Module 22 Assessment & Anxiety Disorders Virginia Union University Introduction to Psychology

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Consists of obsessions, which are persistent, recurring irrational thoughts, impulses or images that a person is unable to control and that interfere with normal functioning, and compulsions, which are irresistible impulses to perform over and over some senseless behavior or ritual Hand washing, check things, counting, putting things in order Effects about 3% of adults in the US

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms Obsessions & compulsions (or sometimes obsessions alone) that are very time consuming & performed to reduce anxiety Ex: cleaning, checking & counting or buying, hoarding & putting things in order Treatment After being treated with drugs, given exposure therapy Exposure therapy involves gradually exposing the person to the actual anxiety-producing situations or objects that her or she is attempting to avoid and continuing the exposure treatments until anxiety decreases

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) A disabling condition that results from personally experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury or from witnessing or hearing of such an event happening to a family member or close friend. People suffering from PTSD experience a number of psychological symptoms, including recurring and disturbed memories, terrible nightmares and intense fear, anxiety.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment May involve drugs, but some form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more effective in the long-term CBT provides emotional support to replace feelings of fear with a sense of courage PTSD & Hurricane Katrina Survivors

Somatoform Disorders Marked by recurring, multiple, and significant bodily (somatic) symptoms that extend over several years. The bodily symptoms (e.g., pain, vomiting, paralysis, blindness) are not under voluntary control, have no known physical causes, and are believed to be caused by psychological factors. Among the most commons health problems seen in medical practice 2 most common: somatization disorder & conversion disorder

Somatization Disorder Begins before age 30 Last several years Characterized by multiple symptoms Pain, gastrointestinal, sexual & neurological symptoms that have no physical causes but are triggered by psychological problems or distress Disorder especially common among women Leads to higher than normal health care costs Family background: cold & unsupportive, abusive Stress coping mechanism

Conversion Disorder Changing anxiety or emotional distress into real physical, motor, sensory, or neurological symptoms (headaches, nausea, dizziness, loss of sensation, paralysis) for which no physical or organic cause can be identified Usually associated with psychological factors like depression, concerns about health, or the occurrence of a stressful situation Emotional areas of brain activated inappropriately, can influence other brain activity/physical symptoms Physical symptoms removes the person from a threatening or anxiety producing situation

Mass Hysteria Condition experienced by a group of people who, through suggestion, observation, or other psychological process, develop similar fears, delusions, abnormal behaviors, or physical symptoms

Taijin Kyofusho (TKS) Unique anxiety disorder found in Japanese but not Western cultures Kind of social phobia characterized by a terrible fear of offending others through awkward social or physical behavior staring, blushing, giving off an offensive odor, having an unpleasant facial expression, or having trembling hands Is the 3rd most commons psychiatric disorder among Japanese college students & more common in males Cultural values Japanese place great emphasis on appropriately conducting oneself in public Japanese children punished for not displaying appropriate public behaviors

Class Announcements Evaluation/Cross Cultural Project Meeting Schedules Class Study Groups