Abnormal Psychology

WHAT IS ABNORMAL?

Abnormal Psychology• The area of psychological

investigation concerned with understanding the nature of individual pathologies of mind, mood, & behavior

Abnormal Psychology• Determining if someone has a

disorder is typically based on an evaluation of the individual’s behavioral functioning by people with some special/professional authority

Abnormal Psychology• What helps psychologists to determine a

disorder is a classification scheme called • DSM-IV-TR: classifies, defines, & describes

200 mental disorders emphasizes the description of patterns/symptoms (*changed and updated by committees of psychologists often)

Abnormal Psychology• Criteria Used to label behavior as

“abnormal”:1. Distress or Disability-

experiences personal distress or disabled functioning produces risk of psychological deterioration or loss of freedom (ie. agoraphobia)

Abnormal Psychology2. Maladaptiveness- acts in ways that

hinder goals, doesn’t contribute to personal well-being, interferes with goals of others (ie. drinking heavily can’t hold a job

Abnormal Psychology3. Irrationality-

acts/talks in ways that are irrational or incomprehensible to others (ie. responding to voices that others cannot hear)

Abnormal Psychology4. Unpredictability- behaves

unpredictably or erratically (ie. smashing a window for no reason)

Abnormal Psychology5. Unconventionality and

Statistical Rarity- individual behaves in ways that are statistically rare; does not necessarily lead to abnormality (ie. low intelligence- rare & undesirable; a genius- rare, but desirable)

Abnormal Psychology6. Observer discomfort- a

person creates discomfort in others by making them feel threatened, or distressed in some way (ie. woman walking in the middle of the street talking to herself)

Abnormal Psychology7. Violation of Moral &

Ideal Standards- individual violates expectations of how one ought to behave with respect to societal norms

Abnormal Psychology• The more extreme & prevalent the

indicators are, the more confident we can be that they point to an abnormal condition• None of these are a necessary condition

shared by all cases of abnormality

Abnormal Psychology• No single criterion by itself is a sufficient

condition that distinguishes all cases of abnormal behavior from normal variations in behavior• The distinction between normal &

abnormal is a matter of degree to which a person’s actions resemble a set of agreed-upon criteria of abnormality

Problem of Objectivity• To declare/decide someone has a

psychiatric disorder is a judgment about behavior• GOAL: to make these judgments

objectively- w/o bias• Some disorder judgments are more

easily made w/o bias (depression & schizophrenia)

Problem of Objectivity• Once an individual

has obtained an “abnormal label” people are inclined to interpret later behavior to confirm that judgment

Problem of Objectivity• Ex- Rosenhan’s experiment- several

people faked hallucinations to get placed into a psych hospital once there they acted in a sane manner kept there for 3 weeks, & not one was identified as sane finally released with help from spouses/colleagues

History of Mentally Ill1. For most of history, humans feared

the mentally ill & associated them with evil; they were in some cases imprisoned or killed

History of Mentally Ill2. 1700s- idea emerges those suffering

from psychological problems are “sick” and suffering from illness rather than being possessed or immoral.- Reforms evolved in the way the ill were cared for/classified/diagnosed (Pinel & Kraepelin)

History of Psychopathology2. Psychological- various approaches

perceive personal experiences, trauma, conflicts, and environmental factors, as the root of disorders- 3 Psychological Models of Abnormality:

History of Mentally Ill3. Late 1700s-Early 1800s-

emergence of psychological reasons for mental illness, b/c people began to use techniques like hypnosis that seemed to cure people of “hysteria”

History of Mentally Ill4. Modern versions combine

aspects of both medical and psychological models of mental illness

Etiology of Psychopathology1. Biological- psychological disturbances

are directly attributable to biological factors (structural abnormalities in the brain, bio-chemical process, and genetic influences)- Ex.- neurotransmitters, brain injury, infection

Etiology of PsychopathologyA. Psychodynamic- cause of

psychopathology is located inside the person; symptoms have their roots in the unconscious conflict & thoughts- if the unconscious is conflicted & tension filled person will be plagued by anxiety- conflict comes from struggle between Id, Ego, Superego

Etiology of PsychopathologyB. Behavioral- abnormal behaviors acquired

thru learning & reinforcement- focus on current behavior & conditions or reinforcements that sustain the behavior; NOT internal psychological phenomena or early childhood- symptoms arise b/c person learned ineffective ways of behaving

Etiology of PsychopathologyC. Cognitive- agree w/ behaviorists, but w/ a

twist; what matters is the way people perceive/think about themselves & about their relations w/ people & the environment- suggests psych. problems are result of distortions in perceptions of reality of a situation, faulty reasoning, or poor problem solving

Etiology of PsychopathologyD. Sociocultural- emphasizes role culture

plays- particular cultural circumstances in which people live, may define an environment that helps bring about distinctive types or subtypes of psychopathology

Non-Psychotic & Psychotic Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders• Causes:1.Biological- phobias are evolutionary

(shared across cultures); ability of certain drugs to relieve anxiety shows a possible biological cause; genetic basis- (twin study) for predisposition of 4 to 5 disorders

Anxiety Disorders2. Psychodynamic- symptoms of anxiety

come from unconscious conflicts/fear; symptoms are trying to protect the individual from pain- panic attacks result of unconscious conflicts bursting into consciousness- Panic Attacks

Anxiety Disorders3. Behavioral- focus on the way symptoms

are reinforced/conditioned- phobias- classically conditioned fears previously neutral stimuli become a frightening experience- OCD compulsive behaviors tend to reduce anxious thoughts reinforcing the compulsive behavior

Anxiety Disorders4. Cognition- person may overestimate

nature/reality of threat or underestimate ability to cope w/ threat- people w/ anxiety may interpret their own distress as a sign of impending disaster vicious cycle

Mood Disorders

SWBAT• Examine a video of psych patients

at Bellevue Hospital• Analyze and discuss the patients

according to their symptoms

Video• After viewing the video of

patients at Bellevue Hospital, write a ½ page reaction, which will be discussed at the beginning of tomorrow’s class

SWBAT• Discuss Bellevue video reactions• Identify multiple perspectives of

the causes of mood disorders• Analyze the difference between

depression and bipolar disorder

Mood Disorders• Major Depressive Disorder- feeling of

sadness/despair; usually appears before age 40; loss of previous source of pleasure; lasts avg. of 5 mos• Bipolar Disorder- episodes of severe

depression and manic episodes; onset age 20-29

Mood Disorders• Causes: 1.Biological- levels of serotonin &

norepinephrine depression; levels mania- evidence of genetic factors (twin studies) influencing mood- some evidence that depressed people have small hippocampus

Mood Disorders2. Psychodynamic-

- hostile feelings & unconscious conflicts originated in childhood - depression is anger turned inward toward the self; anger tied to intense & dependent childhood relationship where needs were not met

Mood Disorders3. Behavioral- an effect of the amount

of positive reinforcement & punishment depression (not enough positive & too much punishment)- also a connection between lack of social skills & depression

Mood Disorders4. Cognitive

a) - negative view of self- negative view of ongoing experience- negative view of future can lead to paralysis of will; no motivation to pursue goals

Mood Disordersb) - explanatory style; depressed people can’t control future outcomes that are important to them - pessimistic view- learned helplessness expectancy that nothing they can do matters

Manic Depressive/Bipolar Disorder

Mood Disorders• Gender Differences in Depression:

- women- 2x more affected, esp. in adolescence due to puberty- why? more thoughtful response style & tendency to focus obsessively on problems- men- actively distract themselves from feeling depressed by focusing on something else

Mood Disorders• Suicide:

- most depressed people don’t commit suicide; 50-80% of suicides are attempted by depressed people- women attempt suicide 3x’s more than men men are more successful b/c of methods used

Mood Disorders- since 1960, youth suicide ; white males are the highest- most youth suicides have given signs

Knowledge Check!• Answer the T/F and Application

questions on your own• When finished, hand in your

sheet, and I’ll tell you what the answers were • Were your answers correct?

Personality & Dissociative

Disorders

SWBAT• Explain the 5 types of personality

disorders• Identify the causes of personality

disorders• Analyze the Dissociateive Identity

Disorder (DID) in “Inside Karen’s Crowded Mind”

Personality Disorders• Read, “Inside Karen’s Crowded Mind”

and be prepared to discuss

Personality Disorders• Chronic, inflexible, maladaptive pattern

of perceiving, thinking, or behaving• Personality traits are excessive in

degree & rigid• Usually recognized by adolescence or

early adulthood• Difficult to diagnose b/c of overlap

between disorders

Personality Disorders• 5 Examples of Personality

Disorders:1. Paranoid-

distrust/suspicious; suspect others are trying to harm them; often jealous but unable to accept criticism themselves

Personality Disorders2. Histrionic- excessive emotionally &

attention seeking; flamboyant, dramatic, seductive, manipulative; 2x-3x greater in women

Personality Disorders3. Narcissistic- grandiose sense of

self importance, need for admiration; problems in interpersonal relationships; tend to exploit others; have difficulty recognizing & experiencing how others feel

Personality Disorders4. Antisocial- pattern of irresponsible,

unlawful behavior (starts early) that violates social norms; don’t experience shame/remorse; disrupting class, getting into fights, running away from home; involved in crime (but not always)

Personality Disorders- indifference to the rights of others- impulsive, manipulative, aggressive- more apparent in males (3-6x)- lack of conscience by age 15- aka: sociopath/psychopath

Personality Disorders5. Borderline- 126 criteria, very

complicated to diagnose & treat; out of control emotions; “clingy”, hypersensitive to abandonment; history of hurting self; mood instability; unstable personal relationships; more in women

Personality Disorders• CAUSES:

- genetic component, 67% of identical twins share the same disorder- research also points to environmental circumstances:

a) dysfunctional/physically abusive/neglectful familiesb) neurological damage prenatally

Dissociative Disorders• Disturbance in the integration

of identity, memory, or consciousness• Dissociate/disown part of

themselves• Dissociative amnesia-

selective memory loss due to psychological reasons (major trauma)

Dissociative Disorders• DID/Multiple Personality Disorder:

- 2+ distinct personalities exist w/in same individual

- one personality is dominant- personalities often contrast

w/ original self

Dissociative Disorders- developed b/c they tried to escape from their life many have history of on-going sexual & physical abuse- very controversial some believe it doesn’t exist, patients make it up & therapists coach/help them

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia• Means split mind• Most serious type of disorder• Personality disintegrates thoughts

& perceptions are distorted; emotions are dulled/flat• Thinking becomes illogical &

disorganized

Schizophrenia

• Hallucinations occur• Delusions & false beliefs• Incoherent language word salad• Sometimes neglect personal hygiene• Difference between mood disorders

& schizophrenia = disturbed thinking

Schizophrenia• 2 Phases:

- Positive symptoms (aka acute/active)- symptoms very apparent (hallucinations, delusions, bizarre behavior, wild ideas)- Negative symptoms- flattened emotions, withdrawal, apathy, impaired attention

Schizophrenia• 4 Types of Schizophrenia:1. Disorganized- incoherent

patterns of thinking & language, bizarre behavior, emotions are flat or inappropriate to the situation; delusions, aimless, babbling & giggling

Schizophrenia2. Catatonic- (not very common)

disruption of motor activity, seem “frozen”, or motionless; or at other times excessive motor activity

Schizophrenia3. Paranoid- often comes

later in life, hallucinations; - delusions focus around:

a) being persecutedb) delusions of grandeur (God, millionaire)c) jealousy- mate is unfaithful

Schizophrenia4. Undifferentiated- (fairly

common) mixture of symptoms, disorganized thinking

5. Residual- suffered from schizophrenia in the past, but it’s now dormant or in remission

Schizophrenia• CAUSES:

- seem to have high levels of dopamine (Dopamine Hypothesis)- tends to run in families: genetic factors put people at risk, but environmental factors also must present themselves diathesis-stress hypothesis

Schizophrenia- family interaction can be an environmental stressor- research shows that reducing criticism, hostility, and intrusiveness can help reduce reoccurrence of symptoms- often family behavior may not stop disorder, but can help manage it

Schizophrenia- Brain functions/structure

might be different scans during hallucinations show increased activity in amygdala & lower activity in the frontal lobe

Schizophrenia- Neuro-developmental hypothesis-

prenatal exposure & delivery complication increase vulnerability low birth weight & oxygen deprivation

- Maternal virus during pregnancy (esp. the flu) can increase probability

Schizophrenia• Most believe it’s the high level of

dopamine or genetic

Schizophrenia• TREATMENT:

- medication works to either block dopamine receptors OR prevent the release of dopamine- risks/side effects- tremors, seizures, slow mental functioning, drowsiness

Schizophrenia- Generally appears in adolescence or

early adulthood- Patient falls into 3 Types:1. treated successfully recover2. partial recovery, but w/ frequent relapse3. endure chronic illness & generally permanently hospitalized

Schizophrenia• Janny's World• Janny's Interns• Janny's Ranch