PSYCHOSES, NEUROSES & CHARACTER DISORDERS Psychological Literature - in preparation for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Psychoses Definition: a severe personality disorder involving loss of contact with reality characterized by delusions and hallucinations

Random facts Insanity - social term, not medical 1 million Americans Only 2/3 hospitalized Insanity - social term, not medical 1 million Americans Only 2/3 hospitalized

2 categories Organic 1. Associated with Infections - meningitis -epilepsy -syphilis -brain tumors -Parkinson’s, etc. Organic 1. Associated with Infections - meningitis -epilepsy -syphilis -brain tumors -Parkinson’s, etc. Functional

Functional Psychoses 1.Schizophrenic reactions (splitting of personality) a. retreat from reality b. delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations (voices or visions) 2. Paranoid reactions a. delusions of persecution or grandeur 1. Person maintains relatively intact personality

Functional psychoses, con’t 3.Affective reactions a. Vast fluctuations in mood, manic depression 4. Involutional psychotic reaction a. initial occurrence in later life during body’s natural decline (men: 57, women: 53) 1. Abnormal depression, agitation, anxiety

Neuroses Definition: individual experiences severe anxiety in stressful situations - to cope, individual uses unhealthy defense patterns / mechanisms Definition: individual experiences severe anxiety in stressful situations - to cope, individual uses unhealthy defense patterns / mechanisms

Neurotic patterns 1. Anxiety reaction - constant state of tension and restlessness a. Dreads possibility of mistake b. May not be any tangible threat c. Acute panic 1. Anxiety reaction - constant state of tension and restlessness a. Dreads possibility of mistake b. May not be any tangible threat c. Acute panic

Neurotic patterns 2. Asthenic reaction - chronic mental and physical fatigue a. weakness, fatigue, aches & pains b. lack of enthusiasm 3. Conversion reaction - hysteria; physical illness appears, with no medical reason (paralysis, loss of hearing). 2. Asthenic reaction - chronic mental and physical fatigue a. weakness, fatigue, aches & pains b. lack of enthusiasm 3. Conversion reaction - hysteria; physical illness appears, with no medical reason (paralysis, loss of hearing).

Neurotic patterns 4. Dissociative reaction - individual dissociates from their “real” personality a. Psychogenic Amnesia b. Psychogenic Fugue c. Dissociative Identity Disorder (more info on this at a later date) 4. Dissociative reaction - individual dissociates from their “real” personality a. Psychogenic Amnesia b. Psychogenic Fugue c. Dissociative Identity Disorder (more info on this at a later date)

Neurotic patterns 5. Phobic reaction - persistent fear of a real danger a. interfere with daily activities b. headache, back pain, upset stomach 6. Obsessive reaction - compulsive need to do something a. don’t want to think about it (burglars) or even carry out (suicide) 5. Phobic reaction - persistent fear of a real danger a. interfere with daily activities b. headache, back pain, upset stomach 6. Obsessive reaction - compulsive need to do something a. don’t want to think about it (burglars) or even carry out (suicide)

Neurotic patterns 7. Neurotic depressive reaction- more than usual amount of sadness, a.fails to return to normal after time b. anxiety, discouragement c. low self-confidence d. loss of initiative 7. Neurotic depressive reaction- more than usual amount of sadness, a.fails to return to normal after time b. anxiety, discouragement c. low self-confidence d. loss of initiative

Character disorders Definition: overt maladjustive behavior, acting out ** individual may not have any sense of distress Definition: overt maladjustive behavior, acting out ** individual may not have any sense of distress

Character disorders 1. Symptom reactions a. Stuttering -b,d,s, t most often - bodily movement accompanies -represents an internal struggle b. Nail biting - rids anxiety or hostility in a safe way 1. Symptom reactions a. Stuttering -b,d,s, t most often - bodily movement accompanies -represents an internal struggle b. Nail biting - rids anxiety or hostility in a safe way

Character disorders c. Tic (persistent muscle twitch or spasm) -clearing throat, shrugging shoulders, blinking D. Incontinence (bed wetting) c. Tic (persistent muscle twitch or spasm) -clearing throat, shrugging shoulders, blinking D. Incontinence (bed wetting)

Character disorders 2. Personality pattern disturbances - drastic change in habits of individual 2. Personality pattern disturbances - drastic change in habits of individual 3. Sociopathic personality disorder 3. Sociopathic personality disorder a. psychopathic/criminal behavior b. sexual deviants c. addictions 2. Personality pattern disturbances - drastic change in habits of individual 2. Personality pattern disturbances - drastic change in habits of individual 3. Sociopathic personality disorder 3. Sociopathic personality disorder a. psychopathic/criminal behavior b. sexual deviants c. addictions