Abnormal Psychology A.K.A. Psychological Disorders A “harmful dysfunction” in which behavior is judged to be atypical, disturbing, maladaptive and unjustifiable.

Four Basic Standards Abnormal behavior – is atypical. It occurs infrequently in a given population. – Is maladaptive. It interferes with a person’s ability to function normally in one or more important areas of life – Is disturbing to others. It represents a serious departure from social and cultural norms of behavior – Is distressful. It prevents a person from thinking clearly and making rational decisions

Early Theories Abnormal behavior was evil spirits trying to get out. Trephining was often used.

Medical Perspective Philippe Pinel ( ) from France, insisted that madness was not due to demonic possession, but an ailment of the mind. Dance in the madhouse. George Wesley Bellows, Dancer in a Madhouse, © 1997 The Art Institute of Chicago

Perspectives and Disorders Psychological School/PerspectiveCause of the Disorder Psychoanalytic/PsychodynamicInternal, unconscious drives HumanisticFailure to strive to one’s potential or being out of touch with one’s feelings. BehavioralReinforcement history, the environment. CognitiveIrrational, dysfunctional thoughts or ways of thinking. SocioculturalDysfunctional Society Biomedical/NeuroscienceOrganic problems, biochemical imbalances, genetic predispositions.

The Psychoanalytic Perspective Views mental disorders as the product of intrapsychic conflicts among the id, the ego and the superego In order to protect itself the ego represses psychic conflicts into the unconscious. These conflicts result from unresolved traumatic experiences that took place in childhood.

The Humanistic Perspective Person’s feelings, self esteem, and self concept Result of choices we make in order to find meaning in life. Anxiety results from a difference between our ideal self and real self Unconditional positive regard

The Cognitive Perspective Focuses on faulty, illogical, negative ways of thinking. Maladaptive thoughts lead to misperceptions and misinterpretations of events and social interactions.

Behavioral Perspective Abnormal behavior is learned. On how a behavior was reinforced and rewarded Neutral stimulus: elevator Paired with the power going out Elevator becomes a conditioned stimulus Condition Response: anxiety or fear of elevator

Biological Perspective Argue that many psychological disorders are caused by hormonal or neurotransmitter imbalances, differences in brain structure and inherited predispositions

Models of the Causes of Psychological Disorders Diathesis-Stress model – Biological predisposition to disorder which is triggered by stress

Medical Approach When physicians discovered that syphilis led to mental disorders, they started using medical models to review the physical causes of these disorders. 1.Etiology: Cause and development of the disorder. 2.Diagnosis: Identifying (symptoms) and distinguishing one disease from another. 3.Treatment: Treating a disorder in a psychiatric hospital. 4.Prognosis: Forecast about the disorder.

DSM IV 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.

Multiaxial Classification Are Psychosocial or Environmental Problems (school or housing issues) also present? Axis IV What is the Global Assessment of the person’s functioning? (GAF Scale is out of 100 with the lower the score the more limited their functioning. Axis V Is a General Medical Condition (diabetes, hypertension or arthritis etc) also present? Axis III Is a Personality Disorder or Mental Retardation present? Axis II Is a Clinical Syndrome (cognitive, anxiety, mood disorders [16 syndromes]) present? Axis I

Multiaxial Classification Note 16 syndromes in Axis I

Multiaxial Classification Note Global Assessment for Axis V

Goals of DSM 1.Describe (400) disorders. 2.Determine how prevalent the disorder is. Disorders outlined by DSM-IV are reliable. Therefore, diagnoses by different professionals are similar. Others criticize DSM-IV for “putting any kind of behavior within the compass of psychiatry.”

Two Major Classifications in the DSM Neurotic Disorders Distressing but one can still function in society and act rationally. Psychotic Disorders Person loses contact with reality, experiences distorted perceptions. hk v=nIWB-Neyj-c

Labeling Psychological Disorders 1.Critics of the DSM-IV argue that labels may stigmatize individuals. Asylum baseball team (labeling) Elizabeth Eckert, Middletown, NY. From L. Gamwell and N. Tomes, Madness in America, Cornell University Press.

Labeling Psychological Disorders 2.Labels may be helpful for healthcare professionals when communicating with one another and establishing therapy.

Labeling Psychological Disorders 3.“Insanity” labels raise moral and ethical questions about how society should treat people who have disorders and have committed crimes. Theodore Kaczynski (Unabomber) Elaine Thompson/ AP Photo

Anxiety Disorders a group of conditions where the primary symptoms are anxiety or defenses against anxiety. the patient fears something awful will happen to them. They are in a state of intense apprehension, uneasiness, uncertainty, or fear. Anxiety is a normal human response to stress Pathological anxiety is irrational, uncontrollable, and disruptive.

Phobias A person experiences sudden episodes of intense dread. Must be an irrational fear. Phobia List ?v=hsr8JsUr6kU

Generalized Anxiety Disorder GAD An anxiety disorder in which a person is continuously tense, apprehensive and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal. The patient is constantly tense and worried, feels inadequate, is oversensitive, can’t concentrate and suffers from insomnia. Affects twice as many women as men Leads to chronic fatigue and irritability

Panic Disorder An anxiety disorder marked by a minutes- long episode of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking and other frightening sensations. Sudden episodes of Extreme Anxiety _qo4uPxhUzU 41WNPEEmg

Obsessive-compulsive disorder Persistent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause someone to feel the need (compulsion) to engage in a particular action. Obsession about dirt and germs may lead to compulsive hand washing.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder a.k.a. PTSD Flashbacks or nightmares following a person’s involvement in or observation of an extremely stressful event. Memories of the even cause anxiety. 4l_E0

Somatoform Disorders Occur when a person manifests a psychological problem through a physiological symptom. Two types……

Hypochondriasis Has frequent physical complaints for which medical doctors are unable to locate the cause. They usually believe that the minor issues (headache, upset stomach) are indicative are more severe illnesses.

Conversion Disorder Report the existence of severe physical problems with no biological reason. Like blindness or paralysis. Pol Pot

Dissociative Disorders These disorders involve a disruption in the conscious process. Three types….

Psychogenic Amnesia A person cannot remember things with no physiological basis for the disruption in memory. Retrograde Amnesia NOT organic amnesia. Organic amnesia can be retrograde or antrograde.

Dissociative Fugue People with psychogenic amnesia that find themselves in an unfamiliar environment.

Dissociative Identity Disorder Used to be known as Multiple Personality Disorder. A person has several rather than one integrated personality. People with DID commonly have a history of childhood abuse or trauma.

Mood Disorders Experience extreme or inappropriate emotion.

Major Depression A.K.A. unipolar depression Unhappy for at least two weeks with no apparent cause. Depression is the common cold of psychological disorders. 10% of those suffering major depression attempt suicide Feel deeply discouraged and lethargic

Seasonal Affective Disorder Experience depression during the winter months. Based not on temperature, but on amount of sunlight. Treated with light therapy.

Bipolar Disorder Formally manic depression. Involves periods of depression and manic episodes. Manic episodes involve feelings of high energy (but they tend to differ a lot…some get confident and some get irritable). Engage in risky behavior during the manic episode.

Personality Disorders Well-established, maladaptive ways of behaving that negatively affect people’s ability to function. Dominates their personality.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Lack of empathy. Little regard for other’s feelings. View the world as hostile and look out for themselves.

Antisocial Used to be called sociopaths or psychopaths Violate other people’s rights without guilt or remorse Manipulative Irresponsible Can be charming More common in males

Dependent Personality Disorder Rely too much on the attention and help of others. Lacking self confidence Subordinates own needs to others Allows others to make decisions More common in women

Histrionic Personality Disorder Needs to be the center of attention. Whether acting silly or dressing provocatively. More common in women Excessively dramatic Overreaction

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Having an unwarranted sense of self-importance. Thinking that you are the center of the universe. lacking empathy Manipulative can’t take criticism More common in women Expects special treatment

Obsessive –Compulsive Personality Disorder Overly concerned with certain thoughts and performing certain behaviors. Not as extreme as OCD anxiety.

Schizophrenic Disorders About 1 in every 100 people are diagnosed with schizophrenia. Symptoms of Schizophrenia 1.Disorganized thinking. 2.Disturbed Perceptions 3.Inappropriate Emotions and Actions

Disorganized Thinking The thinking of a person with Schizophrenia is fragmented and bizarre and distorted with false beliefs. Disorganized thinking comes from a breakdown in selective attention.- they cannot filter out information.

Delusions (false beliefs) Delusions of Persecution Delusions of Grandeur

Disturbed Perceptions hallucinations- sensory experiences without sensory stimulation.

Inappropriate Emotions and Actions Laugh at inappropriate times. Flat Effect Senseless, compulsive acts. Catatonia- motionless Waxy Flexibility

Positive v. Negative Symptoms Positive Symptoms Presence of inappropriate symptoms Negative Symptoms Absence of appropriate ones.

Types of Schizophrenia

Disorganized Schizophrenia disorganized speech or behavior, or flat or inappropriate emotion. Clang associations "Imagine the worst Systematic, sympathetic Quite pathetic, apologetic, paramedic Your heart is prosthetic"

Paranoid Schizophrenia preoccupation with delusions or hallucinations. Somebody is out to get me!!!!

Catatonic Schizophrenia Flat effect Waxy Flexibility parrot like repeating of another’s speech and movements

Undifferentiated Schizophrenia Many and varied Symptoms.

Other Disorders Paraphilias (pedophilia, zoophilia, hybristophilia) Fetishism sadist, masochist Eating Disorders Substance use disorders ADHD

The Rosenhan Study 7 Rosenhan’s associates presented themselves to 12 hospitals in 5 states Claimed to hear voices that said,”empty, “hollow”, and “thus”, other than this, the pseudopatients acted normally and reported no other psychiatric problems. They were ALL admitted for schizophrenia. Hospitals stays ranged from 7 to 52 days. Other patients detected the ruse but none of the doctors. None were exposed as imposters. They all left diagnosed with schizophrenia in remission. What are some of the questions raised by this study?

The Stickiness of the Diagnostic label The Rosenhan study demonstrates the power and danger of what he called the “stickiness of the diagnostic label.” The label schizophrenia became the central characteristic that governed how the staff treated each of the fake patients. When one of the fake patients wrote down notes the staff perceived the writing behavior as another manifestation of the underlying patholology.

Therapy It used to be that if someone exhibited abnormal behavior, they were institutionalized. Because of new drugs and better therapy, the U.S. went to a policy of deinstitutionalization.

Psychoanalytic Therapy Psychoanalysis (manifest and latent content through…. hypnosis free association, dream, interpretation). Unconscious Transference Other therapies will result in symptom substitution.

Humanistic Therapy Client-Centered Therapy by Carl Rogers These are non-directive therapies and use active listening. Self-actualization, free- will and unconditional positive regard. Gestalt Therapy by Fritz Perls encourage clients to get in touch with whole self.

Behavioral Therapies Counterconditioning Classical Conditioning 1.Aversive Conditioning 2.Systematic desensitization 3.Flooding Operant Conditioning Token Economy

Cognitive Therapy Change the way we view the world (change our schemas) Aaron Beck Albert Ellis and Rational Emotive Therapy

Somatic Therapies Psychopharmacology Antipsychotics (thorazine, haldol) Anti-anxiety (valium, barbiturates, Xanax) Mood Disorders (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) Bipolar (lithium)

Somatic Therapy Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)- for depression. Psychosurgury 1.Prefontal lobotomy

Group Therapy