1. Psychological Disorders
Criteria for considering a behavior disordered:
Disturbing
Atypical
Maladaptive
Unjustifiable

2. Understanding Disorders
Medical Model
internalizes the “illness”
Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective
disorder stems from physiological factors + past/present experiences

3. Classifying Disorders
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
provides
diagnostic criteria
prevalence data
case illustrations

4. Comorbidity of Disorders
Psychological Disorders
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Comorbidity of Disorders
Many people who have psychological disorders experience more than one diagnosable disorder at the same time.
Figure from
Davis, S.F., & Palladino, J.J. (1997). Psychology, 2nd edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Kessler, R.C., McGonagle, K.A., Zhao, S., Nelson, C.G., Hughes, M., Eshleman, S., Wittchen, H.-U., & Kenderl, K.S. (1994). Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States. Archives of General Psychiatry, 51, 8-19.
©1999 Prentice Hall 4

5. Anxiety Disorders Components: Kinds distressing, persistent anxiety
or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety
Kinds
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Phobias (most commonly bugs, mice, snakes, heights, …)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

6. Explanations Conditioning Observation Genetic Classical Operant
generalization
Operant
reinforcement
Observation
learn by seeing others
Genetic
twin studies

7. Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative Amnesia
failure to recall events
Dissociative Fugue
failure to recall past and run away
Dissociative Identity Disorder
“multiple personalities”

8. Mood Disorders Major Depressive Disorder Bipolar Disorder
lethargy, feelings of worthlessness, loss of interest, etc. last two weeks or more w/o obvious cause.
Bipolar Disorder
“manic-depressive”

9. Depression: Age of First Onset
Psychological Disorders
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Depression: Age of First Onset
Depression is seldom identified before adolescence
Diagnosed increases in early adulthood
Most commonly diagnosed in middle age
First diagnosis rare among the elderly
Figure 16.6 from:
Kassin, S. (1998). Psychology, second edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Lewinsohn, P.M., Duncan, E.M., Stanton, A.K., & Hautzinger, M. (1986). Age at first onset of nonbipolar depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95,
©1999 Prentice Hall 12

10. Explanations Genetic Social-Cognitive twin/family studies
neurotransmitter studies
norepinephrine, serotonin
what about lag?
Social-Cognitive
attributions (stable, global , internal)
correlations? and “vicious cycles”

11. Schizophrenia

12. Schizophrenia Marked by: disorganized thinking disturbed perception
“word salad”
delusions
disturbed perception
hallucinations (usually auditory)
inappropriate actions and emotions
laughing at death - or - lack of affect
compulsive - or - catatonic

13. Explanations Genetic/ Physiological dopamine over-activity
twin studies
brain abnormalities

14. Schizophrenia: A Brain Disorder
Psychological Disorders
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Schizophrenia: A Brain Disorder
Schizophrenics had enlarged ventricles (see arrows) compared to normal sibling
Figure from
Davis, S.F., & Palladino, J.J. (1997). Psychology, 2nd edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Source:
Suddarth, R.L., Christison, G.W., Torrey, E.F., Casanova, M.F., & Weinberger, D.R. (1990). Anatomical abnormalities in the brains of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia. New England Journal of Medicine, 322,
©1999 Prentice Hall 20

15. Personality Disorders
Definition: inflexible and enduring patterns of behavior that impair one’s social functioning.
Histrionic
Display shallow, attention-getting emotions.
Narcissistic
Exaggerate importance (aided by fantasies)
Anti-Social
Lack of a conscience for wrong-doing.