Mental and Emotional Problems

Mental Disorders A mental disorder- illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing him or her from leading a happy, healthful, and productive life.

Mental Disorders All mental disorders are classified into one of two general types : organic or functional. Organic- one that is clearly caused by a physical illness or an injury that affects the brain. (examples: alcoholism, brain tumor, lupas,and stroke)

Mental Disorders Functional disorders- may occur as the result of psychological causes in which no clear brain damage is involved. –Anxiety disorders –Somatoform disorders –Affective disorders –Personality disorders

Anxiety Disorders An illness in which real, imagined, or persistent fears prevent a person from enjoying life. Characterized by chronic anxiety- people who suffer from anxiety disorders usually avoid the situation or objects that make them fearful. Four types: phobias, obsessive compulsive, PTSD

Phobias A specific fear SO STRONG, a person goes into extreme measures to avoid the fear. May be unable to carry out daily activities EXAMPLES?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Clip OCD- a person with OCD is trapped in a pattern of repeated behaviors or thoughts. A person with OCD for example may feel the need to wash his or her hands times a day.

PANIC DISORDER Fear or anxiety prevails Panic attacks are accompanied by severe symptoms such as trembling, a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fear of losing control.

Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD Condition in which a person who has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event feels severe and long-lasting aftereffects. Common among veterans of military combat, rape survivors, and survivors of natural disasters.

SOMATOFORM DISORDERS A Somatoform disorder – an illness in which a person complains of disease symptoms but no physical cause can be found. Example: Hypochondria: a preoccupation with the body and fear of presumed diseases that are not present.

AFFECTIVE DISORDERS Affective Disorders- A mood disorder, an illness often with an organic cause that relates to emotions and may involve mood swings or mood extremes that interfere with everyday living. Examples to follow.

Clinical depression- Affective disorder in which feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or despair last for more than a few weeks and interfere with daily activities and interests. why?

Prevalence of Mood Disorders 14.5% of young women will have a mood disorder at some time in their life 8.4% of young men will have a mood disorder at some time in their life

Bipolar- sometimes called manic depression, a psychological illness characterized by extreme mood swings between depression and extreme happiness. clip

Personality Disorders Include a variety of psychological conditions that affect a persons ability to get along with others. –Maladaptive Behaviors: types of behaviors that inhibit a person’s ability to adjust to particular situations TYPE A… ODD OR ECCENTRIC BEHAVIOR –Paranoid Personality: suspicious of others. Based on little or no evidence, they suspect that others are out to harm them and usually find hostile or malicious motives behind other people's actions –Schizoid Personality: introverted, withdrawn, and solitary. They are emotionally cold and socially distant. They are most often absorbed with their own thoughts and feelings and are fearful of closeness and intimacy with others. They talk little, are given to daydreaming, and prefer theoretical speculation to practical action. Fantasizing is a common coping (defense) mechanism –Schizotypal Personality: People with a schizotypal personality, like those with a schizoid personality, are socially and emotionally detached. Display oddities of thinking, perceiving, and communicating similar to those of people with schizophrenia

TYPE B… DRAMATIC OR ERRATIC –Histrionic (Hysterical) Personality: People with a histrionic personality conspicuously seek attention, are dramatic and excessively emotional, and are overly concerned with appearance –Narcissistic Personality: People with a narcissistic personality have a sense of superiority, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. They have an exaggerated belief in their own value or importance, which is what therapists call grandiosity. They may be extremely sensitive to failure, defeat, or criticism. –Antisocial Personality: People with an antisocial personality (previously called psychopathic or sociopathic personality) show callous disregard for the rights and feelings of others. Dishonesty and deceit permeate their relationships. They exploit others for material gain or personal gratification (unlike narcissistic people, who exploit others because they think their superiority justifies it). –Act out their conflicts impulsively and irresponsibly. They tolerate frustration poorly, and sometimes they are hostile or violent. Often they do not anticipate the negative consequences of their antisocial behaviors and, despite the problems or harm they cause others, do not feel remorse or guilt. –People with an antisocial personality are prone to alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual deviation, promiscuity, and imprisonment. They are likely to fail at their jobs and move from one area to another. They often have a family history of antisocial behavior, substance abuse, divorce, and physical abuse. As children, many were emotionally neglected and physically abused. People with an antisocial personality have a shorter life expectancy than the general population. The disorder tends to diminish or stabilize with age.

Passive- aggressive personality disorder- –Often uncooperative with others –The resent being told what to do, yet they rely on others direction.

SCHIZOPHRENIA Serious mental disorder meaning “split mind”. Affects 1-2 percent of the population. People with this may behave inappropriately, exhibit abnormal emotional responses, or in some cases show no abnormal emotional responses.