Abnormal Psychology Created by David Silverman

Defining Abnormal Psychology Common characteristics of abnormality include: 1. It is harmful and/or disturbing to the individual. Someone who has coulrophobia (fear of clowns) and is unable to attend carnivals is experiencing something maladaptive and disturbing. 2. It is disturbing to others. Zoophilia, being sexually aroused by animals, for example, disturbs the general public. 3. It is “unusual”, meaning most people don’t do it. In the United States, having visions is atypical, while in other cultures it happens more. 4. It is irrational; it does not make sense to the average person. Feeling depressed when your family first moves away from all your friends is not seen as irrational, but prolonged depression due to almost any situation is.

Insane is not a medical term Insanity is a legal term People may be diagnosed with a psychological disorder even if they are not experiencing all, or even most, of the symptoms characterized for that disorder. Insane is not a medical term Insanity is a legal term People who can be held entirely responsible for their crimes are considered sane People who cannot be held fully responsible for their actions because of a psychological disorder can plead insanity When defendants plead” not guilty by reason of insanity” (NGRI), they are claiming that the court acquit them due to psychological factors.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Psychologists use a book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to determine whether or not someone has a psychological disorder. The DSM-IV-TR contains the symptoms of everything currently considered to be a psychological disorder. The various revisions of the book has lead to a huge growth in the number and kinds of disorders included since the original DSM. Some behaviors classified as disorders (like homosexuality) have been removed from the definition of abnormality in later editions of the book.

Usually when a psychologist first meets with a client the psychologist bases his assessment of the client on the following five axes: Axis I — Clinical disorders—The first axis diagnosis is generally what we think of as the client’s major diagnosis (major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, paranoid schizophrenia). Axis II — Personality and developmental -Personality disorders are maladaptive, long- term ways a person has of interacting with people and the environment (antisocial, paranoid, dependent personality disorders). Axis III — Medical conditions—Psychologists consider how any physical ailments (cancer, a brain injury, diabetes) could impact a person’s psychological well-being. Axis IV — Psychosocial conditions—Psychosocial conditions are environmental factors that may affect a person’s mental health. Factors like divorce, the loss of a job, or starting a new school can be stressful for people. Axis V — Global assessment of functioning— Psychologists use the global assessment of functioning scale (GAF) to classify a person’s overall level of functioning.

Psychological approaches to disorders Psychoanalytic theorists- Think the cause of psychological disturbances is based on unconscious conflicts from traumatic events that occurred during the psychosexual development stages Behaviorists- Claim psychological problems result from the person’s history of reinforcement Cognitive theorists- Think the root of psychological disorders is a result of maladaptive ways of thinking. Humanistic psychologists- Say disorders are in a person’s feelings, self-esteem, and self-concept. Sociocultural perspective- View social factors such as racism, sexism, and poverty as the main problem of psychological disorders. Biomedical model- Sees that psychological disorders are caused by biological factors such as hormones, neurotransmitter imbalances, or differences in brain structure.

Anxiety Disorders Specific phobia- Is an intense irrational fear of a situation or object such as claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) or arachnophobia (fear of spiders). Generalized anxiety disorder- (GAD) Experiences constant low-level anxiety. This is a person who constantly feels nervous and out of sorts. Panic disorder- Suffers from episodes of intense anxiety without any apparent reason. Panic attacks tend to increase in frequency, and people frequently suffer additional anxiety from dreading the attacks.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder- (OCD) is when persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause someone to feel the need (compulsion) to engage in a particular action. A man experiencing the obsession of cleanliness might wash his hands and shower repeatedly, even if he has just done so. Post-traumatic stress disorder usually involves flashbacks or nightmares to a person’s involvement in witnessing an extremely troubling event like a war or natural disaster.

Somatoform Disorders Somatoform disorders- occur when a person exhibits a psychological problem through a physiological symptom. In other words, a person experiences a physical problem without any physical cause. Hypochondriasis- when people have frequent physical complaints which medical doctors can’t find the cause. A person may believe that minor problems like headaches or occasional shortness of breath are really severe physical illness even after they are assured by doctors that no physiological problems exists. Conversion disorder- People will report a severe physical problem (paralysis or blindness), and they will actually be unable to move their arms or see. No biological reason for this problem can be identified

Dissociative Disorders Dissociative disorders, “involve a disruption in conscious processes”. Psychogenic amnesia is when a person cannot remember things and no physiological basis for the disruption in memory can be identified. Fugue- People who experience psychogenic amnesia but also find themselves in an unfamiliar environment. One day Dave wakes up with no memory of who or where he is and no one else in the environment can help him with any of that. Dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is when a person has several personalities rather than one. The different personalities can represent many different ages and both sexes.

Mood (Affective) Disorders Someone with a mood or affective disorder experiences extreme or inappropriate emotions. Laughing at a funeral Major depressive disorder, also known as unipolar depression, is the most common mood disorder. People who are clinically depressed remain unhappy for more than two weeks for no apparent reason. Other symptoms of depression include loss of appetite, fatigue, change in sleeping patterns, lack of interest in normally fun activities, and feelings of worthlessness. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)- Some people experience depression but only during certain times of the year. This usually occurs when there is less sunlight.

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, usually involves both depressed and manic episodes. The depressed episodes include loss of appetite, fatigue, change in sleeping patterns, lack of interest in normally fun activities, and feelings of worthlessness. People feel manic episodes in different ways but they usually experience feelings of high energy. Some feel a heightened sense of confidence and power, but many others feel anxious and irritable. Some of the people feel an inflated sense of well- being during the manic period, but they often participate in excessively risky and dangerous behavior that usually has negative consequences for them. A small number of people appear to experience mania without depression. Dysthymic disorder- The symptoms are similar to major depressive disorder but are usually less intense. A diagnosis of dysthymic disorder in an adult requires a period of depressed mood that lasts at least two years.

Schizophrenic Disorders Schizophrenia is probably the most severe and debilitating of the psychological disorders. It tends to emerge as people enter young adulthood. The main symptom of schizophrenia is disordered, distorted thinking that is often demonstrated through delusions and/or hallucinations. Delusions are beliefs that have no basis in reality. Delusions of persecution—the belief that people are out to get you. Delusions of grandeur—the belief that you enjoy greater power and influence than you really do. Believing that you are the president of the United States or a Nobel prize-winner. Hallucinations are, “perceptions in the absence of any sensory stimulation.” If I keep seeing Pennywise the clown holding a red balloon on every street corner, and next to every sewer grate, then I am suffering from hallucinations.

Types of Schizophrenia Disorganized schizophrenics -They may make up their own words (neologisms) or string together series of nonsense words that rhyme (clang associations). People with disorganized schizophrenia often show inappropriate affect. They might laugh when hearing someone has died. They may also consistently not show any emotional response at all (flat affect). The main symptom in paranoid schizophrenia is delusions of persecution. People who suffer from catatonic schizophrenia engage in odd movements. They might remain motionless in strange positions for hours at a time They might move erratically and quickly for no apparent reason Or they might exhibit a combination of the two Undifferentiated schizophrenia -if patients show disordered thinking but no symptoms of one of the other types of schizophrenia.

References and Resources Crash Course Psychological Disorders Anxiety Disorders Depressive and Bipolar Disorders Trauma and Addiction Schizophrenia and Dissociative Disorders Discovering Psychology Psychopathology This powerpoint presentation was adapted using information from the Barron’s AP Psychology 5th edition prep book. Weseley, Allyson, Robert McEntarffer, and Robert McEntarffer. AP® Psychology. Hauppauge, N.Y.: Barron's Educational Series, 2014. Print.