Principles of Psychological Disorders
Principles of Psychological Disorders
WHAT ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS?
● Abnormal thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that cause people to experience distress and prevents them from functioning in their daily lives ○ Deviant
■ Different from what’s culturally expected ○ Distressful
■ Causes unwanted negative emotions ○ Dysfunctional
■ Biology or psychology isn’t functioning as expected
THE DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
● First edition from 1952 ● Currently in the 5th edition (revised in 2013) ● 237 diagnosable disorders
■ Nearly half of all Americans will meet the criteria for a DSM disorder at some point in their life
THE CAUSES ● Is it supernatural forces?
○ E.g., Black magic, possession ● Is it biology?
○ E.g., Chemical imbalance, brain abnormality ● Is it environmental factors?
○ E.g., Childhood abuse, trauma
■ The Diathesis-Stress Model prevails! ○ A complex interaction between biology and environment
AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE’LL COVER…
● Anxiety Disorders ● Mood Disorders ● Schizophrenia ● Dissociative Disorders ● Personality Disorders ● “Childhood” Disorders
ANXIETY DISORDERS When anxiety occurs without logical external justification and begins to affect people’s daily functioning
Some major types ● Phobias ● Panic disorder ● Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) ● Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
PHOBIAS
ANXIETY DISORDERS Panic Disorder
● Usually have recurring panic attacks ● Anxiety suddenly rises to a peak and the person feels
a sense of impending, unavoidable doom
Generalized Anxiety Disorder ● Long-term, persistent, excessive, and uncontrollable
anxiety
ANXIETY DISORDERS Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ● Obsession
○ Persistent unwanted thought or idea that keeps recurring
● Compulsion ○ Irresistible urges to repeatedly carry out some act that
may seem strange and unreasonable to others ○ Helps control anxiety stemming from the obsession
MOOD DISORDERS Major Depressive Disorder
● Severe form of depression that interferes with concentration, decision making, and sociability
Bipolar Disorder
