PSY-101: Principles of Psychology

Chapter 13: 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