Chapter 15 Psychological Disorders Identifying Psychologically Disordered Behavior Abnormality different from the norm Unusual or statistically atypical Not all abnormal phenomena are bad cultural differences o Abnormal behavior may be psychologically disordered IF it causes significant distress Normal distress Such as death o Some form of distress disability is expected as a response to some events Dysfunction impairs one s ability to get along with life o Such as intense fear of heights dysfunctional to city dweller Psychologically Disordered Criteria o Statistical Deviance o Subjective Distress o Dysfunctional Behavior Classifying Psychological Disorders DSM 5 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Syndromes predictable patterns o Groups disorder by category o Checklist of symptoms for diagnoses indicate presence of disorder o Five Axes of DSM IV Diagnosis name for pattern of symptoms that are thought to Major Mental Disorders Personality Disorders and Mental Retardation Associated Medical Conditions Life Stressors Overall Level of Daily Functioning A reliably observed constellation of symptoms must be present for at least an established length of time before one can be diagnosed as having a psychological o Comorbidity presence of one or more additional disorders disorder Diagnostic Labels o Dangers Labels create preconceptions that guide our perceptions and interpretations Media is inaccurate when depicting psychological disorders Only a few percent of people with mental disorders are aggressive o Benefits Helps to efficiently communicate about cases Bring to mind likely causes Discern effective treatments Anxiety Disorders o Feature Exaggeration of threat o Results in distressing persistent anxiety o Leads to maladaptive anxiety reducing behaviors Generalized Anxiety Disorder o Continually tense uneasy even in absence of anxiety provoking stimulus o Panic attacks intense fear frightening physiological symptoms Panic Disorder Phobias o Intense fear of particular animal object or situation o More extreme than just a fear Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD Features o Obsessions recurrent persistent distress causing thoughts Common types o Compulsions repetitive behavior driven by obsession Common types Contamination Repeated doubts Need for symmetry order Aggressive impulses Sexual imagery Cleaning washing Checking Arranging lining things up Counting repeating praying Hoarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD Features exposed to traumatic event and reacted with intense fear helplessness horror o Re experience trauma through reminders Extreme stress changes the brain Dreams feelings of reliving intense distress when around Learning Biological Perspectives on Anxiety Disorders Learning Models o Fear conditioning Stimulus generalization Anxiety arises from unpredictable uncontrollable negative events Reinforcement o Observational learning Fear transmitted through someone else vicariously or via mis information Biological Influences o Prepared fears contra equipotentiality Adaptive to fear certain threats for survival o Genetic predisposition People react differently to potential anxiety provoking stimuli due to genetic traits Mood Disorders Psychological disorders characterized by lasting disturbance in mood Extreme emotions depression mania Looked at as exaggerations or distortions of normal mood states Major Depressive Disorder Depressive episodes o Feeling sad especially after loss or set back o Anhedonia lack of pleasure o Clinical depression goes beyond this kind of expected reactions Explanations o Complex interplay of bio psych social influences o Life events dear losses can set stage for depression o Depression can cause interpersonal problems leading to lack of social Depression can cause rejection from others leading to further support depression o Behavior model Depression results from low rate of positive enforcement increased apathy what s the point o Cognitive Model Beck Our thoughts affect our feelings So negative thoughts of self world and future lead to depressed thinking in general cognitive triad Maladaptive interpretations Negative schemas depressogenic Cognitive distortions information processing errors o Learned Helplessness tendency to feel helpless in face of events we can t control Those who are depressed attribute failure to themselves Global Nothing will work out Stable I won t ever change Internal Must be me o Biological Vulnerability Depression suicide run in families genetic factors Depression associated with neurotransmitter changes Norepinephrine serotonin Bipolar Disorder Manic episode o Opposite emotional extremes o Euphoria high self esteem over activity Bipolar is alternating between depression and mania Symptoms of Manic Episode o Abnormally persistently elevated expansive or irritable mood o With 3 or more High self esteem Decrease sleep More talkative Flight of idea Distractibility Increase in goals Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities high potential for painful consequences o Depressed need more sleep no movement talking no thoughts no Depression interests Mania o Elevated mood no sleep needed always moving talking lots of thoughts too much interest Biopsychosocial Influences on Psychological Disorders Biological o Evolution genetics brain structure chemistry Psychological Social Cultural Influences o Stress trauma learned helplessness mood related perception memory o Roles expectation definition of normality and disorder
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