Working with Students with Psychological Disabilities

1. Working with Students with Psychological Disabilities

2. Psychological Disorders • Incidence • An estimated 22% of Americans ages 18 and older or 1 in 5 adults has a diagnosable psychiatric/psychological disability Major Mood Disorders = 9.9 million Anxiety Disorders = 19.0 million Schizophrenia = 2.2 million Personality Disorders = 9.7 million

3. Psychological Disorders • Although there are some universal similarities among psychological disorders, they are categorized by the professional community due to the variability and resultant unique characteristics, but also to aid the appropriate differential diagnosis • The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders is the most widely used diagnostic tool

4. Mood Disorders • Primary feature is a disturbance in mood • The DSM-IV-TR distinguishes between mood episodes and mood disorders, the later being dependent on frequency and duration of episodes • Mood Disorders are divided into: • Depressive disorder • Bipolar disorder • Mood disorder due to a general medical condition • Substance induced mood disorder

5. Anxiety Disorders • Characterized by clinically significant anxiety with a general or specific nature that causes excessive worry, fear, inhibition, and interferes with daily functioning • Primary features: • Panic Attacks • Generalized Anxiety Disorder • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

6. Schizophrenia • May affect both cognitive and sensory perceptions • Characterized by delusions and/or hallucinations

7. Personality Disorder • Personality disorders are maladaptive modes of behavior that are pervasive and inflexible and cause significant impairment in functioning • Personality disorders generally originate in adolescence or early adulthood

8. Psychological Disorders Strategies • Be consistent with expectations and standards • Be positive and reinforce desired behaviors • If planning group activities, program staff should decide who goes into each group Functional Limitations • Looses touch with reality at times • Reluctant to participate in groups • Appears sad, withdrawn, hopeless

9. Psychological Disorders Strategies • Provide a structured environment with a routine the student can learn and expect Functional Limitations • Experiences problems being accepted by peers and/or others • Has poor organizational skills • Destructive to self, others, materials

10. Psychological Disorders Strategies • Eliminate unnecessary distractions • Avoid overloading the student with too much new information all at one time Functional Limitations • Becomes easily frustrated • Shows severe anxiety, which appears to be unrelated to specific events • Is easily distracted and seems unable to concentrate

11. Psychological Disorders Strategies • Provide concrete examples of what is expected of the student • Give clear, concise, simple directions • Meet privately with student – may have to refer for in-depth therapy Functional Limitations • Discusses unreal and impossible plans, which seem to change daily • Develops an unkempt appearance or sudden excessive neatness • Exhibits excessive or unusual mannerisms

12. Psychological Disorders Strategies • Allow extra time to complete assignments and exams • Allow student to work at his/her own pace • Announce due dates well in advance of event Functional Limitations • Shows little interest in doing homework. Does not complete assignments or come prepared to tutoring sessions • Develops poor attendance and/or is chronically late for sessions/meetings