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Learning Objectives
OBJECTIVE 16.1 — Indicate the magnitude of mental health problems in this country; and
define psychopathology.
OBJECTIVE 16.2 — Describe the following ways of viewing normality, including the
shortcoming(s) of each: a. subjective discomfort; b. statistical definitions; c. social
nonconformity; d. situational context; e. cultural relativity; explain why more women than
men are treated for psychological problems; and indicate the two core features of abnormal
behavior.
OBJECTIVE 16.3 —Explain the functions of the DSM-IV-TR; and generally describe each of the
following categories of mental disorders found in the DSM-IV-TR: a. psychotic disorders; b.
organic mental disorders; c. substance related disorders; d. mood disorders; e. anxiety
disorders; f. somatoform disorders; g. dissociative disorders; h. personality disorders; i.
sexual and gender identity disorders. Include a description of the outdated term neurosis and
explain why it was dropped from use.
OBJECTIVE 16.4 — List the four general categories of risk factors for mental disorders; and
explain how culture affects the labeling and incidence of mental disorders and give examples.
OBJECTIVE 16.5 — Distinguish the term insanity from a mental disorder.
OBJECTIVE 16.6 — List and briefly describe the ten different types of personality disorders (see
Table 16.4). Include an indepth discussion of the distinctive characteristics, causes, and
treatment of the antisocial personality.
OBJECTIVE 16.7 — Outline the general features and characteristics of anxiety-related problems
and differentiate this category from an anxiety disorder. State what is usually meant when
the term nervous breakdown is used.
OBJECTIVE 16.8 — Generally describe each of the following conditions: a. anxiety disorders:
1. generalized anxiety disorder; 2.panic disorder; 3. agoraphobia; 4. specific phobia; 5. social
phobia; 6. obsessive-compulsive disorder; 7. acute stress disorder; 8. post-traumatic stress
disorder; b. dissociative disorders: 1. dissociative amnesia, 2. dissociative fugue, 3.
dissociative identity disorder; c. somatoform disorders: 1. hypochondriasis, 2. somatization
disorder, 3. pain disorder, 4. conversion disorder.
OBJECTIVE 16.9 — Discuss how each of the major perspectives in psychology view anxiety
disorders: a. psychodynamic, b. humanistic (Rogers); c. humanistic-existential; d. behavioral
(include the terms self-defeating paradox, avoidance learning, and anxiety reduction
hypothesis, e. cognitive.
OBJECTIVE 16.10 —List and explain the five major characteristics of psychotic disorders,
including a description of the different types of delusions and the most common types of
hallucinations.
OBJECTIVE 16.11 — Define the terms organic psychosis and dementia and give examples; and
discuss Alzheimer's disease, including its incidence, symptoms, and types of neurological
damage.
OBJECTIVE 16.12 — Describe the main feature of delusional disorders; and discuss five types
of delusional disorders.
OBJECTIVE 16.13 — Generally describe schizophrenia, including its frequency, typical age of
onset, and symptoms; list and describe the four major types of schizophrenia; explain how
paranoid delusional disorder and paranoid schizophrenia differ; and describe the general
relationship between psychosis and violence.
OBJECTIVE 16.14 — Describe the roles of the following three areas as causes of schizophrenia:
a. environment, 1. prenatal problems and birth complications, 2. psychological trauma, 3.
disturbed family environment 4. deviant communication patterns; b. heredity, c. brain
chemistry, 1. dopamine, 2. glutamate; explain how CT, MRI, and PET scans contribute to the
study of abnormal brain activity; and describe the stress-vulnerability model.
OBJECTIVE 16.15 — State the incidence and characteristics of mood disorders, especially
depression, in the general population; describe the characteristics of the moderate mood
disorders: dysthymia and cyclothymia; describe the characteristics of the three major mood
disorders: major depression, bipolar I and bipolar II; and explain the differences between the
moderate and major mood disorders.
OBJECTIVE 16.16 — Describe the possible explanations for depression; briefly discuss the
symptoms of maternity blues and postpartum depression; and describe seasonal affective
disorder (SAD), its five major symptoms, and its treatment.
OBJECTIVE 16.17 — Explain why caution is necessary when using psychiatric labels. Briefly
describe Rosenhan's pseudo-patient study, and explain how his observations relate to the idea
of labeling.
OBJECTIVE 16.18 — Discuss how each of the following factors affects suicide rate: a. season,
b. sex, c. age, d. income, e. marital status.
OBJECTIVE 16.19 — Describe the conditions which typically precede suicideand why people
try to kill themselves; list the twelve warning signs of suicide and the four common
characteristics of suicidal thoughts and feelings; and explain how you can help prevent
suicide.