1. Introduction to Psychology Psychological Disorders

2. The Question of Normality What does it mean to be “normal”? Who decides what is “normal”?

3. Psychopathology The scientific study of mental, emotional, and behavioral problems 1 out of 100 people will require psychiatric hospitalization during their lifetime

4. Psychopathology Subjective discomfort- may or may not be present Statistical abnormality- deviating from the norm

5. What makes behavior abnormal? Core features of abnormality: The behavior is maladaptive There is a loss of control

6. Abnormal Behavior: Other Considerations Violation of social norms Behavior is abnormal based on situational, societal, and cultural contexts

7. Social Construction of Mental Illness Labels: inventions/artifacts of particular cultures Dominant discourses on mental illness

8. Rosenhan Study Participants posed as persons with mental illnesses Normal behavior was perceived as pathological

9. Thomas Szaz “Myth of Mental Illness” Against the disease model of mental illness Deviations from the norm

10. Mental Disorders Diagnosed with the DSM-IV For communication between professionals To classify/understand behaviors For HMOs

11. The Stigma of Labels Stigma and discrimination May be denied housing, jobs, may lose friends, etc. Self-fulfilling prophesy

12. Mental Disorders Substance abuse disorders Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Somatoform disorders Psychotic disorders Dissociative disorders Personality disorders Sexual/gender identity disorders

13. Anxiety Disorders Apprehension, fear, dread Out of proportion to the situation

14. Generalized Anxiety Disorder Excessively anxious/worried Free floating anxiety Anxiety triggered in many situations

15. OCD Obsessive-compulsive disorder Disturbing, anxiety-provoking thoughts Compulsive behavior to keep anxiety under control

16. Panic Disorder Sudden, intense, unexpected panic attacks Racing heart, chest pains, fear of dying Fear of losing control

17. Specific Phobia Fear/anxiety toward a specific situation 11% have a phobia during their lifetime

18. Mood Disorders Depression: Intense, prolonged sadness Hopelessness, lack of energy, negative self-image Dysthymic Disorder Low grade depression Fairly consistent for 2 years or more

19. Bipolar Disorder Extreme moods Depression and mania Mania: elated, hyperactive, filled with energy, lack of sleep, risk taking, grandiosity

20. Eating Disorders Anorexia-nervosa: self-starvation; underweight; issues of control Bulimia: binge-purge cycles; typically normal to overweight

21. Personality Disorders Maladaptive personality patterns Often start in childhood/adolescence; officially diagnosed at age 18

22. Antisocial Personality Disorder Lacks conscience Impulsive/selfish Aggressive/violent Lack of remorse Criminality

23. Antisocial Personality Disorder Many were abused/deprived in childhood Subtle neurological problems Under-arousal when viewing disturbing material Difficult to treat

24. Borderline Personality Disorder Impulsivity/erratic behavior Instability in relationships Highly manipulative Self-mutilating: high risk of suicide Often co-morbid with mood disorders

25. Psychotic Disorders Retreat from reality Schizophrenia and delusional disorders

26. Schizophrenia Delusions and hallucinations (bizarre) Delusions: deeply held false beliefs Hallucinations: seeing/hearing something that isn’t present Disordered thinking Flat or inappropriate affect

27. Schizophrenia Process: develops slowly, over the lifespan Reactive: develops in response to an event

28. Schizophrenia: Types Paranoid Disorganized Catatonic Undifferentiated

29. Schizophrenia: Causes Biological: dopamine hypothesis; brain abnormalities; genetic link Identical twins: 50% Exposure to the disease in the womb/complications during birth Childhood trauma, dysfunctional family environments

30. Delusional Disorders Deeply held false beliefs w/o hallucinations (non-bizarre) Insist these beliefs are true, even in the face of contrary evidence

31. Risk Factors for Mental Illness Social: poverty, stress, homelessness Family: disturbed parents, criminality, abuse Psychological: stress, low IQ, lack of control/mastery Biological: genetic defects, poor prenatal care, low birth weight, born with addictions