Download Psychological Disorders

Psychological
Disorders
What does it mean to be
normal??
What is ABNORMAL?
As defined by the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders)
- “bible” of mental disorders
- classifies disorders by categories
Abnormal is:
1)
Deviation from Normality- doing
something that is not what most people
do.
(Ex: showering once a week, wearing
shorts in the winter.)
2)
Adjustment- not being able to function
on a day to day basis without assistance
from others. (Ex: Raymond in Rainman)
3)
Psychological Health- people who do
not think in the “proper” manner.
NORMAL?
There is a fine line between “Abnormal” and
“Normal”.
What is normal for one person might be considered
abnormal to someone else.
Ex: “Close talkers”, Shaking hands longer
than normal, singing in the car.
*It is much harder to classify mental disorders than physical
ones, b/c the symptoms are not as clear cut.
Anxiety Disorders
 20% of adults have endured
symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Characteristics of :
– Feelings of nervousness
– Constant worrying
– Physical symptoms (headaches,
sweating, muscle tightness, fatigue)
– Mood swings
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Phobic Disorders
Panic Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD)
Generalized Anxiety
Disorder
What is it?
“always feeling
anxiety”
How common?
 5% of the population
What is anxiety?
–Generalized
apprehension towards
something
–Vague feeling of
danger/nervousness
Generalized Anxiety
Disorder
What does a person with this disorder do?
They create vague and imagined dangers.
They fear unknown circumstances, became unable to
enjoy life.
They create a cycle of worrying- the more they worry,
the more difficult things become, then they worry more.
Does it create physical problems?
It is accompanied by muscular tension, an inability to
relax, poor appetite, difficulty sleeping, indigestion.
Generalized Anxiety
Disorder
Examples:
1) Being anxious on a date, causes a person to have a
fear of dates in general, which causes them to
avoid dates.
2) Fearing a class because you don’t know the
material would cause you to try to avoid the
class or participating in the class.
3) Playing out situations in your head and making
them turn out poorly, causing you to avoid the
situation altogether.
Phobic Disorder
PhobiaSevere anxiety focused on a particular
object, anxiety, or event that seems out of
proportion to the danger involved.
Phobic Disorder
Classification of Phobias
Simple Phobias Social Phobias Ago
Phobic Disorder
SIMPLE PHOBIAcan focus on anything, mainly one object
EX:
Acrophobia-
“fear of high places”
Claustrophobia-
“fear of enclosed
spaces”
Coulrophobia-
“fear of clowns”
Prevalence? About 10% of the population
Phobic Disorder
Social
Phobia-
Fear that a person will embarrass
themselves in front of others.
• have trouble with public speaking
• do not like eating in public, using public facilities
• have trouble meeting new people, first dates
• feel like everyone is judging or watching them
• causes them to go into withdrawal and avoid going out
Prevalence? ~12% of population
Ricky
Williams
Phobic Disorder
Agoraphobia-
-
-
“fear of crowds,
crowded places”
They avoid places where a
lot of people are
present. (i.e. shopping
malls, movies,
restaurants, etc.)
They do not leave their
houses, in extreme cases.
Phobic Disorder
HOW DO PEOPLE DEAL WITH THEIR FEARS?
--- AVOID THEM!!!
WHAT DOES THIS BEHAVIOR CAUSE?
--- REINFORCES BEHAVIOR, BECOMES
LEARNED AND MAINTAINED
WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT OF PHOBIAS?
--- PROVIDING THE PERSON WITH
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE
THEIR FEAR IN SAFE/ CONTROLLED
CONDITIONS
Phobic Disorder
What do you fear?
Rank the top 5 things that you fear from this list:
Bridges
Fire
Death
Heights
Enclosed Spaces
Spiders
Snakes
Open Spaces
Darkness
Ghosts
Clowns
Germs
Being Alone
Insects
Blood
Strangers
Airplanes
Needles
PANIC Disorder
What is a panic
attack?
A sudden an unexplainable attack of
intense fear.
•Leads a person to feel a sense of doom, or that they are about to die.
•Not just worrying about a test, it is very extreme.
What are the symptoms of a panic attack?
•Sense of smothering
•Choking
•Difficulty breathing
•Dizziness
•Chest pains
How long does an attack last?
•
Usually a few minutes, some can
last for 45-60 minutes.
OCD
What does OCD
mean?
What is an
OBSESSION?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Thinking the same
thoughts over and over,
uncontrollable
pattern of thoughts.
Examples: thoughts about death,
thoughts about a person, or hobby,
etc.
OCD
What is a
compulsion?
Repeatedly performing
irrational actions over and over.
Repeatedly performing irrational actions over and over.
Repeatedly performing irrational actions over and over.
Examples:
Washing hands 20-30x’s a
day.
Avoiding cracks on the
sidewalk.
Constantly adding up
numbers you see.
OCD
When does OCD become a problem?
Most people can function day to day with
minor obsessions and compulsions. Only when
they interfere daily routines is it a problem.
Example: Checking and re-checking
information at work that causes a person to
not be able to finish their work.
Why do people develop obsessions and
compulsions?
To avoid other fears, to feel like they are in
control of things.
What
obsessions and
compulsions do
you have?
PTSD
Post-traumatic Stress DisorderSevere and long-lasting aftereffects
associated with a traumatic event.
The event overwhelms their ability to
cope with reality and can affect their
day to day life.
What are the symptoms and effects of
PTSD?
Symptoms- “flashbacks”, nightmares
Effects- experience ordeal, insomnia, feelings
of guilt
PTSD
Who suffers from
it? - military veterans (i.e. Vietnam vets)
- survivors of natural disasters (Tsunami victims)
- victims of human aggressions, crimes (Rape
victims)
- unnatural catastrophes (plane crashes, car
accidents)
SOMATOFORM
DISORDERS
-- Anxiety creates physical symptoms for
which there is no apparent cause.
(Hysteria)
SOMATOFORM DISORDERS
Conversion Reaction
Hypochondriasis
-- Medical tests would not reveal anything
wrong with patients with these
disorders.
SOMATOFORM
DISORDERS
1) Conversion ReactionEmotional difficulties turn into the
loss of a specific physical function.
People with conversion
disorder express emotional
conflict or severe anxiety
due to stress through
physical symptoms that
affect voluntary or sensory
function. These may include
problems with walking or
moving an arm, or even
blindness. This disorder
generally occurs in people
whose usual coping methods
are overwhelmed.
SOMATOFORM
DISORDERS
Conversion Reaction (con’t)
Major Point to Remember:
This results in a real and prolonged
handicap!!!
Example: A person wakes up in the morning
and can not move their legs, instead of
“freaking out” about it, they accept it
without worrying.
Example: A person who has a fear of
blurting things out in public, loses their
speech. (solves the problem)
*Can last for months, then effects can just
disappear.
SOMATOFORM
DISORDERS
2.) HypochondriasisPerson in good health becomes preoccupied
with imaginary ailments.
-- spends time looking for signs of serious illness
(they will often misinterpret minor aches,
pains, or bruises as signs of fatal illnesses).
-- despite tests, they still believe they are ill or
that the tests malfunctioned
Most
“hypochondriacs”
are: -- Young adults, female
Dissociative Disorders
What is a dissociative
disorder?
It is defined as a “disturbance in the conscious
experience”.
Dissociative Disorders are characterized
by either a loss of memory or a loss of
identity.
Dissociative Disorders
Types of Dissociative Disorders
These are very rare disorders.
Psychogenic Amnesia
Their causes are often
unknown.
Psychogenic Fugue
Dissociative Disorders
PSYCHOGENIC AMNESIA
The loss of memory/ identity (not due to a
trauma to the head)
Cause?
Possibly to escape from problems
by blotting them out completely.
--- Amnesia patients know how to
speak and have general knowledge,
but do not remember who they are,
where they live and work, or who
their family is (not damage)
Dissociative Disorders
PSYCHOGENIC FUGUE
Amnesia paired with active flight to a different
environment.
Example: Person may suddenly disappear and wake
up 200 miles from home, have a new identity, job,
and family. They will repress knowledge of their
previous life.
Dissociative Disorders
PSYCHOGENIC FUGUE (con’t)
Fugue- Traveling amnesia, no record of
time when they wake up out of it.
Purpose- To escape from unbearable
conflict or anxiety.
Ex: In the movie, “Fight Club”, the main character, played by
Edward Norton, is extremely depressed and hates his job.
As a result of these emotions, he assumes a new identity,
played by Brad Pitt, and a new life of starting up “fight
clubs” in different parts of the US. He is never aware of his
different identity until the end of the movie when he
realizes it is himself that is carrying out all of these
different activities and not another person who he thought
existed.
Dissociative Disorders
MULTIPLE PERSONALITY
What is it exactly?
This occurs when a person has two or more
distinct identities.
The patient divides up their personality to
escape from the part of themselves that they
do not like.
Ex:
- going from being quiet, shy to being loud,
obnoxious.
- being reserved to being outgoing.
Dissociative Disorders
MULTIPLE PERSONALITY
How common is it?
Only 250 documented cases in history
up until 1990.
Ex:
“Three Faces of Eve”
Chris Costner Sizemore, a.k.a. “Eve”, sought psychiatric
treatment in the early 1970’s for severe headaches and
blackouts. During her sessions, it was discovered that she
exhibited more than one personality. Each personality differed
from her actual personality in some way. “Eve” was unaware of
her different personalities (22 in total), but they all were
aware of her. Eventually she was able to overcome her
disorder through therapy.
MOOD Disorders
MOOD Disorders
1) MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER• must occur over a 2 week period minimum
• 15-25% in women, 5 to 12% in men
2 Types:
1. Single Episode- strikes deeply and seriously in
one dramatic episode (i.e. death of a loved one)
2. Recurrent Depression- extended period of
sadness, anxiety, fatigue (i.e. unhappy with job,
life)
EX: Shelley is depressed. She sits on the couch and watches television
without enjoying the shows. She lacks the energy to clean the house
or to care for the children. She cries frequently and for no apparent
reason other than that she feels life is pointless.
MOOD Disorders
What are some common characteristics of depression?
Physical problems:
Lack of energy
Problems eating/ sleeping
Large weight gains/
losses
Mental issues:
Dependency- sensed need for others help and support
Negative view of themselves and their own worth
Thoughts of worthlessness, guilt, suicide
MOOD Disorders
Causes of depression:
Environmental factors (day to day events)
Life changing situations/ events (deaths, traumatic events)
Chemical imbalances in the brain
Is there a link between suicide and depression?
Yes!
There is a strong link between suicide and mood disorders,
though not everyone that is depressed commits suicide.
Yearly amount?
Most common
among?
30,000 Americans per year (1 every 18 minutes)
Most common among elderly
2nd- college students
More women attempt it, more men succeed.
MOOD Disorders
2) BI-POLAR DISORDER- (Manic-Depressive)
Individuals are excessively and inappropriately happy or
unhappy.
2 Reactions:
1) Manic-type reactionPerson experiences elation, extreme confusion, distractibility,
and racing thoughts.
Ex: Lenny is a carpenter. While in a manic state, he decided to build
a copy of the Empire State building in his backyard. He called the
office, and quit his job, ordered supplies, and asked neighbors to
help him. When the people down the street tried to tell him to check
the city building codes, he became belligerent. He stormed out of
their house accusing them of having no faith in the will and
determination of his neighborhood.
*A manic reaction is hard to detect because the person is very optimistic
and full of energy.
MOOD Disorders
2) Depressive-type reactionIndividuals are overcome by feelings of failure,
worthlessness, and extreme sadness
A person with bi-polar disorder:
Can function around others on a day to day basis.
Can be treated with prescriptions drugs. Lithium is still the most used
drug overall in mania, but mood stabilizers are also used.
More than 2 million American adults, or about 1 percent of the
population age 18 and older in any given year, have bipolar
disorder. Both children and adolescents can develop Bi-polar
Disorder.
*Without effective treatment, bipolar illness leads to suicide in nearly 20% of
cases.
MOOD Disorders
3) SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER- (SAD)
Depression that sets in during the winter months.
Cause?
The less natural light during the winter
causes the brain to produce more
melatonin that can lead to SAD in
individuals
Treatment? Sitting under bright fluorescent lights
during the evening or early morning
hours.
*Depression, like SAD, is twice as likely to affect women
as men.
Schizophrenia
Confused and disordered thoughts and perceptions. (Flawed
thought processes)
FACTS ABOUT:
• 1st appearance is during the teenage yrs.
• It affects more males than females.
• 50% of all patients in mental hospitals have been diagnosed with it
* This is a very serious and devastating disorder and also can be very
dangerous. People with schizophrenia have an extremely hard time
functioning safely and normally in society.
Schizophrenia
Two things associated with schizophrenia:
DELUSIONS- False beliefs maintained despite contrary
evidence
Ex: Someone is out to get them, though they have no facts
that it is actually true.
HALLUCINATIONS-
Sights/ feelings/ sounds that are
experienced without the
appropriate stimulus.
Ex: Seeing spiders crawling on your skin,
when they aren’t there.
Schizophrenia
Symptoms of: (can experience more than one)
1) IncoherenceEx:
Decline in the thought process, speeded
language, or “word salad”
A woman was delighted to receive a letter from her son abroad, but
distraught when she read it: “Dear mother…I am writing on paper.
The pen I am using is from a factory called Perry and Co. The factory
is in England. The city of London is in England. I know this from my
school days. Then I always liked geography. My last teacher in that
subject was Professor August A. He was a man with black eyes.
There are also blue and grey eyes and other sorts too. I have heard it
said that snakes have green eyes. All people have eyes. There are
some, too, who are blind.”
-- from The Human Mind Examined, edited by Susan A. Greenfield,
1996.
Schizophrenia
Symptoms (con’t)
2) Emotional DisturbancesThey have inappropriate emotions for the circumstances.
Ex:
Giggling in the face of a disaster. Taking pride in
hurting an animal.
3) Deterioration in normal movementThey have slower movement, no movement, or agitated
behavior.
4) Diverted AttentionThey are unable to focus.
Schizophrenia
Types of Schizophrenia
1: Paranoid Type- (40% of all cases)
 involves having delusions
a. Grandeur – “I am the savior of my people”, “I am God”
b. Persecution – “Someone is watching me, or out to get me.”
2: Catatonic Type- (least frequent type)
 the patient will remain motionless for a long period of time (weeks,
months, years), limbs will take time to return to their correct position when
they awake.
Will also exhibit speech
impairment.
Schizophrenia
Types (con’t)
3: Disorganized type patient possesses incoherent language, inappropriate
emotions (ex: laughing for no reason), hallucinations.
4: Undifferentiated type- (40% of cases)
 patient has hallucinations, delusions, scrambled
thoughts, speech--- all characteristics or none.
Schizophrenia
Treatment of Schizophrenia
Treatment is long term and usually requires hospitalization. Often
those with this disorder are institutionalized. (over 50% of
total)
Is it Permanent?
-- Yes, but it can go into remission for a period of time with
the proper treatment. No cure exists.
Schizophrenia
Causes of Schizophrenia
1: Biological—
- Genetics does play an important factor in developing the
disorder. (13% get it from a parent)
2: Biochemistry and Physiology—
- Chemical imbalances in the brain, like excess dopamine
receptors that can cause flawed behavior and lead to the
deterioration of brain tissue.
3: Family and Interactions—
- Double bind theory- if childhood is filled with contradictory
signals from parents…say love, but actions show hate.,
etc…(causes confusion in child’s head), child abuse, broken
homes, etc.
Personality Disorders
Why are people with certain personalities considered “abnormal”?
- They are unable to establish meaningful relationships with other
people.
Types of Personality Disorders
- Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizoid personalities are introverted, withdrawn, solitary,
emotionally cold, and distant. They are often absorbed with their
own thoughts and feelings and are fearful of closeness and
intimacy with others. For example, a person suffering from
schizoid personality is more of a daydreamer than a practical
action taker.
Personality Disorders
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
A pattern of peculiarities best describes those with schizotypal personality disorder. People may
have odd or eccentric manners of speaking or dressing. Strange, outlandish or paranoid beliefs and
thoughts are common.
People with schizotypal personality disorder have difficulties forming relationships and experience
extreme anxiety in social situations. They may react inappropriately or not react at all during a
conversation or they may talk to themselves. They also display signs of “magical thinking” by saying
they can see into the future or read other people’s minds.
Borderline Personality Disorder
People with borderline personality disorder are unstable in several areas, including interpersonal
relationships, behavior, mood, and self-image. Abrupt and extreme mood changes, stormy
interpersonal relationships, an unstable and fluctuating self-image, unpredictable and selfdestructive actions characterize the person with borderline personality disorder.
These individuals generally have great difficulty with their own sense of identity. They often
experience the world in extremes, viewing others as either “all good” or “all bad.” A person with
borderline personality may form an intense personal attachment with someone only to quickly
dissolve it over a perceived slight.
Personality Disorders
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
People with narcissistic personality have an exaggerated sense of self-importance,
are absorbed by fantasies of unlimited success, and seek constant attention. The
narcissistic personality is oversensitive to failure and often complains of multiple
somatic symptoms.
Prone to extreme mood swings between self-admiration and insecurity, these people
tend to exploit interpersonal relationships.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Avoidant personalities are often hypersensitive to rejection and are unwilling to
become involved with others unless they are sure of being liked. Excessive social
discomfort, timidity, fear of criticism, avoidance of social or work activities that
involve interpersonal contact are characteristic of the avoidant personality. They are
fearful of saying something considered foolish by others; worry they will blush or cry
in front of others; and are very hurt by any disapproval by others.
Personality Disorders
Dependent Personality Disorder
People with dependent personality disorder may exhibit a pattern of dependent and
submissive behavior, relying on others to make decisions for them. They require
excessive reassurance and advice, and are easily hurt by criticism or disapproval.
They feel uncomfortable and helpless if they are alone, and can be devastated when
a close relationship ends. They have a strong fear of rejection. Typically lacking in
self-confidence, the dependent personality rarely initiates projects or does things
independently. This disorder usually begins by early adulthood and is diagnosed
more frequently in females than males.
Personality Disorders
Psychopaths/ Sociopaths
Antisocial Personality Disorder
People with antisocial personality disorder characteristically act out their
conflicts and ignore normal rules of social behavior.
-These individuals are impulsive, irresponsible, and callous. Typically, the antisocial
personality has a history of legal difficulties, belligerent and irresponsible behavior,
aggressive and even violent relationships. They show no respect for other people and
feel no remorse about the effects of their behavior on others. These people ware at
high risk for substance abuse, especially alcoholism, since it helps them to relieve
tension, irritability and boredom.
- They are often very intelligent and entertaining, can mimic emotions and feelings
without actually having them.
Personality Disorders
Examples of Psychopaths:
- serial killers
EX:
Jeffrey Dahmer: A young man from a good family deviated
into necrophilia and cannibalism, then lured boys to his
apartment to be murdered and maimed.
John Wayne Gacy:
One of the most notorious serial killers, "respectable" Chicagoarea businessman hires young men to work in his contracting
company, then rapes and murders scores of them, burying
their bodies on his properties. In prison, he became the focus
of researching the psychopathic mind
Personality Disorders
Ted Bundy:
The most frightening of serial killers: a handsome, educated
psychopath who stalks and murders young college women.
David Berkowitz:
Calling himself the Son of Sam, this serial killer
terrorized New York City in the late 1970s.
Eddie Gein: Considered to be a mild-mannered
bachelor whose emotional development had been
stunted by his domineering mother, he shocked
the world when police found his vest of human
skin and a cache of body parts. Gein is the model
for The Silence of the Lambs' Buffalo Bill and
Psycho's Norman Bates.
DRUG Addiction
Psychological Dependence- compelled to use it because of the feeling it gives them.
Addiction-
- the physical dependence of a drug by the system (body).
 Tolerance- the body needs more of the drug to achieve the
effects or “high”, it becomes immune to the effects at a
certain level.
same
 Withdrawal- the physical and psychological upset caused by
discontinued use of a drug.
the
DRUG Addiction
Alcoholism
- country’s most serious drug problem.
PercentagesH.S. Seniors – 88% have tried it, 54% in the past month
Adults– 10% of drinking adults consume 50% of the total
alcohol in the United States.
Crimes– 50% of all auto crashes can be blamed on alcohol.
50% of homocides involved alcohol.
DRUG Addiction
Factors that affect Consumption
Weight- the more weight a person has
the more alcohol they can typically
handle.
Food- The presence of food in the
body will cause the body to absorb the
alcohol at a much slower rate.
Metabolism- How quickly your liver
can break the alcohol down will affect a
person in different ways. (women
metabolize slower than men)
DRUG Addiction
Effects of:
It was determined that most people begin to show
measurable mental impairment at around 0.05% blood
alcohol.
At around 0.10% mental impairment will show obvious
physical signs, such as an unsteady walk.
Slurred speech shows up at around 0.15%.
Unconsciousness results by 0.4%.
Above 0.5%, the breathing center of the brain or the beating
action of the heart can be anesthetized, resulting in death.
DRUG Addiction
Stages of Alcoholism
Stage 1: The individual realizes that alcohol reduces
tension and gives them confidence. Reduces social
pressure for them, so they are more likely to try it again.
Stage 2: Alcohol becomes a drug an they begin to
consume drinks heavily. They will often suffer blackouts
from the heavy amounts consumed.
Stage 3: The individual will drink compulsively, even in
the morning. They will eat infrequently and often feel sick
without the presence of alcohol in their body.