Rathus_PSYCH_7e_PPT_CH12

Chapter 12: Psychological Disorders

Introduction

• Psychological disorders are a significant subject in psychology. This chapter covers definitions, types, and origins of several psychological disorders.

Icebreaker Activity

• Discuss personal fears and anxiety management strategies with peers.

Chapter Objectives

• Become familiar with definitions and prevalence of psychological disorders (12.01).

• Understand and describe symptoms and origins of:

  • Anxiety disorders (12.02)

  • Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (12.03)

  • Trauma- and stressor-related disorders (12.04)

  • Dissociative disorders (12.05)

  • Somatic symptom and related disorders (12.06)

  • Bipolar and depressive disorders (12.07)

  • Schizophrenia (12.08)

  • Personality disorders (12.09)

What Are Psychological Disorders?

• Key Characteristics:

  • Rare or unusual behavior

  • Faulty perceptions of reality (hallucinations, paranoia)

  • Severe personal distress

  • Self-defeating or socially unacceptable behaviors

Prevalence of Psychological Disorders

• Diathesis-stress model: explains predisposition to disorders heightened under stress.

• Biopsychosocial model: incorporates biological vulnerabilities, psychological stress, and sociocultural factors.

• Statistics: 50% will experience a psychological disorder in their lifetime.

  • Onset typically occurs in childhood or adolescence.

  • ~25% will experience a disorder in a given year.

Knowledge Check Activity 1

• Discuss common misconceptions regarding the causes of psychological disorders.

Anxiety Disorders

• Overview: Characterized by excessive fear and worrying, physical symptoms include:

  • Trembling, sweating, racing heart, faintness.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

• Specific Phobia: Persistent fear of a specific object/situation.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Chronic feelings of dread and physical symptoms lasting 6+ months.

• Common Anxiety Disorders:

  • Claustrophobia, acrophobia, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder.

Origins of Anxiety Disorders

• Psychological View: Phobias as conditioned fears, observational learning.

• Biological View: Genetic factors, evolutionary perspectives.

• Biopsychosocial View: Interaction of biological, social, and psychological factors.

Discussion 1

• Symptoms of panic or anxiety are common; contrast regular experiences with diagnosable anxiety disorders.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Recurrent anxiety-provoking thoughts (obsessions) and the urge to perform actions (compulsions) to relieve that anxiety.

• Hoarding Disorder: Excessive accumulation of items and difficulty discarding them.

Poll 1

• Understanding the genetic component of OCD; responses indicate a misunderstanding about its treatability.

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Results from traumatic events; involves flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.

• Acute Stress Disorder: Similar to PTSD but occurs immediately after the event and lasts 2 days to 4 weeks.

Discussion 2

• Explore gender differences in PTSD prevalence and susceptibility.

Dissociative Disorders

• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Presence of two or more distinct identities within a person.

• Types of Dissociative Disorders:

  • Dissociative amnesia, depersonalization-derealization disorder.

Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

• Somatic Symptom Disorders: Complaints of physical problems with no medical basis, including conversion disorder and illness anxiety disorder.

Mood Disorders

• Characteristics: Significant disturbances in emotional states, affecting daily functioning.

  • Mood swings between manic and depressive phases.

Depressive Disorders

• Major Depressive Disorder: Severe depressive symptoms including psychomotor retardation.

Origins of Mood Disorders

• Psychological Factors: Learning experiences, cognitive distortions, and learned helplessness.

• Biological Factors: Neurotransmitter imbalances.

Suicide

• Top cause of death among young adults; risk factors include psychological distress and personal history.

Sociocultural Factors in Suicide

• Variations in rates of suicide based on demographic factors and social environment.

Gender Differences in Suicide Rates

• More females attempt suicide, but males have higher completion rates.

Discussion 3

• Analyze attributional styles and their impact on depression.

Schizophrenia

• Overview: Severe disorder characterized by disruptions in thought processes and emotional responses.

• Symptoms: Positive (hallucinations, delusions) and negative (flat affect, social withdrawal).

Origins of Schizophrenia

• Biological Factors: Genetic predisposition, brain structure abnormalities, environmental factors during pregnancy.

Discussion 4

• Evaluate various perspectives on the origins of schizophrenia (psychological, sociocultural, biological).

Personality Disorders

• Characteristics: Enduring patterns that impair functioning and cause distress.

• Types of Disorders:

  • Narcissistic, Antisocial, Borderline, Paranoid, etc.

Origins of Personality Disorders

• Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors contribute to the development of personality disorders.

Knowledge Checks and Self-Assessment

• Reflect on understanding of personality disorders, treatment, and personal insights gained from the study.