Unit 8 Mental Illness

Mental illness=continuum 

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5: split into categories for disorders



Positives/Negatives of Diagnostic Labels: 

Positive 

  • Know your not aloe 

  • You can make a pla so your less stress 

  • Get insurance/coverage 

  • Communication with doctors 

Negative 

  • Feel isolated from others (not normal)



Diathesis-Stress Model: Looks at combination of predisposition (if family already suffered from it) and environmental stress (amount of stress in your life) to see how likely you will develop a mental illness 





Perspective

How would the perspective explain why someone struggles with mental illness?

Psychoanalytic

Repressed childhood trauma

Cognitive

illogical/maladaptive thinking

Humanistic

Discrepancy between real and ideal self or missing something from maslow's hierarchy of needs

Behavioural

Learned behaviours (classical conditioning, operant conditions, observational learning)

Biological

Chemical imbalance

Sociocultural

Environment around you (stressful environment)



Panic Disorder

Random panic attacks with no reason 

  • Panic attack symptoms (shortness of breath, increase heart rate)

Agoraphobia

Fear of where you might be fearful 

  • Anxiety about being in places you can't escape (Ex: avoid being in a crowded room)

  • Can come with panic attacks 

Specific Phobia

Fear of an object or situation that is irrational and uncontrollable 

  • Know what you fear but you can't control that fear 

  • Out of proportion with reality (Ex: phobia of clowns) 

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Generally anxious all the time with no reason 

  • Uncontrollable anxiety for at least 6 months 

  • Impatient on areas of life (Ex: Irrational)

Bipolar I



Very high highs and very low lows  

  • Alteration between manic and depressive states

Bipolar II

High highs and very low lows 

  • Alteration between hypomania (less extreme manic episodes) and depressive states 

Major Depressive Disorder

Extreme depression without cause (loss in brain activity) 

  • Loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities 

  • Lack of serotonin (biological) 

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Separate distinct personalities in 1 person 

  • Different identities have their own memory, way of writing, etc (see fluctuation in persons behaviour)

Dissociative Amnesia

Taking on a ew personality with no memory of the old one 

  • Memory gaps 

  • Usually happens with someone who has experienced trauma

Anorexia Nervosa

Restricting your eating in order to lose weight 

  • Distorted body image

Bulimia Nervosa

Consume lots of food followed by purging the food 

  • Know what they are doing is bad, feel like they have no control over it

Binge Eating Disorder

Consume lots of food uncontrollably 

  • Feel like they have not control over it

Autism Spectrum Disorder


Unusual patterns of social & cognitive development 

  • Social interaction & communication deficents (Ex: poor eye contact) 

  • Desire sameness & routines (fixation on task/objects)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity 

Disorder

Short attention span, distractibility, can't remain inactive 

  • Hyperactivity (Ex: fidget in your seat) 

  • Inattention (Ex: forget things) 

  • Impulsivity (Ex: being impatient) 

Tourette’s 

Tic disorder (rapid & repetitive uncontrollable movements/sounds)  

  • Typically cause by dysfunctional nervous system

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder


  Persistent thoughts (obsessions) to do senseless rituals (compulsion) 

  • Intrusive thoughts → intense anxiety over it → compulsion ritual → Relief         

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Preoccupation on an imagined defect in your appearance 

  • Time consuming preoccupation of “defect” 

  • “Defect” generally goes unnoticed by others

Schizophrenia

Effect how a person think, feels, and behaves 

  • Positive symptoms/added: hallucinations (fake experiences), delusions (fake beliefs), disorganised thinking/speech 

  • Negative symptoms/taken away: flat affect (no emotions), impaired decision making , impaired attention

  • Lots of dopamine 

Conversion Disorder

Defects to voluntary or sensory functions with no medical condition 

  • Physical paralysis or hearing/vision impairments 

  • Not anatomically possible impairments

Illness Anxiety Disorder (formerly hypochondriasis)/Factitious Disorder

Anxiety on having or getting a disease 

  • 2 types: care avoidance (“no doctor!”), care seeking (“doctor help me!”) 

  • Closely monitor your body

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Impairments/flashbacks/anxiety following a tragic event 

  • Haunting memories, flashbacks, social withdrawal, sleep problems

Antisocial

Having a negative effect on society 

  • Disregard for others/the law 

  • Manipulative 

  • Have to be at least 18 to be diagnosed

Borderline

Insatiable interpersonal relationships, self image, and mood resulting in impulsive behaviour

  • Impulsivity & mood swings (see as hyper sensitive)

Histrionic

Excessive attention seeking behaviour which is usually inappropriate 

  • Making up stories for attention

Narcissistic

Long term pattern of a need for admiration along with a lack of empathy for others 

  • Believe you are special