Chapter 16: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

Social Construct 3 D’s for judgment of abnormality

Answer 1

Distressing: to others or self
Dysfunctional: for a person or society
Deviant: violates social norms

Question 2

Demonological view

Answer 2

Abnormal behaviour is a result of supernatural forces, possessed by a spirit
Treatment - trephination - hole in the skull, to release the demons

Francisco de Goya - painting reflects the belief of disordered people were possessed by the devil

Question 3

The Diathesis-Stress Model

Answer 3

each of us has some degree(range) of vulnerability for developing a psychological disorder, given sufficient stress

currently vulnerability such as genetic factors, low social support paired with currently experience stress

Question 4

Dimensions: Axis 1- Clinical Symptoms

Answer 4

• diagnosis

Question 5

Dimensions: Axis 2 - developmental and personality disorder

Answer 5

eg. autism
- personality disorders
long lasting and encompass way of interacting with the world eg. paranoia

Question 6

Dimensions: Axis 3 - Physical Conditions

Answer 6

injuries that can result in symptoms of mental illness

Question 7

Dimensions: Axis 4 - severity of psychosocial stressors

Answer 7

eg. death of a love one, starting a new job, college

Question 8

Dimensions: Axis 5 - High level of functioning

Answer 8

• dictate where you’re at in the disorder
  compares level of functioning both at present time and the highest level within previous year

Question 9

Anxiety Disorders

Answer 9

• frequency and intensity of responses are out of proportion to situations
• interferes with daily life
  eg. phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, hoarding

Question 10

Components of Anxiety Responses

Answer 10

Emotion symptoms: feelings of tension
Cognitive symptoms: worry and thoughts about the inability to cope
Physiological symptoms: increased hear rate, muscle tension, other autonomic arousal symptoms
Behaviour: avoidance of feared situations, decreased task performance, increased startle response

Question 11

Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Answer 11

obsessions = cognitive component: repetitive and unwelcome thoughts
compulsions = behavioral component: repetitive behavioural responses

Research indicates that obsessions are likely generated through an orbitofrontal-cingulate pathway, while compulsions involve a prefrontal-caudate-thalamus circuit.

executive dysfunction model: problem with impulse control and behavior inhibition

modulatory control model: dysfunction in orbitofrontal cortex and associated areas

Question 12

Causal Factors in Anxiety Disorders and OCD

Answer 12

• Learning explanations: classical conditioning, modeling
• psychodynamic explanations: neurotic anxiety
  cognitive explanations: catastrophic thinking, maladaptive thoughts and belief
• sociocultural factors: culture defines what is important, ‘culturally bound’ disorders like fear of offending someone; fear of being fat

Question 13

Eating Disorders

Answer 13

anorexia Nervosa: limiting consumption, anorexics have abnormally high achievement standards (type A personality)
bulimia nervosa: cycles of binging and purging, bulimics are depresses and anxious

objectification theory: cultural emphasis on viewing ones body as an object to change and manipulate

Question 14

body dysmorphia vs body dysphoria

Answer 14

dysmorphia: image of yourself doesn;t match with the image you want, thinking you’re fatter than you really are
dysphoria: uncomfortable feelings with how you see yourself

Question 15

Mood (Affective Disorders): try to draw a chart of mood for : dysthymia, major depress, cyclothymia, bipolar disorder

Answer 15

major depression: set point is way below the neutral mood set point
Dysthymia: chronic disruption of mood, below set point(tho not too much) with small fluctuations of mood
Cyclothymia: long durations of above and below set point (low amplitude)
Bipolar disorder: depression alternates with mania, manic state meaning euphoric mood, grandiose cognitions, large amplitude above and below the set point

Question 16

4 Symptoms of Depression

Answer 16

emotional: negative mood state
cognitive: maladaptive thoughts, pessimism
motivation: social withdraw, lost of interest and drive
somatic: appetite loss, compulsive eating, sleep disturbances

Question 17

Biological Factors for Mood disorders

Answer 17

• genetics
• under activity of norepinephrine, dopamine, seratonin

Question 18

somatic symptom disorders

Answer 18

no known biological cause
-hypochondriasis: unduly alarmed
- pain disorder: out of proportion
- conversion disorder: sudden neurological problems (eg. glove anesthesia where it all feeling is lost below the wrist but it’s physiologically impossible)

Question 19

Dissociative Disorder: Psychogenic amnesia

Answer 19

Selective memory loss following trauma

Question 20

Dissociative Disorder: Psychogenic fugue

Answer 20

loss of all personal identity

Question 21

Dissociative Disorder: Dissociative identity disorder: (DID)

Answer 21

• 2 or more separate personalities
• cause?: Trauma-dissociation theory; where DID generally results from severe traumatic experience during early childhood

Question 22

Schizophrenia

Answer 22

• “split-mind”
• characteristics: severe disturbances in thinking and delusions, speech is disorganized, hallucinations (false perceptions), inappropriate emotional responses (eg. laughing/crying at the wrong times), behavior

Question 23

Subtypes of Schizophrenia: type 1

Answer 23

• the predominance of positive symptoms
• pathological extremes
• delusions, hallucinations, disordered speech and thought

Question 24

Subtypes of Schizophrenia: Type 2

Answer 24

• predominance of negative symptoms
• absence of normal reactions
• lack of emotion, expression and motivation

Question 25

Schizophrenia: Biochemical Factors

Answer 25

Dopamine Hypothesis: overactivity of dopamine system
- dopamine is used to regulate emotion, motivation, and cognitive function
- antipsychotic drugs used for schizophrenia reduce dopamine activity, dopamine blockers

Question 26

Personality Disorders: Antisocial

Answer 26

• unable to delay gratification of their needs so they tend to be impulsive
• the most destructive to society
• exhibit little anxiety or guilt

Question 27

Personality Disorders: Borderline

Answer 27

• instability in behavior, emotion, identity
• emotional dysregulation, inability to control negative emotions
• impulsive behaviour, running away, promiscuity, drug abuse

Question 28

Childhood Disorders: Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD

Answer 28

• attentional difficulties
• hyperactivity-impulsivity
• can be seen through behaviors
• frontal development is slow/ last to develop so when growth catches up - one can grow out of it
• females tend to mask it more while males are more active

Question 29

Childhood Disorders: Autistic Spectrum

Answer 29

a range, not categorical
- extreme unresponsiveness to others
- poor communication skills
- lack of attention to social cues for appropriate response
- biologically, brains are larger by 5-10% (age 18 months - 4 yrs) and abnormal development in cerebellum

Question 30

Dementia

Answer 30

• gradual loss of cognitive abilities, starting with more recent memories
• accompanies brain deterioration (eg. Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons’, Huntington’s, Creutzfeldt-Jakod Diseases

Senile Dementia: dementia that begins after age 65, onset it typically gradual

Question 31

Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 31

• 60% of dementias
• deterioration in frontal, temporal lobes
• plaques in brain from protein buildup, the prions
• destruction of acetylcholine which is needed for learning and memory