Study Guidelines

1. Define a psychological disorder and describe the analytical, cultural expectations, and harmful dysfunction conceptualizations of psychopathology

• Psychological disorder: a condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

  • behaviors, thoughts, and inner experiences that are atypical, dysfunctional, or dangerous are signs of psychological disorders

• Psychopathology: the study of psychological disorders, including their symptoms, etiology, and treatment

• cultural expectations: violating cultural expectations is not enough alone to identify a psychological disorder

• Harmful Dysfunction: occurs when an inner mechanism breaks down and cannot perform its normal function

  • in order for a dysfunction to be considered a disorder it must be harmful

    • harmful: leads to negative consequences for the individual or others, as judged by the standards of the individual’s culture

2. Describe the DSM and define comorbidity

• DSM: diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

  • DSM was published by American Psychiatric Association

  • DSM-5 categorizes and describes each disorder

    • diagnostic features: overview of disorder

    • diagnostic criteria: specific symptoms required for diagnosing

    • prevalence: percent of population to be afflicted

    • risk factors

• Comorbidity: co-ocurrence of 2+ disorders

3. Describe the supernatural, biological and diathesis-stress models of psychological disorders

• Supernatural perspective: psychological disorders attributed to a force beyond scientific understanding

• Biological perspectives: view psychological disorders as linked to biological phenomena

  • supported by evidence that most psychological disorders have a genetic component

• Diathesis-Stress Model: integrated biological and psychosocial factors to predict the likelihood of a disorder

4. Differentiate between the following disorders. Know the common symptoms of these disorders. Recognize examples of these disorders. Describe their Prevalence.

• Anxiety disorders: excessive and persistent fear and anxiety, related disturbances in behavior

  • symptoms of anxiety disorder: distress, fear and anxiety

  • Prevalence of anxiety disorder: 25-30% of US population during their lifetime (12-month period), more common in women

  • most frequently occurring class of mental disorders

• PTSD: post-traumatic stress disorder, individual who was exposed to, witnessed, or experienced details of a traumatic experience

  • Symptoms that occur of at least one month with PTSD: intrusive or distressing memories of the event, flashbacks, avoidance of stimuli connected to the event, persistently negative emotional states, feeling of detachment, irritability, prone toward outbursts, exaggerated startle response

  • Prevalence of PTSD: 7% of US population during their lifetime

• Mood Disorders: massive disruptions in mood and emotions that can cause a distorted outlook on life, and impair ability to function

  • examples of Mood disorders include: depression and bipolar

  • Symptoms of Mood Disorders: Mania

  • Prevalence of Mood Disorders: depression 16.9%; bipolar 1/100 lifetime and 1/167 per year

• Schizophrenia:

  • Symptoms of Schizophrenia: hallucinations and delusions

  • prevalence of schizophrenia: 1% of population

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders: developmental problems in personal, social, academic, and intellectual functioning

  • ADHD and ASD are examples of neurodevelopmental disorders

  • ADHD: constant pattern of inattention and/or hyperactive and impulsive behavior that interferes with normal functioning

    • symptoms of ADHD: inattention and hyperactivity

    • Prevalence of adhd: 5% of children

  • ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder

    • Symptoms: Deficits in social interaction and communication, repetitive patterns of behavior or interest

    • prevalence of ASD: 1/88 children in US, 5x more common in boys