ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY Studying disorders of the brain that disrupt feelings, thinking, mood, ability to relate to others and behavior Bio psychosocial Model

Judgments of abnormality are relative, but psychological disorders clearly exist and need to be classified, explained and treated…. Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Insanity= legal term Controversial!!!! Changes made reflect current syndromes (Internet addiction) and “roads” to medical insurance

There is a difference between a statistical abnormality and something considered abnormal …. Think: An IQ of 145 is statistically abnormal but isn’t considered “abnormal” or undesirable. Social nonconformity (failure to conform to social norms) is considered abnormal only if unhealthy

The “other” criteria… The behavior is disturbing to others The behavior violates cultural standards The behavior is disturbing to the individual The behavior is irrational or indefensible The behavior is maladaptive (with underlying psychological or biological dysfunction that makes it difficult to adapt to the environment)

BE CAUTIOUS WITH LABELS…. LABELS HURT PEOPLE  Do these “labels” cause more harm then good?  David Rosenhan study.

Anxiety Anxiety is the body’s reaction to stress Anxiety is universal=partly genetic (60% of children born to parents suffering panic disorder will also have panic) Flight-Fight-Fear-Faint Each person responds to anxiety differently All ages Symptoms: Some we feel, some we cannot feel, some are chronic Multiple treatments available- Cultural differences in symptoms and treatments

Phobia= Intense, irrational fear that interferes with everyday activities. Fear can be of objects or events Can have fear of fear (panic) Most common phobia= Social Phobia (13% in lifetime, 8% within past year) Early childhood fears frequently disappear without treatment. (study of 482 children; 40% have 7+ fears) Phobias in children that continue until adulthood rarely disappear without treatment

Agoraphobia= Fear of open spaces Greek translation= fear of the marketplace  Cause is unknown  Typically begins after a stressful experience or change  Begins with panic attack that is not associated with the earlier stressful event  Increases in panic  Lose freedom to move around- some become isolated

Phobia Causes  Genes  Classical conditioning  Overactive Limbic system  Misinterpretation of body signals Treatment  Desensitization Therapy/Counter conditioning  Anxiety medication  Over exposure

Panic =Intense anxiety NOT activated by an even or object Attack comes on suddenly Attack reaches peak within minutes (lingering effects can last several hours) Unpredictable (some exceptions) Symptoms: racing heart, chest pain, sweating, dizzy, feeling of unreality, fear of loosing control, tingling, feeling of dying, feel they are loosing mind, oxygen drowning) Onset: 25% of population will experience at least one panic attack. Typical onset is mid-late teens, early 20’s. Effects more women than men (2x) 3% of US population has panic diagnosis. (1.2% severe) Approximately 20% of people with panic will experience depression during lifetime.

Panic Causes Genetic Influence (increases with immediate family member) Learned-Cognitive & Behavioral Treatment Chemical benzodiazepine (short vs. long term) SSRI Cognitive/Behavior Talk therapy(change thinking) with desensitization techniques. (high success rate) Acceptance based therapy

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/OCD= Unwanted, repetitive thoughts, ideas, images (obsessions) that cannot be prevented without engaging in specific behaviors (compulsions) Compulsions= in the beginning they reduce anxiety- stop working Common Behaviors  Need to touch, tap, rub, count, check, clean  Mental rituals  Superstitious behavior  Excessive list making  Trichotillomania  Hoarding/collecting Obsessions= Come from what you care about- cause anxiety Common Thoughts  Germs  Dirt  Something undone  Violence  Religion  Health  May not know where the anxious thoughts come from

Who has OCD?  Many/most have some symptoms of OCD (1- 3% lifetime)  2-3% (1 in 50) are diagnosed with OCD  Ratio boys/girls about the same  Typically begins in adolescent/young adults  Typically begins after a very stressful event  Y-BOCS Checklist (over 16) used for diagnosis

OCD Causes Brain dysfunction: cingulate gyrus, basil ganglia, thalamus (create trouble regulating impulse control) Reduced serotonin PANDAS (age 3-puberty) Classical Conditioning Genes (none identified- strong family relationship) Treatment

SSRI (anti-depressant/anxiety) Cognitive Behavior Therapy Psycho Surgery

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Persistent re-experience of a traumatic event(s) in thoughts/dreams- Natural or unnatural events  Difficulty sleeping  Outburst of anger  Irritability  Difficulty concentrating  Depression  Recurring nightmares  Intrusive thoughts  Alcohol/drug abuse

Not all persons that experience trauma develop PTSD- Why?  Social Support (Vietnam vs Sept. 11 th )  Coping strategies  Some personality characteristics increase likelihood- such as passive, sensitive

Treatment SSRI (anti-depressant/anti anxiety) Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (based on the idea that anxiety comes from a misinterpretation of bodily sensations AND the person has not found healthy ways of coping to stresses in life) Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy

Dissociative Disorders... Controversial/Rare  Dissociative Identify Disorder (formerly multiple personality disorder)  Dissociative Amnesia  Dissociative fugue Disorders of identify or sense of self. Involve memory loss and trauma

Somatoform Disorders  Conversion disorder  Hypochondriasis Physical symptoms without apparent physical cause