p2

Anxiety Disorders

  • Definition: Psychological disorders characterized by excessive tension and fear, often free-floating without identifiable causes.
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
    • Persistent, uncontrollable tension and apprehension.
    • Symptoms include nervousness and a constant feeling that something bad is about to happen.
    • Different from normal life anxiety (e.g., job interviews) as it lasts 24/7.
  • Panic Disorder:
    • High levels of anxiety that peak into unpredictable panic attacks, causing feelings of intense dread (like "I'm going to die").
    • Physical symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, choking sensation.
    • Panic attacks occur suddenly, with no identifiable triggers.
  • Phobias:
    • Irrational fears of specific objects or situations.
    • Anxiety is triggered when confronted with the object.
    • Most people function normally despite having phobias, but it may become a psychological disorder if it severely impairs functioning.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
    • Characterized by obsessive, intrusive thoughts that produce anxiety.
    • Compulsions are behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety generated by obsessions, often performed repeatedly in an orderly fashion.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
    • Occurs after trauma, leading to long-lasting symptoms such as intrusive memories, insomnia, and social withdrawal.
    • Can result from physical trauma, combat experiences, or witnessing traumatic events.

Dissociative Disorders

  • Characteristics: Rare psychological disorders involving memory loss or changes in identity, often in response to stress.
  • Dissociative Identity Disorder:
    • Formerly known as multiple personality disorder.
    • Involves two or more distinct personalities or identities within a single individual.
    • Controversial and difficult to diagnose definitively, lacking concrete tests.

Eating Disorders

  • Types: Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.
  • Anorexia:
    • Typically characterized by a lack of appetite but involves a psychological obsession with food and maintaining a low weight.
    • Results in significant underweight and distorted body image, perceiving oneself as fat despite being underweight.
  • Bulimia:
    • Involves binge eating followed by purging (vomiting/laxatives).
    • Cycle of craving, bingeing, followed by guilt and depression.
    • It is possible to exhibit both anorexia and bulimia simultaneously, although rare.
  • Binge Eating Disorder:
    • Similar to bulimia but without purging; consists of binge eating followed by feelings of guilt or remorse.

Personality Disorders

  • Definition: Behavior patterns that impair social functioning without the individual often recognizing their dysfunction.
  • Treatment Challenges: Treatment is difficult due to lack of distress in individuals with personality disorders; they may not see a need for help.
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder:
    • Involves criminal behavior, exploitation, and a lack of remorse or empathy.
    • Often aggressive, with behaviors associated with criminality, commonly found in males.
  • Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
    • Exhibits extreme self-centeredness, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.
    • Common issues include difficulty in social interactions because of self-focused behavior.