
American Psychological Association. (2023a). APA dictionary of psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/anxiety-disorder
American Psychological Association. (2023b). APA dictionary of psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/dissociative-disorders
American Psychological Association. (2023c). APA dictionary of psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/eating-disorder
American Psychological Association. (2023d). APA dictionary of psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/mental-disorder
American Psychological Association. (2023e). APA dictionary of psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/mood-disorder
American Psychological Association. (2023f). APA dictionary of psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/schizophrenia
Deacon B. J. (2013). The biomedical model of mental disorders: A critical analysis of its validity, utility, and effects on psychotherapy research. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(7), 846–861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2012.09.007
DeAngelis, T. (2013, March 1). The genetic dawn of mental illness. Monitor on Psychology, 44(3). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/03/mental-illness
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2023a). Anxiety disorders. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2023b). Bipolar disorder. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Bipolar-Disorder
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2023c). Depression. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2023d). Dissociative disorders. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Dissociative-Disorders
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021e). Depression. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023f). Eating disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023g). Schizophrenia. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/schizophrenia
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023h). Substance use and co-occurring mental disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). SAMHSA announces national survey on drug use and health (NSDUH) results detailing mental illness and substance use levels in 2021 https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/01/04/samhsa-announces-national-survey-drug-use-health-results-detailing-mental-illness-substance-use-levels-2021.html
Woodside, B. D., & Staab, R. (2006). Management of psychiatric comorbidity in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. CNS drugs, 20(8), 655–663. https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200620080-00004