disorders Flashcards
Historical explanations for abnormal behaviour:
Supernatural forces/demonic possession
Somatogenic hypothesis- general paresis
Freudian psychoanalysis (early 1900s) marked the beginning of psychological interpretations of disordered behaviour
Trephination
ancient treatment that involved chiseling a hole in the skull to allow evil spirits to escape
Medical perspective
General paresis (Somatogenic perspective)
Suggests that when an individual displays symptoms of abnormal behavior, the root cause will be found in a physical examination of the individual
Hormonal imbalance
Chemical deficiency
Brain injury
The neurological bases of abnormal behavior. (MD, Schiz.)
Psychoanalytic perspective
Abnormal behavior stems from childhood conflicts over opposing wishes regarding sex and aggression
Behavioral perspective
Looks at the rewards and punishments in the environment that determine abnormal behavior
Cognitive perspective
People’s thoughts and beliefs are a central component of abnormal behavior
The individual’s perception of reality is not what matters most. Instead, realist model of reality states that accuracy and usefulness of these appraisals should be pursued.
Humanistic perspective
Emphasizes the responsibility people have for their own behavior, even when such behavior is abnormal
Work of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
Sociocultural perspective
People’s behavior, both normal and abnormal, is shaped by the society and culture in which they live
Vulnerability-Stress Mode
modern theory stating that each of us has some degree of vulnerability for developing a psychological disorder, given sufficient stress
Vulnerability (predisposition) can be biological, environmental, or cultural
Disorder is created when a stressor is combined with a vulnerability
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
Characterized by temperamental outbursts grossly out of proportion to the situation - Both verbally and physically
Occurs in children between the ages of 6 and 18
Criticism: this defines a child having a temper tantrum, not adisorder
Binge eating disorder
Someone overeating 3 times in three months can be diagnosed with this disorder
Critics find new classification to be overly inclusive
Classifying Abnormal Behavior benefits
Provides a descriptive system.
Allows communication between mental health professionals of diverse backgrounds and theoretical approaches.
Enables researchers to explore the causes of a problem.
Provides a shorthand through which professionals can describe the behaviors that tend to occur together in an individual.
Classifying Abnormal Behavior -
After an initial diagnosis, mental health professionals may overlook other diagnostic possibilities.
Classifying Abnormal Behavior -
After an initial diagnosis, mental health professionals may overlook other diagnostic possibilities.
David Rosenhan (1970s
based on statement that he or she was hearing voices
Pseudo-patients acted in a normal way after that and the hospitals still diagnosed them as severely abnormal
After an initial diagnosis, mental health professionals overlook other diagnostic possibilities
The Stigma of Labeling
Placing labels on individuals powerfully influences the way mental health workers perceive and interpret their actions.
Critics of the D S M argue that labeling an individual as abnormal provides a dehumanizing, lifelong stigma.
Anxiety Disorders (1
Occurrence of anxiety without an obvious external cause that affects daily functioning
The individual may or may not be aware of the irrationality of the fear and anxiety
Major types
Phobic disorder
Panic disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder
Post-traumatic stress Disorder
Anxiety Disorders phobias
Phobias: strong and irrational fears of certain objects or situations
Agoraphobia: fear of open or public places from which escape would be difficult
Social Phobias: excessive fear of situations in which the person might be evaluated and possibly embarrassed
Specific Phobias: such as a fear of dogs, snakes, spiders, heights, etc
Social Phobia
Feeling intense anxiety about being watched and evaluated. Negatively influenced by positive and negative evaluations
High comorbidity with depression and other anxiety disorders
May be specific or generalized
Avoidance and safety behaviour- problem of substance abuse
Panic disorder
Takes the form of panic attacks lasting from a few seconds to several hours
Panic attacks
Anxiety suddenly rises to a peak
One feels a sense of impending and unavoidable doom
Agoraphobia
Fear of being in a situation in which escape is difficult and help unavailable
Fear of fear
a consequence of recurrent attacks
Generalized anxiety disorder:
Experience of long-term, persistent anxiety and worry
Free-floating anxiety
Can markedly interfere with daily functioning
Difficult to concentrate, make decisions, and remember commitments
Often accompanied by physiological symptoms such as:
Muscle tension
Headaches
Dizziness
Heart palpitations
Insomnia
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD
): a severe anxiety disorder that can occur in people who have been exposed to traumatic life events
Severe symptoms of anxiety and distress that were not present before the trauma
Reliving the trauma recurrently in flashbacks, dreams, and fantasies
Becoming numb to the world; avoiding all reminders
Experiences intense survivor guilt in instances where others were killed and the individual was somehow spared
The traumatic event:
Traumas caused by human actions (war, rape, and torture) are five times more likely than natural disasters to cause PTSD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessions: repetitive and unwelcome thoughts, images, or impulses that invade consciousness, are often abhorrent to the person, and are very difficult to dismiss or control
Compulsions: repetitive behavioural responses that can be resisted only with great difficulty
Compulsions reduce the anxiety associated with the intrusive thoughts
