Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders (Abnormal Psychology)

Defining Abnormality Defining abnormality is not simple, it appears to be more a matter of degree of behavioral change and distress rather than the presence or absence of a behavioral change or distress Some criterion seem helpful in defining abnormality Behavior is outside of social norms Inability to function Personal Distress Prolonged Suffering (ex: depression that lasts months rather than days)

Normality-Abnormality Continuum

DSM IV Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV) 1952- First edition 1994- 4th edition 2000- 4th revised 2012- Planned release for 5th edition Five axis criteria for diagnostic classification of psych. disorders Axis 1- Principal diagnosis - 16 categories Axis 2- Personality or developmental disorders Axis 3- Medical conditions Axis 4- Recent sources of stress Axis 5- Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF)

Schizophrenic Disorders Group of disorders marked by disturbances in thought patterns. These disorders can be accompanied by distortions in perception and abnormal emotional responses. 1% of population in every culture 30% resistant to drugs Gradual vs Sudden onset

Subtypes of Schizophrenia Paranoid: marked by delusion of persecution and/or grandeur, and frequent auditory hallucinations Disorganized: marked by inappropriate affect, disorganized speech Catatonic: marked by motor disturbances ranging from immobility to excessive, purposeless activity Undifferentiated: mixtures of symptoms from other subtypes

Potential Causes of Schizophrenia Physiological Explanations neurochemicals-excess dopamine enlargement of the ventricles of the brain genetics-there is a 46% concordance rate for identical twins with one twin suffering schizophrenia Environmental Explanations Stress-can precede the onset of schizophrenia and precede subsequent relapses Unhealthy Family Dynamics-high expression of emotion and communication difficulties in a family have been associated with the development of schizophrenia Date of birth

Relatives of ppl with schizophrenia

Anxiety Disorders Generalized Anxiety Disorder: chronic anxiety that is not caused by a specific stimulus Panic Attacks: recurrent attacks of anxiety not due to a specific event Phobias: chronic, irrational fear of a specific object or situation Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: persistent obtrusive thoughts (obsessions) & need to engage in unnecessary rituals (compulsions) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Common Phobias Less Common (but entertaining)…

Some Potential Causes of Anxiety Disorders Behavioral explanations: Classically conditioned phobic responses Neuro-chemical: decreases in GABA activity and serotonin activity are associated with anxiety disorders Cognitive: people who suffer from anxiety disorders may chronically overestimate the severity of a perceived threat

Sleeping Disorders

Help me!!!

Mood Disorders Depressive Disorder: persistent feelings of sadness and a loss of interest in finding pleasure (Major, dysthemic, post-partum) Bipolar Disorder: marked by chronic experience of manic and depressive episodes Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Episodic Patterns in Mood Disorders

Some Potential Causes of Depression Cognitive and Behavioral Mechanisms Behavioral: ”learned helplessness” believe outcomes in their life are out of their control (external locus of control) Cognitive: negative self-talk is associated with depressive episodes Physiological Mechanisms Neurotransmitters: decreased norepinephrine and serotonin is associated with depression Genetics: there is a 65% concordance rate between identical twins

Mood Disorders chart

Somatoform Disorders Physiological issues without cause Hypochondriasis: excessive preoccupation with becoming ill Conversion Disorder: significant loss of function in one single organ system without a physiological cause

Dissociative Disorders Dissociative Amnesia: sudden loss of memory for personal information that is not due to normal forgetfulness Dissociative Fugue: a loss of memory for their entire lives and sense of identity Multiple-Personality Disorder (DID): the coexistence of more than one personality in an individual Depersonalization: Feelings of unreality concerning the self and environment. Anxiety producing. Many young adults have felt this.

Some Potential Causes of Somatoform Disorders Personality Factors: people with histrionic and neurotic personality traits seem to be more susceptible to the somatoform disorders Behavioral Factors: people who have previously received a lot of attention because of illness may begin to find reward in the somatoform disorders

Personality Disorders- a few examples Antisocial Personality Disorder (sociopath): marked by impulsive, callous, manipulative, aggressive, and irresponsible behavior that reflects a failure to accept social norms (often charming) Narcissistic: exaggerated feelings of self-worth and constant need for affirmation Histrionic: OVERLY emotional/seductive Borderline: irrational fear of abandonment Avoidant: Dependent: Obsessive-Compulsive:

Insanity Pleas Does not know right from wrong A disorder alone does not absolve responsibility John Hinkley - President Reagan Ted Kaczynski, Jeffrey Dahmer, Andrea Yates, Kip Kinkel- all found guilty by juries

Problems with DSM/disease model Thomas Szasz- no such thing as mental ill Rosenhan- empty, hollow, thud- 19 days Labeling theory Not easy to classify- crossover Infers more understanding than actual Everyday problems Insurance

Suicide White > Black, Men > Women (China), Woman attempts > Men attempts Spike for men after 65 Alcoholics very high rate Few who talk about it do it, but few who do it do not give clues ahead of time Arizona over 1000 suicides last year- Mesa 60, Chandler 30