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Explore the history, current perspectives, and major classifications of abnormal psychology and psychological disorders, including anxiety disorders and mood disorders. Learn about the potential causes and treatments for these conditions.
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AbnormalPsychologyPsychological Disorders A behavior which is judged to be deviant (atypical), distressful, and dysfunctional. Could also be maladaptive and unjustifiable.
Early Theories Abnormal behavior was evil spirits trying to get out. Trephining was often used.
Early Theories • Another way to deal with the demons was to make the body extremely uncomfortable.
History of Mental Disorders • In the 1800’s, disturbed people were no longer thought of as madmen, but as mentally ill. They were first put in hospitals. Did this mean better treatment?
Early Mental Hospitals • They were nothing more than barbaric prisons. • The patients were chained and locked away. • Some hospitals even charged admission for the public to see the “crazies”, just like a zoo.
Philippe Pinel • French doctor worked to eliminate the institutional brutality (and declare that these people are sick and “a cure must be found”).
Medical Model • Late 1800’s - it was believed that mental illness had a physical (organic) cause. General Paresis and Syphilis examples. But it doesn’t emphasize environmental explanations like stress or upbringing. Many disorders are psychogenic: the origins are psychological.
Current Perspectives • Biopsychosocial model: assumes biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors interact to produce specific psychological disorders. Most common view today. Some disorders occur worldwide (schizophrenia) while others are culture-bound (i.e. “anorexia” & “susto” – fear of black magic in Latin America).
DSM-V Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: the big book of disorders. DSM will classify disorders and describe the symptoms. DSM will NOT explain the causes or possible cures.
Major Changes in the DSM-V Autism is now a single condition called “autism spectrum disorder (includes Asperger’s and all forms of autism). Childhood bipolar disorder has a new name – “Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder.” ADHD is no longer just a childhood disorder. You can be diagnosed with it as an adult. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and binge eating disorder are now official disorders. Hoarding is now a disorder, NOT a form of OCD. Subtypes of schizophrenia have been eliminated.
Two Major Classifications in the DSM Neurotic Disorders Psychotic Disorders Distressing but one can still function in society and act rationally. Person loses contact with reality, experiences distorted perceptions.
Danger of Diagnostic Labels • In Rosenhan’s study his associates were faking symptoms of hearing voices. • They were ALL admitted for schizophrenia. • None were exposed as imposters. • They all left diagnosed with schizophrenia in remission. • What did this study show? • 1.) It showed the biasing powerof diagnostic labels.
Anxiety Disorders A group of conditions where the primary symptoms are anxiety or defenses against anxiety. The patient fears something awful willhappen to them. They are in a state of apprehension or nervousness.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Marked by disruptive levels of persistent feelings of apprehension and tenseness. Symptoms include restlessness, feeling on edge, irritability, sleep disturbance. 2 out of 3 – women.
Panic Disorder Disorder marked by a minutes-long episode of intense dread (Panic Attack) in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking and other frightening sensations. Can cause secondary disorders like agoraphobia.
Phobias • Marked by disruptive, irrational fears of objects, activities, or situations. • Specific phobias– like arachnophobia. • Social Anxiety Disorder (i.e. Agoraphobia) – fear of public places.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder • Persistent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause someone to feel the need to engage in a particular repetitive action (compulsion) .
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Flashbacks or nightmares following a person’s involvement in an extremely stressful event. Memories of the event cause anxiety. War veterans and “shell shock.”
Biological Causes of Anxiety Disorders • Heredity or predisposition-(twin studies). • Brain function- (fMRI scans of OCD patients show higher anterior cingulate cortex activity). • Evolution – likely to fear situations that posed threat to early humans.
Learning Factors and Anxiety Disorders • Conditioning- remember Little Albert? • Observational learning – seeing someone else respond with fear (i.e. a sibling). • Reinforcement– learning to associate emotions with actions and the results that follow those actions.
Mood Disorders Psychological disorders characterized by emotional extremes (i.e. depression, mania, or both).
Major Depressive Disorder Most common disability in the world (6% of men & 10% of women). Unhappy for at least two weeks with no apparent cause. Feelings of worthlessness and diminished interest in most activities. May have suicidal thoughts.
Bipolar Disorder Formally called manic depression. Involves periods of depression and manic episodes. Manic episodes may involve long periods of little sleep, racing thoughts, and set impossible goals. May have bursts of creative energy during manic states (like van Gogh).
Postpartum Depression • Depression after childbirth (“baby blues”). • 5% to 10% of women. • Sadness, fatigue, insomnia, reduced libido, etc. • Usually the first few months after giving birth.
Seasonal Affective Disorder Experience depression during the winter months. Based not on temperature, but on amount of sunlight. SAD's prevalence in the U.S. ranges from 1.4% in Florida to 9.9% in Alaska.
Suicide Suicide rates increase with age.
Suicide But teen suicide rates increased from 1960 to 1990, but have dropped since 1990.
Biological Causes of Mood Disorders • Heredity – twin studies. • Brain function– PET scans have shown lower brain activity during depressed states. • Serotoninand Norepinephrineare lacking during times of depression (Prozac & Zolofthelp restore serotonin levels by blocking its reuptake). • Norepinephrine is overabundant during mania. Drugs that alleviate mania, reduce norepinephrine.
Social-Cognitive Factors and Mood Disorders • Learned helplessness. • Attributions(explanatory style) – Stable, internal and global.
Schizophrenia • Is not one disorder but a group of disorders. • It is not “split personality.” • Typically develops in late adolescence.
Schizophrenia • About 1% of people are diagnosed with schizophrenia. Symptoms of Schizophrenia: • Disorganized thinking. • Disturbed Perceptions. • Inappropriate Emotions and Actions.
1.) Disorganized Thinking The thinking of a person with schizophrenia is fragmented and bizarre. Disorganized thinking comes from a breakdown in selective attention - they cannot filter out information. Often causes . . .
Delusions of Persecution(people are out to get you). Delusions of Grandeur(belief that you are more important than you really are). Delusions (false beliefs)
2.) Disturbed Perceptions Hallucinations– (usually auditory) is a false perception.
3.) Inappropriate Emotions and Actions Laugh at inappropriate times. Flat Effect (emotionless). Senseless, compulsive acts. Catatonia- motionless waxy flexibility.
Positive Symptoms Presence of inappropriate symptoms Negative Symptoms Absence of appropriate ones. Positive vs. Negative Symptoms
Paranoid Schizophrenia Paranoid and preoccupied with delusions of persecution or grandeur as well as hallucinations. Always looking over your shoulder like somebody is out to get you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGnl8dqEoPQ&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL135E3BF70B9D590C
Catatonic Schizophrenia Immobility. Waxy flexibility. Parroting another’s speech.
Disorganized Schizophrenia Disorganized speech or behavior, or flat or inappropriate emotion. Clang associations: speaking in rhyme. “I’m the worstsystematic, sympatheticquite pathetic, apologetic, paramedic.“ Word salad: nonsense talk. “Because he makes a twirl in life, my box is broken. Help me blue elephant. Isn't lettuce brave? I like electrons, hello.” Neologisms: made up words that only have meaning to the person using them. “Is this logomouth here to get me nervous?”
Undifferentiated Schizophrenia Many varied symptoms. "Undifferentiated schizophrenia" is used as a label for cases of schizophrenia that don't match any of the established types of schizophrenia.
Residual Schizophrenia When the patient no longer displays prominent positive symptoms (i.e. hallucinations). The person does show some negative symptoms like speaking little or being apathetic.
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia • No known single cause. • Possible causes: • Excess of dopaminereceptors (6x). • Low activity in frontal lobes. • Genetics (50% chance for identical twins).
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia • Possible causes: • Enlarged ventricles (fluid filled spaces) in the brain. • Shrinkage of brain tissue in limbic system. • Prenatal viruses.
