1. Module 36 - Introduction to Psychological Disorders

2. Review
A disordered behavior is one that is DEVIANT, DISTRESSFUL, and DYSFUNCTIONAL
Normal and abnormal behaviors are points on a continuum
3 perspectives on the study and treatment of psychological disorders:
Historical perspective: Evil supernatural forces
Medical perspective: Physiological causes that can be treated
Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective:
Genetic and physiological causes (e.g., neurotransmitters)
Social causes (e.g., normative behaviors, social expectations)
Psychological causes (e.g., stress, perceptions, memories)

3. Difference between the medical and the biopsychosocial perspectives
Focus on disease:
Disease can be understood and treated
Disease can be separated from the person
Focus on the person and the circumstances of the person:
Disorder can be understood by understanding the person’s thoughts and emotions, his/her experiences, and the biology and genetics of the disorder
Mind is not separable from the social and individual circumstances

4. Rates of Psychological Disorders

5. Very high level of distress
Among college students? Level of psychological distress that impairs functioning
College students
General Population
Very high level of distress
Males
8.6%
2.7%
Females
8.4%
5.4%
High level of distress
12.1%
3.1%
16.2%
5.5%
Note: Data from Australia, Stallman (2008)

6. In Turkey?
In a nationally representative sample of mothers (TECGE), there is indication of mental disorder in 12.4%, with at least some symptoms that are at “disorder” level.
Who experiences psychological disorders in Turkey?

7. Who experiences high levels of psychological symptoms among Turkish mothers?
Mothers’ Characteristics
Rate of high levels of psychological symptoms
Rural
Urban
8.9%
15.5%
Low SES
Middle SES
High SES
15.1%
12.2%
8.4%
No education
Grade school completed
Some secondary education
Secondary education completed
Some college education
18.9%
13.0%
11.0%
7.9%
3.6%
1 or 2 children
3 children
4 or more children
16.9%

8. Do friends and family help?
Those who do not have symptoms
Those who have high levels of symptoms
Level of support from friends 60 46
Level of support from family 80 66
Level of support from husband 81 56
Level of support from the neighbors 65 52

9. How do we study and treat psychological disorders? Classification
Diagnosis
The process of identifying and grouping mental disorders with similar symptoms
Goals of Classification
Common shorthand language used by clinicians and treatment specialists
Agreed upon terms
Understanding of etiology (causes)
Treatment planning

10. How do we classify psychological disorders?
DSM-IV
American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition)
a widely used system for classifying psychological disorders
Categories increased from 60 in 1950’s to 400 today.
Problems with diagnosis: STIGMATIZING POWER OF LABELS

11. DSM IV: Major Depressive Episode
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful).
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day
Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

12. Major Types of Psychological Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Mood Disorders
Personality Disorders
Schizophrenic Disorders

13. Personality Disorders
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Consistent pattern of distrust and suspiciousness about the motives of the others
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Patterns of excessive emotionality and attention seeking
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
A grandiose sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with fantasies of successor power, and a need for constant admiration
Antisocial Personality Disorder
A long standing pattern of irresponsible or unlawful behavior that violates social norms

14. Dissociative Disorders
Disturbance in integration of identity, memory, or consciousness
Dissociative Amnesia
Inability to remember personal experiences
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Notion of Multiple Personality
Two or more distinct personalities (contrasting with the original self)

15. Psychological Disorders of Childhood
Mental retardation
IQs below scores of 70-75
A variety of adaptive skills
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Inattention that is not consistent with level of development
Hyperactivity- impulsivity
Autistic disorder
Severe disruption in ability to form social bonds
Delayed/limited spoken ability, narrow interest in the world.