Psychopathology

Psychological disorders- deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional patterns or thought, feelings, and actions.

• defined by culture and context

• Can change over time

Psychopathology- scientific study of origins, symptoms, and development of psychological disorders

Abnormal behavior

• deviant (atypical)

• Maladaptive (dysfunctional)

• Personally distressing (despair)

Biological approach

• bio origin

Psychological approach

• experiences, thoughts, emotions, personality

Sociocultural approach

• Social context

• Some culture bound disorders

  • Bulimia nervosa: binging/ purging, in the US

  • Running amok: violent outbursts, in Malaysia

  • Hikikomori: social withdrawal, in Japan

Biopsychosocial approach

• all 3

• Vulnerability-Stress Hypothesis

  • Pre-existing genetic conditions + stressful experiences

  • Nature/Nurture’

DSM-5 TR

• Classifying disorders: describes a disorder, predict its course, imply appropriate treatment, stimulate research into causes

• DSM is the diagnostic classification tool

Advantages of DSM-5

• common basis for communication

• Helps clinicians make predictions

• Naming the disorder can provide comfort

Disadvantages of DSM-5

• stigma

• Treats psychological disorders as medical illnesses

• Focuses on weaknesses

• Promotes over-diagnosis

• Too subjective, culturally laden

Dangers of Labeling

• bias perceptions and change reality

• Arbitrary and betray judgements

• Self-fulfilling prophecies

• Stigmatize people with disorders and add to stereotypes

• Rosenhan’s study- fake psychiatric patients

• Negative attitudes toward mentally ill

  • People with mental health diagnosis are more likely to be the victims of violence

• Physical health risks

  • Comorbidity with addictions

Anxiety Disorder

• Uncontrollable fears that are disproportionate and disruptive

  • GAD- individual is continually fearful and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal

    • Persistent for 6 months

    • Inability to specify reasons for anxiety

    • Bio factors: gene predisposition, GABA deficiency

    • Psychological and sociocultural factors: harsh self-standards, critical parents, neg thoughts, trauma

  • Panic disorder- unpredictable minutes-long episodes of intense dread

    • Without warning

    • Bio factors: norephinehrine, GABA

    • Psychological: conditioning to CO2,

    • Sociocultural: gender differences

    • Panic attacks are recurrent, so people can develop fears of panic attacks and avoid particular situations

  • Specific phobias- irrational fear of particular object or situation

    • Psychological- learned

    • Biological- genetic disposition

  • OCD- persistant anxiety-provoking thoughts and/or urges to perform repetitive, ritualistic behaviors

    • Hoarding

    • Skin picking

    • Hair pulling

    • Body dysmorphic disorder

• Trauma and Stress related disorders- Single horrific experiences or a pattern of negative experiences

  • PTSD- symptoms develop as a result of exposure to a traumatic event, oppressive situation, natural/unnatural disasters.

    • Flashbacks

    • Avoidance of emotional experiences- numbness

    • Excessive startle

    • Difficulties with memory and concentration

    • Impulsive outbursts

    • people who have less control of the situation, more trauma, smaller amygdala, genetic disposition are more likely to get PTSD.

• Dissociative disorders- sudden loss of memory or change in identity

  • Dissociative amnesia

  • Dissociative identity disorder

• Mood disorders- significant and persistent disruptions in mood or emotions that cause impaired cognitive, behavioral, and physical functioning

  • Biological aspects- depressed gene regions, heritability studies, brain activity diminished with depression/ high with mania, more norphinephrine in mania/ less in depression

  • social-cognitive aspects

    • Major Depressive Disorder- significant depressive episode that lasts at least 2 weeks

      • Fatigue, sense of worthlessness, reduced interest, appetite and sleep disturbances

      • Regulation of neurotransmitters, learned helplessness, pessimistic attribution, poverty, in marginalized group

    • Bipolar Disorder- characterized by extreme mood swings that include mania

      • Episodes usually separated by six months to a year

• Psychosis- state where a persons perceptions and thoughts are fundamentally removed from reality. Symptom, not illness

• Schizophrenia- the mind is split from reality

  • Positive symptoms (adding of behaviors)- hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech and thoughts, bizarre behaviors

  • Negative symptoms (subtracting of healthy behaviors)- flat affect, reduced social interaction, less motivation, catatonia (moving less)

  • Onset and development

    • Acute/ reactive schizophrenia— in reaction to stress, develop positive symptoms. Recovery is likely

    • Chronic/ process schizophrenia— develops slowly with more negative symptoms.

      • With treatment and support, there may be periods of a normal life, but no cure

      • Without treatment, leads to poverty and social problems

  • Causes

    • Genetics, neurodevelopmental abnormalities, stressful life experiences, continued neural degeneration, brain abnormalities

Sociocultural factors in suicide

• chronic economic hardship

• Male

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)

• cutting, burning, hitting

  • Tend to experience bullying

• Reasons:

  • Gain relief from intense negative thoughts through distraction of pain

  • Attract attention and possibly get help

  • Relieve guilt by punishing themselves

  • Get others to change their negative behavior

  • Fit in with peer group