1. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Psychological Disorders

2. SECTION 1 What Are Psychological Disorders?

3. Quick Definitions Psychological Disorders: patterns of thoughts or behaviors that interfere with lives or cause suffering Culture-Bound Syndromes: what we consider a disorder may actually be considered normal in other areas

4. Did You Know? One-third of adults in the United States have experienced some type of psychological disorder!

5. Symptoms 1. Typicality—is the behavior average of the rest of society? 2. Maladaptive Behavior—determines whether the behavior is harmful to self or others 3. Emotional Discomfort—if a person suffers from extreme or long-lasting feelings of hopelessness or helplessness 4. Socially Unacceptable Behaviors—actions that violate society’s norms

6. Classifying Psychological Disorders It’s important to have a system for classifying disorders for diagnosis and treatment. Disorders were first classified based on their presumed causes. Today, psychologists use the DSM-IV to classify disorders.  DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V should be released in 2012)

7. SECTION 3 Dissociative Disorders

8. Background Information Dissociation refers to the separation of personality components or mental processes from conscious thought The most common form of “normal” dissociation is daydreaming Dissociation removes stress or lessens anxiety There are four disorders we’re going to discuss.

9. Dissociative Amnesia Characteristic: a sudden loss of memory May last a few hours or several years Often disappears after a traumatic experience and returns with little notice Usually doesn’t recurs Just like in the soap operas!

10. Dissociative Fugue Characteristics  forget information and events  Relocate  Develop a new identity Most common during wars and natural disasters

11. Dissociative Identity Disorder Also known as Multiple Personality Disorder Characteristic: two or more personalities exist in one person Each personality is different from each other A history of severe child abuse is common with most DID patients (physical, sexual, or psychological)

12. Depersonalization Disorder Characteristic: detachment from one’s mental processes and/or body

13. Explaining this Disorder Psychoanalytic Psychologists  A response to inappropriate urges Learning Psychologists  People have been taught not to think about disturbing events Most believe there is no link between dissociation and genetics

14. SECTION 4 Somatoform Disorders

15. Introduction Definition: the expression of psychological distress through physical symptoms This disorder is NOT intentional Some diagnosed cases are reversed because a medical illness is found! Some cases go unreported because the focus is on medical tests.

16. Conversion Disorder Description: experience a change in or loss of physical functioning in a major part of the body with no medical reason Example: when a person cannot move his/her legs or see at night Some people are unconcerned about these symptoms!

17. Hypocondriasis Also known as hypochondria Description: a person’s unrealistic preoccupation with the fear he/she has a serious disease Example: when a person is sure a belly ache is actually stomach cancer Some people will see several doctors until one gives them any form of treatment!

18. Explanation A person converts psychological stress into actual medical problems Example: a pilot afraid to fly since September 11 th may develop problems with his/her vision

19. SECTION 5 Mood Disorders

20. Introduction Mood changes refers to being “up” or “down” depending on life experiences Becomes a disorder when changes are inappropriate or inconsistent SAD HAPPY

21. Major Depression Another one of the most common disorders Effects over 100 million people worldwide A person must have five of the nine symptoms which must occur every day for two weeks  Depressed mood  Loss of interest in activities  Weight loss or gain  Sleeping more or less  Faster/slower reactions— physically and emotionally  Loss of energy  Feeling worthless or guilty  Unable to concentrate or make decisions  Thoughts of death or suicide

22. Bipolar Disorder Also known as manic depression Characterized by dramatic ups and downs; changes quickly for no reason at all The depressive characteristics are the same as major depression There are five characteristics of the manic stage  Inflated self-esteem  Inability to sit still or sleep  Racing thoughts  Pressure to talk to switch topics  Difficulty concentrating

23. Explanation Psychological Views  Learned helplessness  It is simply a person’s habit Biological Views  Heredity  A chemical imbalance; due to low levels of serotonin

24. SECTION 6 Schizophrenia

25. Introduction Most serious disorder Very rare;.5% - 1% suffer from this disorder Characterized by a loss of contact with reality Can develop gradually or very quickly Worsens over time Very difficult to treat 20% with schizophrenia will attempt suicide; 10% of the attempts are successful

26. Symptoms Hear Voices Hallucinations: see things that aren’t there  Can be visual or auditory Delusions: believe things to be true that aren’t; often believe they can do things they can’t and that they’re better than they are Thought Disorders  Organization: skip around  Content: repetition Social Withdrawal Catatonic Stupor: an immobile, expressionless, coma-like state

27. Explanation Genetics Injury or trauma at birth Birth during a winter month A viral infection during infancy A brain defect

28. SECTION 7 Personality Disorders

29. Description Patterns of inflexible traits that disrupt social life or work and/or distress the affected individual; are major components of a person’s personality Effects up to 10% of the population

30. Types of Disorders Paranoid: distrustful and suspicious of others, see others as harmful and evil, threatening and insulting Schizoid: no interest in relationships with others, lack normal emotional responses Antisocial: show disregard for others and violate the rights of others with no guilt or remorse

31. More Types of Disorders Avoidant: want relationships, but are afraid; act shy and withdrawn Borderline: have unstable relationships and an unstable self-image Dependent: clingy and submissive Histrionic: excessively emotional; always need attention

33. Explanation Not clearly explained until the 1980s Were rejected by adults as children, severely punished Reinforced negative behaviors genetics