Psychological Disorders

Chapter 18

Section 1: Introduction to Disorders

How to Identify Them

1. Typicality – is it normal or average behavior?

2. Maladaptivity - does it impair one’s ability to function adequately in everyday life?

3. Emotional Discomfort – do they have feelings of helpless, hopeless, worthless, guilt, extreme sadness?

4. Socially Unacceptable Behavior – does it violate social norms?

Psychiatric Hotline• If you are obsessive-compulsive, please press 1 repeatedly.

• If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2.

• If you have multiple personalities, please press 3, 4, 5, and 6.

• If you are paranoid-delusional, we know who you are and what you want. Just stay on the line so we can trace the call.

• If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which number to press

• If you are manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press. No one will answer.

What are they?

• Behavior patterns or mental processes that cause serious personal suffering or interfere with a person’s ability to cope with everyday life

• 1 in 3(ish) American adults experiences some type of disorder

Classifying Psychological Disorders

• DSM – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

• Book published by American Psychological Association

• To classify disorders

Causes

• Psychological

• Stress

• Cultural

• Biological

Eight Major Types of Disorders• Eight major types:• Anxiety disorders• Childhood Disorders• Dissociative disorders• Somatoform disorders• Mood disorders• Schizophrenia• Personality disorders• Sexual disorders

Section 2: Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety

• Dread or uneasiness that occurs in response to a vague or imagined danger (not fear)

• Trembling, sweating, shortness of breath, light-headedness

• Anxiety disorders: Phobias, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, OCD, Stress Disorders

3 Types of Phobias1. Specific Phobia– Excessive or irrational fear of a particular object or

situation– When confronted with object or situation, feeling of

extreme anxiousness

2. Agoraphobia– Fear of leaving familiar environment / open places

3. Social Phobia– Social situations, interactions with strangers

Top 10 Phobias

Phobias You’ll Need to Know

• Zoophobia – Fear of Animals

• Claustrophobia – Fear of enclosed spaces

• Acrophobia – Fear of Heights

• Arachnophobia – Fear of spiders

Panic Disorder

• Recurring and unexpected panic attacks

• Common with Agoraphobics

• Leads to avoidance behavior

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Excessive or unrealistic worry about life circumstances that lasts for at least six months

• Hard to distinguish from other anxiety disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Unwanted thoughts, ideas, or mental images that occur over and over

• Practice compulsions (repetitive ritual behaviors) to reduce anxiety

Questions for Review

1. What’s the difference between normal and abnormal anxiety?

2. What’s the difference between a perfectionist and an OCD patient?

3. How could excessive anxiety lead to panic disorder or phobias?

4. How can people overcome phobias?

What causes anxiety disorders?

Psychoanalytic View• Forbidden childhood

urges that have been repressed, or hidden from consciousness

• Phobias are conditioned, anxiety can be reduced by avoidance

Biological Views• Heredity plays major role• Genetically inclined to

fear things that threatened ancestors

• Those that acquired strong fears more likely to survive