C hapter Fourteen Psychological Disorders © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter FourteenPsychological Disorders


Five Common Myths About Mental Illness

1. People with psychological disorders act in bizarre ways and are very different from normal people

2. Mental disorders are a sign of personal weakness3. Mentally ill people are often dangerous and

unpredictable4. A person who has been mentally ill never fully

recovers5. Most mentally ill individuals can work at only low-

level jobs


STUDYING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS


Abnormal Behavior

Patterns of behaviors, thoughts, or emotions considered pathological (diseased or disordered) for one or more of four reasons:

DevianceDysfunctionDistressDanger

WILEY VIDEODying to be Thin

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/dyingtobethin.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/dyingtobethin.html


Initial Understanding of Abnormal Behavior

Evil spirits and witchcraftAsylums—initially good intentions, but many resulted in

inhumane conditions


Initial Understanding of Abnormal Behavior

Medical model—perspective that assumes diseases (including mental illness) have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and possibly cured

Psychiatry—branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders

“Mentally ill” label can have drawbacksWhat might be some drawbacks?


Seven Psychological Perspectives on Abnormal Behavior


Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV-TR

Classification system developed by the American Psychiatric Association used to name and describe abnormal behaviors

Neurosis—outmoded term for disorders characterized by unrealistic anxiety and other associated problems; less severe disruptions than psychosis

Psychosis—serious mental disorders characterized by extreme mental disruption and defective or lost contact with reality

Insanity—legal term applied when people cannot be held responsible for their actions, or are judged incompetent to manage their own affairs, because of mental illness



Approximately 400 disorders17 categories


Main Categories in DSM-IV-TR


Main Categories in DSM-IV-TR


Most Common DSM-IV-TR Diagnoses



Organizes diagnostic information into five dimensions/axes:

1. Clinical disorders2. Personality disorders and mental retardation3. General medical condition4. Psychosocial and environmental problems5. Global assessment of functioning


Five Axes of DSM-IV-TR


DSM-IV-TR Criticisms and Limitations

OverdiagnosingCultural biasProblem of labels


ANXIETY DISORDERS


Anxiety Disorders

Definition Overwhelming apprehension

and fear accompanied by autonomic nervous system arousal

Five Major Types• Generalized anxiety

disorder (GAD)• Panic disorder• Phobias• Obsessive-compulsive

disorder (OCD)• Posttraumatic stress

disorder (PTSD)

WILEY VIDEOPanic

Disorder

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0470379111/cyberpsych_video_files/html9e/panic_disorder.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0470379111/cyberpsych_video_files/html9e/panic_disorder.html


Anxiety Disorders

WILEY VIDEO9/11 PTSD

Therapy

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0470379111/cyberpsych_video_files/html9e/ptsd_therapy.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0470379111/cyberpsych_video_files/html9e/ptsd_therapy.html


Explaining Anxiety Disorders






MOOD DISORDERS


Mood Disorders

DefinitionExtreme disturbances in

emotional states

Two Major Types• Major Depressive Disorder

—long-lasting depressed mood that interferes with the ability to function, feel pleasure, or maintain interest in life

• Bipolar Disorder—repeated episodes of mania (unreasonable elation, often with hyperactivity) alternating with depression


Depressive Explanatory Style


Suicide

What are some common misconceptions and stereotypes

about suicide?

WILEY VIDEOTroubled

Teens

WILEY VIDEOAntidepressant Suicide Genes

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/troubledteens.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/troubledteens.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0470379111/cyberpsych_video_files/html9e/antidepressant_suicide_genes.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0470379111/cyberpsych_video_files/html9e/antidepressant_suicide_genes.html


Talking to the Depressed

Some General Tips Don’t trivialize the diseaseDon’t be a cheerleader or a Mr. or Mrs. Fix-itDon’t equate normal, everyday “down times”

with clinical depressionEducate yourselfBe RogerianGet help (1-800-SUICIDE)


Explaining Mood Disorders

Biological Factors• Structural brain changes• Neurotransmitter

imbalances• Genetics• Generally adaptive response

(evolutionary perspective)

Psychosocial Factors• Learned helplessness• Attribution• Environmental stressors• Relationship disturbances• Thought disturbances

WILEY VIDEOImaging

Antidepressant Accuracy

WILEY VIDEOBlues to Brains

WILEY VIDEOExercise and Depression

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/imagingantidepressant.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/imagingantidepressant.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/bluestobrains.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/bluestobrains.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/exerciseanddepression.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/exerciseanddepression.html


SCHIZOPHRENIA


Schizophrenia

Group of severe disorders involving major disturbances in perception, language, thought, emotion, and behavior

A more devastating disorderAffects about 1% of the populationEmerges between late teens and mid-thirties

ANIMATIONSchizophrenia

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/cyberpsych/schizophrenia/schizophrenia.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/cyberpsych/schizophrenia/schizophrenia.html


Schizophrenia: Areas of Disturbance

Perception Senses may be enhanced or bluntedHallucinations—false, imaginary sensory perceptions

that occur without external stimuli (most common is auditory)

Language and ThoughtDisorganized and bizarre thoughts and logicWord salad, neologismsDelusions—mistaken beliefs based on

misrepresentations of reality


Schizophrenia: Areas of Disturbance

EmotionExaggerated and fluctuate rapidlyBlunted and decreased intensityFlattened affectBehaviorSocial withdrawalUnusual actions with a special meaningCatalepticWaxy flexibility


Subtypes of Schizophrenia


Schizophrenia: Methods of Classification

Positive SymptomsAdditions or exaggerations• Delusions• Hallucinations

Disorganization of Behavior

Negative SymptomsLoss or absence• Impaired attention• Limited or toneless speech• Flat or blunted affect• Social withdrawal


Explaining Schizophrenia

Biological Factors• Genetics• Neurotransmitters

Dopamine hypothesis— overactivity of dopamine neurons may contribute to some forms of schizophrenia

• Brain abnormalitiesLarger cerebral ventricles

Psychosocial Factors• Diathesis-stress model—

people inherit a predisposition that increases their risk for mental disorders if exposed to certain extremely stressful life experiences

• Critical and hostile families• Families with

communication disorders


Genetics and Schizophrenia


Biopsychosocial Model of Schizophrenia


OTHER DISORDERS


Substance-Related Disorders

Abuse of, or dependence on, a mood- or behavior-altering drug

Comorbidity—co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same person at the same time, as when a person suffers from both depression and alcoholism,possible self-medication

WILEY VIDEOBuzzed

Brain

WILEY VIDEOMaternal

Separation

WILEY VIDEOTeen Brains on Alcohol

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/buzzedbrain.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/buzzedbrain.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/maternalseparation.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/maternalseparation.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/teenbrains.html

http://www.wiley.com/college/huffman/0471747246/video/html/teenbrains.html


Substance Abuse and Dependence


Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative DisorderAmnesia, fugue, or multiple personalities resulting from

a splitting apart of experience from memory or consciousness

Need to escape from anxietyEnvironmental variables are primary causeDissociative Identity Disorder (DID)Presence of two or more distinct personality systems in

the same individual at different times; previously known as multiple personality disorder


Personality Disorders

Inflexible, maladaptive personality traits that cause significant impairment of social and occupational functioning

Antisocial Personality DisorderExtreme disregard for and violation of the rights of

others; guiltless, exploitive, irresponsible, intrusive, and self-indulgent

Ego-centrism, lack of conscience, impulsive behavior, superficial charm

Potential environmental and biological causes


Personality Disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Severe instability in emotion and self-concept, along with impulsive and self-destructive behavior

See the world in black and whiteRelationship problemsPossible environmental and

biological causes


Gender and Psychological Disorders

More women are diagnosed with depression around the world

Why might this be?


Culture and Psychological Disorders

• Differences in schizophrenia rates around the world

• Most research conducted in Western cultures• Culture-general and culture-bound symptoms





C hapter Fourteen Psychological Disorders © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Documents

john wiley sons

wiley videodying

prevention of mental

common dsmiv

mental illnesspeople

extreme mental disruption

normal peoplemental

tr diagnoses