Psychological disorders

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR A behavior that is deviant,

maladaptive, or personally distressful over a relatively long period of time.

Deviant- statistically unusual Maladaptive- interferes a person’s

ability to function effectively in the world.

Personally distressful- something troubling a person in a long period of time.

THEORETICAL APPROACHES Biological Approach- attributes

psychological disorders to organic, internal causes. Focuses on the brain, genetic factors as sources of abnormality.

Psychological Approach- emphasizes the contributions of experiences, thoughts, and emotions, & personality characteristics in explaining disorders.

THEORETICAL APPROACHES Sociocultural Approach-

emphasizes the social context such as individual’s gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status , family relationship, culture

Biopsychosocial Model – abnormal behavior can be influenced by biological (genes), psychological (childhood experiences), sociocultural (gender).

MAJOR CATEGORIES OF PSYCOLOGICAL DISORDERS

1. ANXIETY DISORDER Psychological Disorders involving fears that

are uncontrollable, disproportionate to the actual danger the person might be in, & disruptive of ordinary life.

A. GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER- Psychological Disorder marked by

persistent anxiety for at least 6 months & which the individual is unable to specify the reasons for anxiety.

B. PANIC DISORDER- Anxiety in which the individual experiences

recurrent, sudden onsets of intense terror often w/o warning or w/ no specific cause.

C. Phobic Disorder- Anxiety disorder characterized by an

irrational, overwhelming, persistent fear of a particular object or situation.

Acrophobia Fear of high placesAerophobia Fear of flyingAerophobia Fear of flyingAilurophobia Fear of catsAlgophobia Fear of painAmaxophobia Fear of vehicles drivingArachnophobia Fear of spidersAstrapophobia Fear of lightningCynophobia Fear of dogsGamophobia Fear of marriage

Hydrophobia Fear of waterMelissophobia Fear of beesMysophobia Fear of dirtNyctophobia Fear of darknessOphidiophobia Fear of nonpoisonous

snakesThanatophobia Fear of deathXenophobia Fear of strangersSocial phobia Fear of being

humiliated or embarrassed in social situations

D. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)-anxiety disorder w/c the individual has

anxiety-provoking thoughts that will not go away and/ or urges to perform repetitive, ritualistic behaviors to prevent or produce some future situation.

Obsession- recurrent thoughtsCompulsions-recurrent behaviors

E. Post- traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)- Develops through exposure to a

traumatic event that has overwhelmed the person’s abilities to cope.

2. MOOD DISORDERSPsychological Disorders in which there is a

primary disturbance of mood- which colors the entire emotional state of a person.

a. Depressive Disorder a mood disorder in which the individual

suffers from depression- ruthless lack of pleasure in life.

Major types: Major Depressive Disorder

(MDD) Dysthymic Disorder (DD)

b. Bipolar Disorder- Mood disorder characterized by extreme

mood swings that include one or more episodes of mania, an overexcited, unrealistically optimistic state.

3. DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS Involve a sudden loss of memory or

change in identity due to the dissociation (separation) of the individual’s conscious awareness from previous memories and thoughts.

a. Dissociative Amnesia- Characterized by extreme memory loss

that is caused by extensive psychological stress.

b. Dissociative Fugue- The individual not only develops

amnesia but also unexpectedly travels away from home and sometimes assumes new identity.

c. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)- Formerly called multiple personality

disorder, a disorder in which individual has two or more distinct personalities or identities, each with its own memories, behaviors, and relationships.

- Each identity has its own memories, behaviors, and relationships.

4. SCHIZOPHRENIASchizophrenia is a chronic and severe

brain disorder.

It is a disease that makes it difficult for a person to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have appropriate emotional responses to others, aspects of memory and to act appropriately in social situations.

POSITIVE SYMPTOMSPositive symptoms are characterized by abnormal

thoughts, perceptions, language and behavior.

Delusions: False beliefs/thoughts win no basis in reality Hallucinations: Disturbances of sensory perception (hearing,

seeing or feeling things not there) Disorganized Thinking/Speech: Jumping from topic to

topic, responding to questions with unrelated answers or speaking incoherently

Disorganized Behavior:Problems in performing directed daily activities.

Catatonic Behavior: Lowered environmental awareness, unresponsiveness, rigid posture, resistance to movement or instructions and inappropriate postures.

NEGATIVE SYMPTOMSNegative symptoms are characterized by restrictions

in range and intensity of emotional expression, communication, body language and interest in normal activities.

Blunted (or flat) Affect: Decreased emotional expressiveness, unresponsive immobile facial appearance, reduced eye contact and body language.

Alogia: Reduced speech. Responses are detached and speech is not fluid.

Avolition: Lacking motivation, spontaneity, initiative. Sitting for lengthy periods or ceasing to participate in work or daily activities.

Anhedonia: Lacking Pleasure or interest in activities that were once enjoyable.

Attention Deficit: Difficulty in concentrating

5. PERSONALITY DISORDERS Chronic, maladaptive cognitive-behavioral pattern

that are thoroughly integrated into an individual’s personality.

a. Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)- Psychological disorder characterized by

guiltlessness, law-breaking, exploitation of others, irresponsibility, and deceit.

b. Borderline Personality Disorder (BDP)- Psychological disorder characterized by a

pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, and of marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood & present in a variety of context.

THERAPIES

BIOLOGICAL THERAPIES Also called biomedical medical therapies, treatments that reduce or eliminate the symptoms of psychological disorders by altering aspects of the body functioning.

This is commonly used in treating anxiety disorder, depressive disorders, and psychotic disorders.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)- also known as shock therapy, which uses drugs in treating disorders.

Psychosurgery – involves removal or destruction of the brain tissue to improve the individual’s adjustment.

PSYCHOTHERAPIES A nonmedical process that helps

individuals with psychological disorders recognize and overcome their problems.

a) Psychoanalysisb) Client-centered Therapyc) Behavior Therapyd) Cognitive Therapye) Group Therapy