3/20/15 Abnormal Psychology Psychological Disorder How would you define a Psychological Disorder? Patterns of thoughts, feelings, or actions that are deviant, distressful, or dysfunctional. Early Theories 16th-18th c. Abnormal behavior was evil spirits trying to get out. Trepanning was often used Witchhunts/exorcisms 19th c. Insane asylums Isolation 20th c. Mental Illness and DSM Perspectives and Disorders Psychological School/Perspective Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Cause of the Disorder Internal, unconscious drives Humanistic Failure to strive to one s potential or being out of touch with one s feelings. Behavioral Reinforcement history, the environment. Cognitive Irrational, dysfunctional thoughts or ways of thinking. Sociocultural Biomedical/Neuroscience Dysfunctional Society Organic problems, biochemical imbalances, genetic predispositions. 1
3/20/15 DSM-5 Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: the big book of disorders. DSM will classify disorders and describe the symptoms. DSM will NOT explain the causes or possible cures. Major Classifications in the DSM Neurotic Disorders Distressing but one can still function in society and act rationally. 5 Scale Diagnosis Axis I Clinical Disorders (can be changed through medication or symptoms can be treated) Axis II Personality disorders and Mental Retardation (cannot be changed) Axis III General Medical Conditions Axis IV Psychosocial and Environmental Problems Axis V Global Assessment of Functioning (on a scale of 1-100 how the person is functioning at the time they are first seen used as a comparative throughout treatment). Copyright Allyn & Bacon 2007 Types of Disorders Psychotic Disorders Person loses contact with reality, experiences distorted perceptions. Anxiety Disorders Personality Disorders Mood Disorders (Thought) Disorders Eating Disorders Schizophrenia John Wayne Gacy Anxiety Disorders a group of conditions where the primary symptoms are anxiety or defenses against anxiety. the patient fears something awful will happen to them. They are in a persistent state of intense apprehension, uneasiness, uncertainty, or fear. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) a person is continuously tense, apprehensive and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal feels inadequate can t concentrate suffers from insomnia Panic disorder includes panic attacks 2
3/20/15 Phobias Focus the anxiety on some specific object, activity, or situation Irrational fear that disrupts behavior A person experiences sudden episodes of intense dread Phobia List Flashbacks or nightmares following a person s involvement in or observation of an extremely stressful event. Memories of the event cause anxiety. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 30% of Vietnam vets 20% of Afghanistan vets Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Obsessions Germs Danger Order Overly concerned with certain thoughts and performing certain behaviors. Not as extreme as OCD anxiety Compulsions Excessive grooming Repeating rituals Checking locks, etc. These disorders involve a disruption in the conscious process. memory or identity Thought disorders Disorders Disorders Disorders fugue Depersonalization disorder A psychologically induced loss of memory for personal information amnesia Depersonalization disorder amnesia with the addition of flight from one s home, family, and job identity disorder identity disorder 3
3/20/15 Disorders Disorders amnesia amnesia Fugue identity disorder Abnormality involving the sensation of mind and body having separated Fugue Depersonalization disorder Condition in which the individual displays multiple identities Mood Disorders Experience extreme or inappropriate emotion. Major Depression Seasonal Affective Disorder Bi-Polar Disorder Personality Disorders Well-established, maladaptive ways of behaving that negatively affect people s ability to function. Dominates their personality Sub-categories Anxious Dramatic Odd Causes & treatments? Small Group Discussion Questions 1. How can you distinguish between a disorder and a unique personality or temperament? 2. If you treat or cure a personality disorder, are you changing that person s identity? Why or why not? 3. Why do you think the DSM does not list cures or possible causes? 4. Assess the validity of labeling someone with a mental illness. What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? 5. Should places of employment or educational institutions be aware or informed of mental illness? Why or why not? 6. Can you think of celebrities that may fit any of the personality disorders? 7. Do you think the stigma of mental illness will ever go away? Explain your answer. Antisocial Personality Disorder Lack of empathy. Little regard for other s feelings. View the world as hostile and look out for themselves. 4
3/20/15 Histrionic Personality Disorder Needs to be the center of attention. Whether acting silly or dressing provocatively. Schizophrenic Disorders Personality Disorder: suspicion, mistrust of others, social isolation Paranoid Schizoid Schizotypal Narcissistic Personality Disorder Having an unwarranted sense of self-importance. Thinking that you are the center of the universe. The Basics o 1% of population o Lifetime risk slightly higher for men (60%) than women o More common in urban areas many are homeless, victims of crime o Occurs worldwide (24 million worldwide) Psychosis of Schizophrenia Causes Causation: What is known Symptoms 5
3/20/15 Treatment What can I do? Antipsychotic medication (side effects) Therapy The Rosenhan Study Rosenhan s associates were faking symptoms of hearing voices. They were ALL admitted for schizophrenia. None were exposed as imposters. They all left diagnosed with schizophrenia in remission. What are some of the questions raised by this study? 6