Psychological Disorders Notes

Psychological Disorders Notes

Chapter 13: PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Psychological Disorders and Abnormality: Part 1

  • Psychological Disorder: A set of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive symptoms that are significantly distressing or disabling in terms of social functioning, work endeavors, and other aspects of life.

  • Abnormal Psychology: The academic field devoted to the study of psychological disorders.

Psychological Disorders and Abnormality: Part 2

Key Criteria for Understanding Psychological Disorders:

  1. Typicality: Degree to which behavior is atypical (rare or statistically abnormal).

  2. Dysfunction: Degree to which behavior interferes with daily life and relationships.

  3. Distress: Degree to which behavior or emotions cause distress or discomfort.

  4. Deviance: Degree to which behavior diverges from social norms.

Psychological Disorders and Abnormality: Part 3

  • Deviance alone does not indicate a mental disorder; context matters (e.g., political protest).

  • Example: Protestors mourning in New Delhi due to a violent incident.

Psychological Disorders and Abnormality: Part 4

  • Awareness that anyone may experience symptoms resembling psychological disorders.

  • Behaviors exist along a continuum from normal to abnormal.

  • Notions of normality vary across cultures.

Psychological Disorders and Abnormality: Part 5

Considering Culture:

  • Some disorders are universal, having biological foundations, while others are culturally specific (e.g., taijin kyofusho in Japan).

Dispelling Stigma: Part 7

  • Stigma: Negative attitudes about groups based on their characteristics, leading to discrimination and stereotypes.

  • Myth: The mentally ill are violent and aggressive.

  • Reality: Violence is more commonly associated with substance abuse, not mental disorders.

Classifying Psychological Disorders: Part 1

  • DSM-5: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, an evidence-based classification system, recognizing 157 disorders.

  • Classification is useful for diagnosis, treatment, and research.

Classifying Psychological Disorders: Part 2

  • Label Can Change Everything: Study by Rosenhan demonstrated how labels affect perceptions of sanity within psychiatric facilities.

Classifying Psychological Disorders: Part 3

  • Prevalence: 50% of U.S. population experiences symptoms meeting criteria for psychological disorders at some point.

  • Comorbidity: Co-occurrence of multiple disorders. Annual Prevalence Statistics:

    • Anxiety disorders: 18.1%

    • Specific phobia: 8.7%

    • Social phobia: 6.8%

    • Mood disorders: 9.5%

    • Major depression: 6.7%

    • Substance disorders: 3.8%

    • Any disorder: 26.2%

Causes of Psychological Disorders: Part 1

Models for Explaining Mental Illness Etiology:

  1. Medical Model: Focuses on biological factors such as genes and neurochemical imbalances.

  2. Psychological Factors Model: Emphasizes cognitive and early personal experiences.

  3. Sociocultural Factors Model: Considers social influences such as community and socioeconomic status.

Causes of Psychological Disorders: Part 2

  • Biopsychosocial Perspective: Mental disorders arise from a complex interplay between biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

Anxiety Disorders: Part 1

  • Anxiety Disorders: Include extreme anxiety and irrational fears. Types:

    • Panic Disorder: Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks.

    • Specific Phobia: Fear of a specific object or situation.

    • Agoraphobia: Fear of open or crowded spaces.

    • Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of social scrutiny.

    • Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Excessive worry about multiple aspects of life.

Anxiety Disorders: Part 2

Prevalence & Description:

  • Separation Anxiety Disorder: 0.9–1.9% in adults, significant fear of separation.

  • Specific Phobia: 7–9%, varies by culture.

  • Social Anxiety Disorder: 7%, fear of social situations.

  • Panic Disorder: 2–3%, involves unexpected panic attacks.

  • Agoraphobia: 1.7%, fear of public spaces.

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder: 0.9% in adolescents, out-of-proportion anxiety.

Anxiety Disorders: Part 3

  • Panic Disorder: Characterized by unexpected attacks of fear, physiological responses (e.g., rapid heart rate).

  • Increased prevalence in women 2:1.

Anxiety Disorders: Part 4

  • Specific Phobias: Distinct fears, e.g.,

    • Acrophobia (heights)

    • Claustrophobia (closed spaces)

    • Ophidiophobia (snakes)

Anxiety Disorders: Part 5

  • Agoraphobia: Extreme fear of situations leading to panic symptoms, avoidant behaviors observed.

Anxiety Disorders: Part 6

  • Social Anxiety Disorder: Intense fear in social situations, often due to worry of offending others.

Anxiety Disorders: Part 7

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Involves chronic worry and associated physical symptoms, e.g., muscle tension.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Part 1

  • Characterized by obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors) that respectively increase anxiety.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Part 2

  • Distinction between OCD and quirky behaviors; OCD symptoms cause considerable distress.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Part 1

  • Associated with traumatic events, symptoms may include avoidance and distressing memories.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Part 2

  • Symptoms include irritability, concentration issues, and emotional distress; heightened risk in first responders, veterans.

Major Depressive Disorder: Part 1

  • Defined by at least one major depressive episode lasting 2 weeks or more, includes significant distress.

Major Depressive Disorder: Part 2

Symptoms Include:

  • Depressed mood, lack of pleasure, weight changes, sleep issues, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, suicidal thoughts.

Bipolar Disorders: Part 1

  • Characterized by manic episodes (elevated mood and energy) alongside depressive episodes.

Bipolar Disorders: Part 2

Types:

  • Bipolar I Disorder: Mania lasting a week or more.

  • Bipolar II Disorder: Recurrent major depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes.

Bipolar Disorders: Part 3

  • Bipolar Cycling: Fluctuating moods, which may relate to life events; subsequent episodes may not be influenced by stressors.

Schizophrenia: Part 1

  • Characterized by psychosis, delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior, and loss of contact with reality.

Schizophrenia: Part 2

Symptoms Types:

  • Positive Symptoms: Added behaviors (e.g., delusions, hallucinations).

  • Negative Symptoms: Absences of normal functions (e.g., emotional expression).

Schizophrenia: Part 3

Diagnostic Criteria:

  • Symptoms for a majority of days over 1 month, significant dysfunction for 6 months.

  • Lifetime prevalence: 0.3–1%; higher rates in lower socioeconomic classes.

Schizophrenia: Part 4

  • Genetic Factors: High heritability (60-80%), significant risk if first-degree relatives are affected.

Schizophrenia: Part 5

Risk Factors:

  • Relationship to Persons with Schizophrenia:

    • General population: 1%

    • Siblings: 9%

    • Identical twins: 48%

    • Children of affected parents: 13%.

Schizophrenia: Part 6

  • Diathesis-Stress Model: Suggests a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental stressors in developing schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia: Part 7

Neurotransmitter Theories:

  • Dopamine Hypothesis: Imbalances in dopamine associated with schizophrenia; supported by effective treatment blocking dopamine receptors.

  • Environmental Triggers: Maternal virus exposure, birth complications, social stress, cannabis use correlated with increased risk.

Personality Disorders: Part 1

  • Characterized by impairments in cognition, emotional responses, interpersonal functioning, and impulse control.

Personality Disorders: Part 2

  • Core Patterns: Stable across time and situations. DSM-5 includes 10 disorders like Antisocial and Borderline Personality Disorders.

Personality Disorders: Part 3

Antisocial Personality Disorder:

  • Traits: Unethical behavior, deceitfulness, lack of remorse. Affects 1-4% of American adults, very prevalent in prison populations.

Personality Disorders: Part 4

Borderline Personality Disorder:

  • Traits: Incomplete self-image, intense emotions, high female prevalence (75%), childhood trauma as a trigger.

Dissociative Disorders: Part 1

  • Disturbances in memory, identity, consciousness; include Dissociative Amnesia and Dissociative Identity Disorder (commonly misrepresented).

Dissociative Disorders: Part 2

Dissociative Amnesia:

  • Marked memory difficulties regarding personal information.

Dissociative Identity Disorder:

  • Involves two or more distinct identities within one individual, seen globally.

Dissociative Disorders: Part 3

  • Controversy: Increase in Dissociative Identity Disorder diagnoses perceived to be influenced by clinician practices; linked to trauma experiences.