Chapter 12: Defining

Psychological Disorders

Amber Gilewski

Tompkins Cortland Community College

Abnormal Behavior The medical model What is abnormal behavior?

Deviant Maladaptive

-Dysfunctional

-Causing personal distress

A continuum of normal/abnormal Legal definition Violation of cultural standards

Psychodiagnosis:The Classification of Disorders

American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders – 5th ed. (DSM - 5)

Potential problems with DSM Dangers of overdiagnosis Comorbidity Power of diagnostic labels Mental illness vs. normal problems Illusion of objectivity Beliefs change over time

Anxiety Disorders Generalized anxiety disorder

“free-floating anxiety” Phobic disorder

Specific focus of fear Panic disorder and agoraphobia: recurrent anxiety

attacks; may develop fear of going out

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Obsessive compulsive disorder Obsessions- recurrent, unwanted thoughts Compulsions- actions to calm thoughts

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: re-experiencing past trauma in nightmares, flashbacks, etc.

Etiology of Anxiety Disorders Biological factors

Genetic predisposition, anxiety sensitivity GABA circuits in the brain

Conditioning and learning Acquired through classical conditioning or

observational learning Maintained through operant conditioning

Cognitive factors Judgments of perceived threat

Personality Neuroticism

Stress—a precipitator

Mood Disorders Major depressive disorder: extreme sadness, loss

of interest, lower self-esteem, somatic concerns, etc. Dysthymic disorder: milder, chronic form of

depression Bipolar disorder: one or more manic episodes with

periods of depression Cyclothymic disorder: milder, chronic form of

bipolar Etiology

Genetic vulnerability Neurochemical factors Cognitive factors Interpersonal roots Precipitating stress

Schizophrenia

General symptoms Delusions and irrational thought Deterioration of adaptive behavior Hallucinations Disturbed emotions Positive vs. negative & cognitive symptoms

Prognostic factors: more favorable if onset is sudden and later, good functioning prior to illness, negative symptoms are low, good social supports

Etiology of Schizophrenia

Genetic vulnerability Neurochemical factors Structural abnormalities of the brain The neurodevelopmental hypothesis Expressed emotion Precipitating stress

Personality Disorders

Anxious-fearful/inhibited cluster Avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive

Odd-eccentric cluster Schizoid, schizotypal, paranoid

Dramatic-impulsive/erratic cluster Histrionic, narcissistic, borderline, antisocial

Etiology Genetic/biological predispositions, inadequate

socialization in dysfunctional families, sociocultural (fragmented society)

Table 14.2 Personality Disorders