Psychology December 7, 2011 Warm Up

1. Psychology December 7, 2011Warm Up What do you know about psychological disorders? Do you know anyone with a disorder? What symptoms do they exhibit? What symptoms do you think someone would exhibit with a psychological disorder? Describe EVERYTHING you know about psychological disorders.

2. Understanding Psychological Disorders • Psychological disorders are relatively common. They cause personal suffering to millions of people and interfere with their ability to cope with everyday life. • What are psychological disorders and how common are they? • What are the four major symptoms that can help identify psychological disorders? • How do psychologists help classify psychological disorders?

3. What are psychological disorders? • Psychological disorders – behavior patterns of mental processes that cause serious personal suffering or interfere with a person’s ability to cope with life everyday. • Estimates suggest 1 in 4 adult Americans experience some type of psychological disorder. • 26.6% - Americans who suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. • 6% - Americans who suffer from a serious psychological disorder. • 47.1 million - annual number of visits to an office-based physician due to psychological (US) • 6.9 days – average hospital stay for patients with psychological disorder in the US. • 90% - people that kill themselves who suffer from a DIAGNOSABLE psychological disorder.

4. What are the Four MAJOR SYMPTOMS in diagnosing a psychological disorder? • Typicality – “normality” or average, typical behavior or mental process. • (other factors must be take into account with this one to make an assessment.) • Maladaptivity – behavior impairs the ability to function in everyday life. • Behavior that causes misery and stress rather than happiness and fulfillment.

5. What are the Four MAJOR SYMPTOMS in diagnosing a psychological disorder? • Emotional Discomfort – emotions that cause people to be unstable, such as anxiety and depression. • People who suffer from depression often feel hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, guilt, and extreme sadness. • Socially Unacceptable Behavior – behavior that violates the sociably acceptable norms. • What is considered normal by one society, may not be considered “normal” by another.

6. How do psychologists CLASSIFY psychological disorders? • Most psychologists agree there should be a classification system used to specifically classify each psychological disorder. • Disorders diagnosed at infancy, childhood or adolescence. • Delirium, dementia, amnesia and other cognitive disorders • Substance related disorders • Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder • Anxiety disorders • Mood disorders • Dissociative disorders • Somatoform disorders • Sexual and gender identity disorder • Eating disorders • Impulse control disorders • Personality disorders

7. Classifying Psychological Disorders (cont.) • Psychologist use the DSM or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association) • Manual is also used by physicians and insurance companies to cover those with mental disorders. • The DSM is subject to changes as more information becomes available on individual disorders (such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.)

8. Activity • Create a chart of the MAJOR CATEGORIES of each psychological disorder. • Write a description of each category. • Causes, and Effects, types of disorders, characteristics, etc.