Download Psychological Disorders

Psychological Disorders
“Abnormal” Psychology
Chapter 18
I. What are they?
A. Definition: behavior patterns or mental
processes that cause serious personal
suffering or interfere with a person’s ability to
cope with everyday life
B. More common than you think: estimates
suggest that almost one third (33%) of US
adults have experienced some form of
psychological disorder
C. Symptoms
1. What might suggest that an individual has a
psych. disorder?




Typicality (how “average”)
Maladaptivity (behaviors that impair ability to
function adequately in everyday life)
Emotional discomfort (severe personal
emotional discomfort)
Socially unacceptable behavior (within a
culturally-bound context)
D. Classifying Psychological Disorders
1. Most widely used classifying system is
DSM—Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders by American Psychiatric
Association (See p. 414)
2. Since 1980, the DSM III categorizes
disorders on the basis of observable signs
and symptoms rather than presumed causes
based on Freud’s psychoanalytic theory.
3. DSM is subject to ongoing revision . . .
D. Classifying . . . cont’d
4. Six major types of disorders:
anxiety disorders
dissociative disorders
somatoform disorders
mood disorders
schizophrenia
personality disorders
II. Anxiety Disorders
A general state of dread or uneasiness that
occurs in response to a vague or imagined
danger.
 Some anxiety is normal—problematic when a
person feels this way all the time or if anxiety
is out of proportion to the situation.
A. Emotional Signs:
nervousness, inability to relax,
concern about losing control

II. Anxiety Disorders . . . cont’d.
B. Physical Signs:
trembling, sweating, rapid heart rate,
shortness of breath, increased blood flow,
flushed face, feeling faint, light-headedness
C. Phobic Disorder:
1. Simple Phobia—most common, refers
to a persistent excessive or irrational fear of
a particular object or situation. Leads to
avoidance that interferes with everyday life.
II. Anxiety Disorders . . . cont’d.
Examples of simple phobias:
zoophobia—
claustrophobia—
arachnophobia—
hematophobia—
aviaphobia—
2. Social Phobia—persistent fear of social
situations in which they might be exposed
to close scrutiny of others.
II. Anxiety Disorders . . . cont’d.
D. Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia—
recurring and unexpected panic attacks.
Panic attack = a period of intense fear or
discomfort characterized by shortness of
breath, dizziness, rapid heart rate, trembling,
sweating, choking, nausea. Can last from
minutes to hours—may believe they are
dying or going crazy.
Agoraphobia = fear of being in places
that might be difficult/impossible to escape.
II. Anxiety Disorders . . . cont’d.
E. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Excessive and/or unrealistic worry about
life circumstances that last for at least 6
months.
F. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
1. Most acute of anxiety disorders
2. Obsession = unwanted thoughts, ideas
or mental images
3. Compulsions = repetitive ritual
behaviors involving checking and
cleaning
II. Anxiety Disorders . . . cont’d.
G. Stress Disorders:
1. Post-traumatic stress disorder—intense,
persistent feelings of anxiety caused by a
traumatic experience. Ex._____________
Symptoms include:
flashbacks, nightmares, numbness of
feelings, avoidance, sleep disturbances,
irritability, poor concentration
Lasts more than 6 months—can last for years
II. Anxiety Disorders . . . cont’d.
2. Acute stress disorder—short-term with
similar symptoms of PTSD which occur
immediately and only lasts from a few days to
a few weeks.
Psychological Views:
Psychoanalytic theory—anxiety is result of
forbidden childhood urges that have been
repressed.
Learning theory—phobias are conditioned in
childhood
Cognitive theory—anxiety is caused by
negative response to most situations and
helpless feelings result.
II. Anxiety Disorders . . . cont’d.
Biological views:
--Research with identical twins and adoptees
shows heredity may play a role in anxiety
disorders
Some cases of anxiety disorders reflect the
interaction of both biological and
psychological factors