Psychological Disorders

A. History

1. Hippocrates: madness was a natural event arising from natural causes. 2. Middle Ages: people were killed or ostracized th Century: systematic scientific attention.

B. Theories of the Nature, Causes, and Treatment

1. Biological Model Abnormal behavior has a biochemical or physiological basis. The problem is: biology alone cannot account for most mental illnesses.

2. Psychoanalytic Model abnormal behavior is a symbolic expression of unconscious mental conflicts that generally can be traced to early childhood or infancy. produced little scientific evidence to support it.

3. Cognitive-behavioral Model mental disorders are the result of learning maladaptive ways of behaving. proposes that what has been learned can be unlearned. criticized for its extreme emphasis on environmental causes and treatments.

Disorders

1. Mood Disorders -characterized by disturbances in mood or prolonged emotional state. a. Depression b. Dysthymia c. Psychotic d. Mania e. Bipolar disorder

2. Causes of Mood Disorders a. Biological factors-genetics b. Cognitive distortions c. Social Factors

3. Anxiety Disorders a. a person's anxiety is inappropriate to the circumstances. 1. Social Phobia 2. Agoraphobia 3. Panic Disorder 4. Obsessive-Compulsive disorder 5. Acute Stress Disorder 6. Post traumatic Stress Disorder

4. Causes of Anxiety Disorder a. There are many theories but not one specific answer.

5. Dissociative Disorders a. some part of an individual's personality or memory is separated from the rest. 1. Dissociative amnesia 2. dissociative fugue 3. dissociative identity disorder (multiple personalities.

6. Personality Disorders a. enduring, inflexible, and maladaptive ways of thinking and behaving that are so exaggerated and rigid that they cause serious inner distress and/or conflicts with others. 1. Paranoia 2. Narcissistic 3. Antisocial

7. Schizophrenic Disorders a. severe conditions marked by disordered thoughts and communications, inappropriate emotions, and bizarre behavior that lasts for years. b. Not the same as insanity which is the legal term for mentally disturbed people who are found not to be responsible for their criminal actions.

c. out of touch with reality and usually cannot live anything like a normal life unless they are successfully treated with medication. d. Suffer with hallucinations and delusions.

8. Childhood Disorders a. First diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence. 1. ADHD

2. Autism A. What is it? 1. Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. B. Causes 1. Autism is a physical condition linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. a. The exact causes of these abnormalities remain unknown.

A number of other possible causes have been suspected, but not proven. They involve: Diet Digestive tract changes Mercury poisoning The body's inability to properly use vitamins and minerals Vaccine sensitivity