Psyc 1002

Psychological Disorders

Feb. 25, 2013

Psychological Disorders
All of chapter 14. Set of behavioral criteria: Set of symptoms reported by patient How they feel, think, behave.

The 3 Ds Distress: subjective pain/suffering, or cause distress to other people. If it is an antisocial personality, then there is no distress to self. Dysfunction: unable to fulfill daily demands. Deviance: socially abnormal behavior. How much is heavily influenced by social norms. Characteristics: delusional, incoherent, disoriented } disturbed

Abnormal behavior = disease. Diagnosis Identify the pathology (distinction) Etiology cause and developmental history of illness Prognosis probable course of illness (forecast)

Classification system (2 major)

(American) Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psych. Association) (European) International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related health Problems (World Health Organization)

Anxiety Disorders
Chronic Stress high level of anxiety. Inability to relax. Anxiety Disorders--> -unpleasant emotional state. -when social function is impaired (dysfunction) -cause is unidentified/ uncontrollable / unavoidable. Symptoms: -Mental apprehension (intense fearful expectation of negative events) -physical tension (headache, fatigue, hypertension); anxiety (hyperventilation) -sexual dysfunction.

Psyc 1002

Psychological Disorders

Feb. 25, 2013

High stress leads to anxiety disorders and this is a direct relation/correlation to physical symptoms. These (5) are more frequent in females. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (gradual onset) -Non-specific fear and worry (tied to everyday events and minor matters). -Not tied to any specific event. (Patient cant identify the source of anxiety). -constant state of worry -restlessness, fatigue, nausea, irritability, lack of concentration, heart palpitation. -Dysfuntion. -Not due to drugs/medical condition this is only psychological. Phobic Disorder -specific focus of anxiety unrealistic danger. -trembling, palpitations -patients understand that the fear is not proportional to the situation -mild phobias are normal if daily life is undisrupted by phobia. Panic Disorder Reaccuring attacks of paralyzing fear/feeling of terror. Diagnosis: chronic consequences. Worry/fear of future attacks Patients stay at home because they fear of panic attack happening in public. Disruptive behavior b/c they are afraid to leave home. Post Traumatic Nightmares, flashbacks. sleep difficulties. Social relation problems: emotional numbing (apathy), sense of vulnerability, Anxiety, anger, guilt. OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Obsession persistent intrusion of uncontrollable thoughts. Compulsion urges to engage in senseless rituals.

Psyc 1002

Psychological Disorders

Feb. 25, 2013

They behave to reduce stress (act to neutralize obsession). Cognitive ritual mental strategies Maybe this is because of lack of serotonin in brain? Cant detect obsessions at young age b/c compulsions are not defined. Biological: -amygdala subcortex brain struction expression of emotions (fear/anxiety) -Neurotransmitters 1) GABA (low levels) use Prozac / Zolotol. 2) Seratonic (low levels) SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake)

Psychological Factors -cognitive levels of thinking (style of thinking) produces onset of anxiety. This is an example of pessimism vs. optimism (something bad will always happen) -stress. Panic Video: Reenactment. 1) Amygdale: prefrontal cortex. increase of heart rate, therefore increase breathing. agriphobia fear of going anywhere. A physical activity is interpreted as a panic attack because of increase of heart rate. This is a cognitive interpretation as a panic attack.

Dissociative disorders
-stem from (childhood) trauma -person dissociates themselves from the experience. -disruptions/ breakdowns

Psyc 1002 -memory deficits. Dissociative amnesia They dont remember a certain event Dissociative Fugue They dont know who they are (identity)

Psychological Disorders

Feb. 25, 2013

Dissociative Identity Disorder Multiple personalities that are unaware of each other. Maybe this is different in gender, sexual orientation, and race.