Psychological Disorders Notes

Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders (Part One)

Objectives

• Understand the three criteria for identifying disordered behavior.

• Recognize that disordered behavior exists on a continuum.

• Define the DSM-5 and its purpose.

• Assess the potential dangers and benefits of diagnostic labels.

• Understand anxiety disorders.

• Relate Chapter 15 information to class discussions.

Identifying Psychologically Disordered Behavior

• Abnormality:

  • Defined by cultural context; not all abnormalities are negative.

• Distress:

  • Can result from unpleasant events.

  • Some disorders may not consistently cause distress.

• Impairment:

  • Not all impairments are due to disorders.

Continuum

• Everyone deviates, experiences distress, or faces impairments at times.

• Distinction between normal and abnormal is a matter of degree, not an either/or situation.

Diagnosing Psychological Disorders

• DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders):

  • First edition in 1952. Current edition is DSM-5.

  • Uses checklists of symptoms for diagnosis.

DSM-5: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Example

• Presence of at least 2 symptoms indicates AUD.

• Severity defined by number of symptoms:

  • Mild: 2-3 symptoms

  • Moderate: 4-5 symptoms

  • Severe: 6 or more symptoms

• Symptoms (examples):

  • 1 - Alcohol taken in larger amounts/longer period than intended.

  • 2 - Persistent desire/unsuccessful efforts to cut down.

  • 3 - Time spent obtaining, using, or recovering from alcohol.

  • 4 - Craving or strong urge to use alcohol (new to DSM-5).

  • 5 - Recurrent use resulting in failure to fulfill obligations.

  • 6 - Continued use despite social/interpersonal problems.

  • 7 - Important activities given up/reduced.

  • 8 - Recurrent use in physically hazardous situations.

  • 9 - Continued use despite knowledge of psychological/physical problem.

  • 10 - Tolerance:

    • (a) Need for increased amounts to achieve effect.

    • (b) Diminished effect with the same amount.

  • 11 - Withdrawal:

    • a. Characteristic withdrawal syndrome.

    • b. Alcohol (or similar substance) taken to relieve/avoid withdrawal.

Diagnosing Psychological Disorders: Potential Dangers of Diagnostic Labels

• Labels create preconceptions that affect thoughts and behavior.

• Inaccurate/unkind beliefs about people with psychological disorders.

• Influence of media.

• Belief that those with disorders are dangerous.

Diagnosing Psychological Disorders: Benefits of Diagnostic Labels

• Enables efficient communication among professionals.

• Helps identify proper courses of treatment.

Anxiety Disorders

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Panic Disorder

• Phobias

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Core features:

  • Continual tension and unease, even without specific triggers.

  • Excessive anxiety occurring most days for at least 6 months.

  • Disrupts normal functioning (social, work, etc.).

Panic Disorder

• Panic attacks:

  • Sudden onset of fear of disaster/losing control.

  • Strong physical reactions (racing heart, sweating, breathing problems, dizziness).

  • Intense worry about when the next attack will happen.

• Avoidance of places where attacks have occurred.

Phobias

• Excessive or irrational fear of specific objects/situations (e.g., spiders, small spaces, flying).

  • Reactions are uncontrollable.

  • Can result from traumatic incident.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Results from experiencing/witnessing a traumatic event (e.g., war, abuse, natural disaster).

• Characterized by:

  • Flashbacks (reliving event).

  • Avoiding reminders of the event.

  • Hyperarousal (being "on edge").

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Obsessions:

  • Unwanted, persistent, stress-inducing thoughts/urges (e.g., concerns about cleanliness/order).

• Compulsions:

  • Repetitive behaviors/thoughts driven by obsessions (e.g., hand washing, checking, counting).