Psychological Disorders CP Psychology Mrs. Bradley

True or False 1. Abnormal behaviors are always bizarre. 2. A clear distinction can be drawn between “normal” and “abnormal” behaviors. 3. As a group, former mental patients are unpredictable and dangerous. 4. Mental disorders indicate a fundamental deficiency in personality, and are thus shameful. 5. Since mental illness is so common, there is reason to be fearful of one’s own vulnerability.

True or False 6. Geniuses are particularly prone to emotional disorders. 7. Most mental disorders are incurable.

 Historically Perceived Causes  movements of sun or moon  evil spirits/demon possession  Ancient Treatments  harsh/ineffective - exorcism, caged like animals, beaten, burned, castrated, mutilated, blood replaced with animal’s blood

Admission fees were charged to observe mentally ill at St. Mary’s hospital (1700’s) Mental patients were restrained as a humane way to regain sensibility

Mental disorders…. …. are not the same as abnormal behavior Abnormal behavior in one culture is the norm in another culture.

Mental disorder Any behavior or emotional state that causes a person to suffer is self-defeating or self- destructive seriously impairs the person’s ability to work or get along with others or endangers others or the community

DSM-IV: American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th Edition) the system for classifying psychological disorders describes but does not explain the cause of psychological disorders critics argue these labels are too arbitrary and misused labels may cause more harm than good for the individual

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – the DSM Five categories of disorders Axis I: Primary clinical problem Axis II: Personality disorders Axis III: General medical conditions relevant to the disorder

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – the DSM Axis IV: Social and environmental stressors that can make the disorder worse Axis V: Global assessment of overall functioning

Advantages of the DSM When the manual is used correctly and diagnoses are made with valid objective tests, the DSM improves the reliability of and agreement between clinicians. The DSM-IV included for the first time a list of culture-bound syndromes.

Concerns about diagnostic system The danger of over-diagnosis The power of diagnostic labels Confusion of serious mental disorders with normal problems The illusion of objectivity and universality Pressure to diagnose for insurance money

Objective tests Inventories Standardized objective questionnaires requiring written responses Typically include scales on which people are asked to rate themselves MMPI Most widely used personality instrument Clinical and employment settings Measures aspects of personality that, if extreme, suggest a problem

Projective tests Psychological tests used to infer a person’s motives, conflicts, and unconscious dynamics on the basis of the person’s interpretation of ambiguous stimuli Rorschach inkblot test A projective personality test that asks respondents to interpret abstract, symmetrical inkblots

Before we begin to learn about mental disorders… What words do you use to describe someone’s psychological distress and dysfunctions? Turn to your neighbor and make a list of 10 terms.

BTW…. … the current term is “abnormal”, but this isn’t perfect. It suggests that we have a well-defined concept of normalcy. This can be culture-bound. It also implies that conformity is normal. In some countries, people who disagree with the current political rulers are labeled “abnormal.”

Anxiety Based Disorders can cause excessive worrying, mood swings, and fear General Anxiety Disorder PTSD Panic Disorder Fears and Phobias Obsessions and Compulsions

Generalized anxiety disorder Symptoms: continuous, uncontrollable anxiety or worry feelings of forebodings and dread duration of at least six months Restlessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, jitteriness, Indigestion, diarrhea, inability to relax

Generalized anxiety disorder Predisposing factors: Physiological tendency Unpredictable environment in childhood

Posttraumatic stress disorder An anxiety disorder in which a person who has experienced a traumatic or life-threatening event has symptoms such as psychic numbing, reliving the trauma, and increased physiological arousal Diagnosed only if symptoms persist for six months or longer May immediately follow event or occur later

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Overwhelms a person’s sense of normal reality and ability to cope with the world Symptoms may recur for 10 years or more

Panic disorder An anxiety disorder in which a person experiences recurring panic attacks Panic attack: a feeling of impending doom or death, accompanied by physiological symptoms such as rapid breathing and dizziness

Panic disorder

Fears and phobias Phobia An exaggerated, unrealistic fear of a specific situation, activity, or object

Agoraphobia A set of phobias, often set off by a panic attack, involving the basic fear of being away from a safe place or person. The most disabling phobia – most common phobia for which people seek treatment.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder An anxiety disorder in which a person feels trapped in repetitive, persistent thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive, ritualized behaviors (compulsions) designed to reduce anxiety Person understands that the ritual behavior is senseless but guilt mounts if the behavior is not performed.

OCD sufferers They do not enjoy the rituals, but they can’t stop. Common compulsions hand-washing counting touching things repeatedly checking (are lights off? Do I have my keys?)

Your turn If you have the persistent thought that gremlins are sabotaging any airplane you are on or will be on, then you have a _____. If you cannot stop asking for more water during flights, then you have a _____. 1. Obsession; compulsion 2. Compulsion; obsession 3. Phobia; obsession 4. Plane ticket; pet camel

Your turn If you have the persistent thought that gremlins are sabotaging any airplane you are on or will be on, then you have a _____. If you cannot stop asking for more water during flights, then you have a _____. 1. Obsession; compulsion 2. Compulsion; obsession 3. Phobia; obsession 4. Plane ticket; pet camel