Introduction to Psychology Class 19: Psychological Disorders and their Treatment Myers: , August 1 st, 2006
Psychological Disorders Definition: A “harmful dysfunction” in which behavior is judged to be atypical, disturbing, maladaptive, and unjustifiable. Perspectives : Middle Ages = Possession by demons Medical = Diagnosis of symptoms, therapy and treatment for cure Bio-psycho-social = Genes + Physiology + Environment+ Social Factors + Cultural Factors
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Continual autonomic nervous system arousal Source of “free-floating” anxiety is inexplicable Women > Men Symptoms: tense, jittery, anticipating bad things, muscular tension, agitation, sleeplessness, trembling, perspiration, fidgeting, difficulty concentrating
Panic Disorder (AD) Minute-long episode of intense dread in which a person experiences what seems like a heart attack Palpitating heart, shortness of breath, choking, trembling, dizziness, chest pain Smokers> Non-smokers Often associated with Agoraphobia Movie clip
Phobias (AD) Persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation Movie clips TYPES OF PHOBIAS 1.Social phobias 2.Animal 3.Natural Environment 4.Blood-Injury-Injection 5.Situational
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (AD) Characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions designed to reduce the obsessions (compulsions) Young > Old Common obsessions: dirt/germs, toxins, disaster, exactness, symmetry Common compulsions: hand-washing, grooming, in/out of or checking doors, car brakes, homework Movie clip
Explaining Anxiety Disorders Good ol’ learning theory - Classical conditioning, Stimulus generalization, Reinforcement, Observational learning Biological - Natural selection - Genes Physiological: - Frontal lobe (OCD) - Amygdala and fear-learning circuits (GAD)
Dissociative Identity Disorder A rare disorder in which a person exhibits 2 or more distinct and alternate personalities Conscious awareness becomes separated from previous thoughts, memories and feelings Also called Multiple Personality Disorder Iatrogenic? Movie clip
Personality Disorders Characterized by inflexible and enduring patterns that impair social, vocational and interpersonal functioning Axis II disorders (DSM-IV) - Schizoid PD - Paranoid PD - Borderline PD - Histrionic PD - Narcissistic PD - Antisocial PD (movie clip)