1. Chapter 15 PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
Psychology
Chapter 15 PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
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2. Psychological Disorders
A condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings and behaviors
Psychopathology: scientific study of psychological disorders, or the manifestation of a psych disorder
Etiology: determining what causes such disorders
How do we define psychological disorders?
Behaviors, thoughts or internal experiences that are atypical, distressing, dysfunctional or dangerous.
Wakefield qualifies dysfunctional as harmful
Comorbidity? Co-occurrence of two disorders.
The APA provides a thorough definition, and the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 has overviews of LOTS of psychological disorders.

3. FIGURE 15.4
The graph shows the breakdown of psychological disorders, comparing the percentage prevalence among adult males and adult females in the United States. Because the data is from 2007, the categories shown here are from the DSM-IV, which has been supplanted by the DSM-5. Most categories remain the same; however, alcohol abuse now falls under a broader Alcohol Use Disorder category.

4. FIGURE 15.5
Obsessive-compulsive disorder and major depressive disorder frequently occur in the same person.

5. Enough models. Let’s chat about Anxiety Disorders
Also the International Classification of Diseases which many countries (not U.S.) use for clinical diagnoses
How do these disorders arise or develop?
Supernatural perspectives (devils / demons)
Biological perspective (genes & nervous system functional issues or damage)
Diathesis - Stress Model: Biological factors are combined with psychological factors like stress, abuse, environmental factors, or faulty learning
Enough models. Let’s chat about Anxiety Disorders
Excessive & persistent fear with disturbed behavior
Specific Phobia. Snakes & spiders are common
Acquired through learning. Classical conditioning or sometimes observational / vicarious conditioning

6. Other types of Anxiety Disorders?
Social Anxiety Disorder. Fear of negative evaluation leads to safety behaviors
Panic Disorder. Multiple sudden-onset terrifying and overwhelming panic attacks
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: pervasive state of continuous & excessive worry / apprehension
OCD: persistent intrusive unwanted thoughts (obsessions) leading to repetitive ritualistic acts (compulsions). Causal factors include genes, orbitofrontal cortex issues and conditioning.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder. I look hideous!
PTSD: Traumatic exposure leads to flashbacks

7. FIGURE 15.9
Some of the physical manifestations of a panic attack are shown. People may also experience sweating, trembling, feelings of faintness, or a fear of losing control, among other symptoms.

8. FIGURE 15.11
(a) Repetitive hand washing and (b) checking (e.g., that a door is locked) are common compulsions among those with obsessive-compulsive disorder. (credit a: modification of work by the USDA; credit b: modification of work by Bradley Gordon)

9. FIGURE 15.13
Different regions of the brain may be associated with different psychological disorders.

10. FIGURE 15.14
PTSD was first recognized in soldiers who had engaged in combat. Research has shown that strong social support decreases the risk of PTSD. This person stands at the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall. (credit: Kevin Stanchfield)

11. Next let’s discuss Mood Disorders
Severe emotional disturbances, often depressed but also includes mania
Major Depressive Disorder: hopeless, sad, tired and may include suicidal ideation
Very common. Risk factors: poverty, serotonin issues, unemployment, divorced & being female
Subtypes: Seasonal Pattern, Peripartum Onset, and Persistent Depressive Disorder
Bipolar Disorder: manic episodes interspersed with bouts of depressive symptoms. We also may get flight of ideas, sleeplessness, splurges.

12. FIGURE 15.15
Mood disorders are characterized by massive disruptions in mood. Symptoms can range from the extreme sadness and hopelessness of depression to the extreme elation and irritability of mania. (credit: Kiran Foster)

13. FIGURE 15.18
A study on gene-environment interaction in people experiencing chronic depression in adulthood suggests a much higher incidence in individuals with a short version of the gene in combination with childhood maltreatment (Brown & Harris, 2013).

14. Let’s moved on to Schizophrenia
Major disturbances in thought, perception, emotions, and behavior. A psychotic disorder.
Positive symptoms: hallucinations, delusions, (paranoid) & disorganized thinking and behavior
Negative symptoms: anhedonia, diminished social skills, withdrawal, losses of motivation, communication skills & emotional expression
Causal factors include genes in combination with environmental factors (disturbed home life)
The dopamine hypothesis, brain anatomy, and prenatal factors as well as marijuana use

15. FIGURE 15.8
A person’s risk of developing schizophrenia increases if a relative has schizophrenia. The closer the genetic relationship, the higher the risk.

16. What about Dissociative Disorders?
Dissociative amnesia.
Depersonalization / De-realization Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder
And let’s not forget Personality Disorders...
Differs from cultural expectations, inflexible, & they cause impairment and distress. 3 Clusters.
Borderline: instability in relationships, self image, and mood. Often very impulsive.
Antisocial: lacks regard for others, reckless, cruel, irresponsible, irritable, no sense of remorse
Narcissistic: self important and “special”
Paranoid: suspicious, mistrusts others for no reason

17. What about Childhood Disorders?
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
Disorganized, hasty, impulsive, fidgets, and is easily distracted. Trouble finishing activities.
More common in males, and lots of long term life problems. Frontal lobe abnormalities.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Deficits in social interactions, communication, and often shows repetitive behavior patterns
Genetics, exposure to pollutants, & vitamin deficiencies contribute. Vaccinations are safe!

18. In terms of their exposure to immunogens in vaccines, overall, there is not a significant difference between children with autism spectrum disorder and their age-matched controls without the disorder (DeStefano et al., 2013).
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