Download Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology
A.K.A. Psychological Disorders
Psychological Disorder
1. unusual (deviant from typical behavior in
that culture)
2. causes distress in the person experiencing
the symptoms
3. harmful dysfunction : interferes with life
Early Theories
• Abnormal behavior was evil
spirits trying to get out
• Beatings, burnings, castration,
pulling teeth, removing parts of
intestines, caged like animals,
animal blood transfusions, &
trephining were often used
Medical Model
• 1800s medical model emerges, replaces
“evil” cause of mental illness
• Medical Model: A mental illness needs
to be diagnosed on the basis of its
symptoms and can be treated
• Biopsychosocial approach: today’s
psychologists say that all behavior
(normal or disordered) arises from
interaction of nature & nurture
– Nature: depression & schizophrenia…
– Nurture: eating disorders, phobias…
Perspectives and Disorders
Psychological School/Perspective
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic
Cause of the Disorder
Internal, unconscious drives, root in
childhood
Humanistic
Failure to strive to one’s potential or being
out of touch with one’s feelings, being too
sensitive to others’ criticisms/judgments,
lack of positive regard as a child
Behavioral
Reinforcement history, the environment.
At some point the abnormal behavior has
been rewarded or reinforced & is now an
established pattern of behavior
Cognitive
Irrational, illogical, dysfunctional thoughts
or ways of thinking lead us to misperceive
the world (leading to abnormal behavior)
Sociocultural
Biological/Neuroscience
Society & culture help define what is
acceptable behavior
Organic problems, biochemical imbalances,
genetic predispositions (very popular in US
right now)
DSM IV
• Diagnostic and
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
DSM IV
• Axis I
– major disorders (schizophrenia, depression,
dementia, mood, eating, sleep…)
• Axis II
– Developmental & Personality disorders (antisocial,
narcissism, autism, mental retardation…)
• Axis III
– Physical disorders (brain injury, HIV/AIDS…)
• Axis IV
– Assesses the level of psychosocial & environmental
stress the person is experiencing
• Axis V
– Overall assessment of the person’s level of
functioning
Two Major Classifications in the
DSM
Neurotic Disorders
• Distressing but one can
still function in society
and act rationally.
Psychotic Disorders
• Person loses contact
with reality,
experiences distorted
perceptions.
John Wayne Gacy
Anxiety Disorders
• Psychological disorders
characterized by
distressing, persistent
anxiety or dysfunctional
behaviors to reduce
anxiety
• the patient fears
something awful will happen
to them
• They are in a state of
intense apprehension,
uneasiness, uncertainty, or
fear
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GAD
• An anxiety disorder in
which a person is
continuously tense,
apprehensive, & in a state
of autonomic nervous
system arousal
• The patient is constantly
tense and worried, feels
inadequate, is oversensitive,
can’t concentrate and
suffers from insomnia
• 2/3 are women
Phobias
• An anxiety disorder marked by a
persistent, irrational fear and
avoidance of a specific object,
activity, or situation
• Social phobia: intense fear of
being scrutinized by others,
avoid potentially embarrassing
situations (speaking up, going to
parties…)
• Phobia List
Phobias
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Top 10 phobias
Fear of snakes
Fear of being buried alive •
•
Fear of heights
Fear of being bound/tied up •
•
Fear of drowning
•
Fear of public speaking
•
Fear of hell
Fear of cancer
Fear of tornadoes/hurricanes
Fear of fire
What are the following
phobias?
Uxoriphobia
Mikrophobia
Xenophobia
Trichophobia
Nyctophobia
Triskadekaphobia
Panic Disorder
• An anxiety disorder marked
by a minutes-long episode
of intense dread in which a
person experiences terror
• Will have chest pain, heart
palpitations, dizziness,
choking and other
frightening sensations
• Those who smoke have
double risk of panic
disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder
• Persistent unwanted
thoughts (obsessions, ex:
germs, death…) cause
someone to feel the need
(compulsion, ex: checking
locks, in/out of a door…) to
engage in a particular
action
• Ex: Obsession about dirt
and germs may lead to
compulsive hand washing
• 2-3%, often in late
teens/early twenties
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Flashbacks/nightmares following a person’s
involvement in or observation of an
extremely stressful event (accident,
disaster, sexual assault, violence…)
• Memories of the event cause anxiety
– Half of adults will experience at least 1
traumatic event, only 1 in 10 women ptsd,
1 in 20 men
• After 9/11, 8% ptsd, 19% of Vietnam vets
• 1 in 6 Iraq vets have symptoms (1 in 4 some
psych disorder)
• Post-traumatic growth: positive
psychological changes that come from
challenging circumstances
– Greater appreciation for life, priorities…
– Good can come from our worst
experiences
Somatoform Disorders
• Occur when a person
manifests a
psychological
problem through a
physiological
symptoms
• Two types……
Conversion Disorder
• A health problem that starts as
a mental/emotional crisis and
converts into a physical problem
• Often related to the stress
they are under
-Ex: blindness, loss of
sensation...
-Ex: you fall off a horse & you
become paralyzed even though
you are not physically injured
Hypochondriasis
• A person interprets
normal physical
sensations as
symptoms of a
disease
• They usually believe
that the minor
issues (headache,
upset stomach) are
indicative are more
severe illnesses
Mood Disorders
• Mood Disorders: Characterized by emotional
extremes
Major Depressive Disorder
• 2 weeks or more of very depressed moods
– Lethargic/fatigue/lack of energy
– feelings of worthlessness
– loss of pleasure/interest in activities
– Loss of appetite/overeat
– Lack of sleep/too much sleep
• Not caused by drugs or a medical condition
• Survey: 29% hs students, 44% college students
• 13% of adults
• World Health Org- affects 5.8% of men & 9.5%
women in any yr
• 1 in 4 w/ depression is struggling w/ a significant
loss (death, job, relationship)
Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Experience
depression during
the winter months
• Based not on
temperature, but on
amount of sunlight
• Treated with light
therapy
Bipolar Disorder
• Person alternates b/w
hopelessness of depression &
overexcited states of mania
(formally manic depression)
• Mania: hyperactive, wildly
optimistic state
– Overactive, overtalkative, little
sleep, find advice irritating,
exhibit poor judgment (unsafe
sex, reckless spending…)
• Many Creatives: Walt
Whitman, Virginia Woolf,
Ernest Hemingway, Mark
Twain
• What goes up must come
down
Neurotransmitters
• Norepinephrine (increases arousal &
boosts mood)
– Scarce during depression
– Overabundant during mania
• Serotonin
– Scarce during depression
• Explanatory Style
– Our way of thinking- who or what we
blame for our successes & failures
– Depressed people tend to blame
themselves, feeding the negative
feelings
– Remember: if you feel down, you think
negatively & remember bad experiences
Dissociative Disorders
• These disorders
involve someone
experiencing a
sudden loss of
memory or change in
identity
• Often in response to
overwhelming
stressful event
• Three types….
Psychogenic (Dissociative)
Amnesia
• A person cannot
remember things with
no physiological basis
for the disruption in
memory
• Lose memories of
distant & recent past
• Lose personal identity
• Usually occurs after a
traumatic or stressful
event
• Usually temporary
Dissociative Fugue
• Dissociative Amnesia &
creating a physical
distance from your
real life
• Last usually only a few
hours or days, rarely
months
Click above to
watch a real life
example
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Click above to see an
explanation of DID
• Used to be known as
Multiple Personality
Disorder
• A rare disorder in
which a person has 2 or
more distinct,
alternating
personalities
• People with DID
commonly have a history
of childhood abuse or
trauma
• Very controversial
Personality Disorders
• Inflexible &
continuous behavior
patterns that
negatively affect
people’s ability to
function
• Dominates their
personality
Antisocial Personality Disorder
• Lack of conscience &
empathy
• Little regard for
other’s feelings
• View the world as
hostile and look out
only for themselves
• Formerly called
sociopath
• 3% males, 1%
females
Avoidant Personality Disorder
• Feelings of inadequacy, hypersensitive
to what others think about them &
rejection
• Avoids socializing/interacting with
others
• 0.5%-1% of population
Borderline Personality
Disorder
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Tries to avoid abandonment (real or imagined)
Pattern of unstable & intense relationships
Unstable self-image, feelings of empitness
Impulsive
Recurrent suicidal behavior
Emotional instability
Intense anger & trouble controlling it
Paranoid thoughts
75% are female, 2% of population
Dependent Personality Disorder
• Fear of being separated from
important people in their
lives, become “clingy”
• Difficulty making everyday
decisions
• Feels helpless when alone
• Excessive lengths to get
support from others
• Difficulty disagreeing with
others
• Need others to take charge in
most areas of life
Histrionic Personality Disorder
• Needs to be the center of
attention & feels uncomfortable
when not
• Inappropriate sexual or
provocative behavior
• Uses physical appearance to draw
attention
• Thinks relationships are closer
than they actually are
• Dramatic, theatrical,
exaggerated emotions
• 2-3% of population
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• Having an exaggerated sense of
self-importance
• Overwhelming need for
admiration
• Patronizing, snobby
• Preoccupied w/ fantasies of
unlimited, success, power,
beauty…
• Lacks empathy
• Arrogant behaviors & attitudes
• Exploits others
• 1% population (more male)
Paranoid Personality Disorder
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Distrustful & suspicious of others
Thinks others’ motives are always bad
Affects every relationship they have
Preoccupied w/ doubts about loyalty of
friends
• Reluctant to confide in others bc think it will
be used against
• Holds grudges
• 0.5%-2.5% of population
Schizoid Personality Disorder
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Detached from social relationships
Doesn’t enjoy close relationships (even family)
Difficulty expressing emotions
Uninterested in sex, activities, relationships
Seems emotionally cold & detached
More common in males
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
• Odd beliefs that differ from cultural norms
– Telepathy, bizarre fantasies
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Unusual perceptual experiences
Suspicious or paranoid
Odd, eccentric, strange behavior/appearance
Lack of close friends
Social anxiety (often associated w/ paranoia)
Less that 3%
Obsessive –Compulsive
Personality Disorder
• Overly concerned
with certain
thoughts and
performing certain
behaviors.
• Not as extreme as
OCD anxiety.
Schizophrenic Disorders
• About 1 in every 100
people are diagnosed with
schizophrenia
Symptoms of
Schizophrenia
1. Disorganized thinking
2. Disturbed Perceptions
3. Inappropriate
Emotions and Actions
Disorganized Thinking
• The thinking of a
person with
Schizophrenia is
fragmented and
bizarre and distorted
with false beliefs
• Disorganized thinking
comes from a
breakdown in selective
attention- they cannot
filter out information
Delusions (false beliefs)
• Delusions of
Persecution
• Delusions of
Grandeur
Disturbed Perceptions
• hallucinationssensory experiences
without sensory
stimulation
• They see, hear,
smell, feel things
that aren’t there
• Most often auditory
hallucinations
• Seem real!
Inappropriate Emotions and
Actions
• Laugh at
inappropriate times,
angry for no apparent
reason
• Flat Effect
(emotionless state)
• Senseless,
compulsive acts.
• Catatoniamotionless for hours
then agitated
Types of Schizophrenia
Disorganized Schizophrenia
• disorganized speech or
behavior, or flat or
inappropriate emotion
Paranoid Schizophrenia
• preoccupation with
delusions or
hallucinations
• Somebody is out to
get me!!!!
Catatonic Schizophrenia
• Flat effect
• Waxy Flexibility
• parrot like repeating
of another’s speech
and movements
Undifferentiated Schizophrenia
• Many and
varied
Symptoms.
Other Disorders
• Paraphilias
(pedophilia,
zoophilia,
hybristophilia)
• Fetishism
• sadist, masochist
• Eating Disorders
• Substance use
disorders
• ADHD
The Rosenhan Study
• Rosenhan’s associates
were Malingering
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?
Treatment of
Psychological Disorders
• History of treating mental illness was barbaric
• Crusaders like Dorothea Dix changed treatment
(mental hospitals)
• 2 main categories of mental health therapies:
1. Psychotherapy (overcome difficulties & achieve
personal growth)
2. Biomedical therapy (medication or medical
procedure)
• Many psychotherapists say they take an eclectic
approach-blend different types of therapy
Therapy
• It used to be that if
someone exhibited
abnormal behavior,
they were
institutionalized.
• Because of new drugs
and better therapy,
the U.S. went to a
policy of
deinstitutionalization.
Psychoanalytic Therapy
• Psychoanalysis (manifest and
latent content through….
Hypnosis, free association,
dream interpretation)
• Resistance: blocking memories,
experiences that cause anxiety
• The analyst will interpret
behaviors, dreams, events…in
order to promote insight
• Transference: patient
transfers emotions linked with
other relationships on the
analyst (+ or -)
Evaluating Psychotherapy
• Clients and therapists say yes! but that
in itself cannot prove its effectiveness
• Meta-analysis: procedure for
statistically combining results of
different studies
• The verdict: those not undergoing
therapy often improve, but those
undergoing therapy are more likely to
improve
Humanistic Therapy
• Psychoanalytic & humanistic therapies are seen as
insight therapies (providing new insights to help boost
self-fulfillment & self-acceptance)
• Client-Centered Therapy (Carl Rogers)
– Focuses on the person’s conscious self-perceptions
– These are non-directive therapies and use active
listening
• Paraphrase (summarize in your own words to
check understanding)
• Invites clarification (“What might be an
example of that?”)
• Reflect feelings (acknowledge their feelings &
mirror what you are sensing)
– Self-actualization, free-will and unconditional
positive regard
• Gestalt Therapy by Fritz Perls encourage clients to
get in touch with whole self.
Behavioral Therapies
• Behavior therapy: applies
learning principles to eliminate
unwanted behaviors
• Believe can replace learned
behaviors w/ constructive
behaviors
• Counterconditioning: uses
classical conditioning to
generate new responses to
stimuli
1. Exposure Therapy
2. Aversive Conditioning
1. Systematic desensitization
2. Flooding
Operant Conditioning
• Token Economy
Cognitive Therapy
• Change the way we
view the world
(change our
schemas)
• Aaron Beck
• Albert Ellis and
Rational Emotive
Therapy
Somatic Therapies
Psychopharmacology
• Antipsychotics
(thorazine, haldol)
• Anti-anxiety (valium,
barbiturates, Xanax)
• Mood Disorders
(serotonin reuptake
inhibitors)
• Bipolar (lithium)
Group Therapy