lecture 11 p7: psychological challenges

Question 1

Psychopathy

Answer 1

○ Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a set of traits such as pathological lying, lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, and a lack of remorse.
○ Psychopaths may engage in deceptive practices and show a superficial charm while lacking genuine emotions.
○ It’s important to note that psychopathy is not an official diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Question 2

Machiavellianism

Answer 2

○ Machiavellianism refers to a personality trait characterized by interpersonal manipulation, emotional coldness, and a strategic, instrumental approach to relationships.
○ Individuals with high Machiavellian traits may use others as pawns in their personal games and employ manipulative strategies

Question 3

Dark Triad

Answer 3

○ The Dark Triad is a set of three overlapping personality traits: psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism.
○ Individuals with traits from the Dark Triad may exhibit manipulative behaviors, lack of empathy, and a focus on personal gain

Question 4

Psychopathy traits

Answer 4

○ Often charming and manipulative.
○ Lacks genuine empathy and remorse.
○ Engages in deceitful practices.
○ May use aggression to achieve goals.
○ Displays a superficial charm.

Question 5

Machiavellianism

Answer 5

○ Interpersonal manipulation for strategic gains.
○ Emotional coldness.
○ May employ deceit but does not lack empathy.
○ Utilizes others as pawns in personal games.
○ Focused on instrumental use of people

Question 6

OCPD vs.OCD : key differences

Answer 6

OCPD focuses on a need for control and perfection in various aspects of life, without the presence of obsessions and compulsions seen in OCD

Question 7

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) vs. Bipolar Disorder

Answer 7

○ BPD involves rapid mood shifts, fear of abandonment, and unstable relationships. Bipolar disorder includes distinct episodes of depressive lows and manic highs occurring over weeks or months

Question 8

Social Anxiety Disorder vs. Avoidant Personality Disorder

Answer 8

○ Social anxiety is driven by a fear of negative evaluation in social situations. Avoidant personality disorder involves an overall sense of inadequacy and hypersensitivity to judgment

Question 9

Phobias vs. Dependent Personality Disorder

Answer 9

Phobias are specific fears of objects or situations. Dependent personality disorder reflects an overarching fear of separation and an inability to care for oneself.

Question 10

Dependent Personality Disorder

Answer 10

■ Excessive need to be taken care of, fear of separation, and lack of confidence in one’s ability to care for oneself.

Example:
■ Individuals may have an overwhelming reliance on others for decision-making and support, fearing independence.

Question 11

Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD): Characteristics

Answer 11

○ Minor symptoms are perceived as indicative of a severe medical issue.
○ Exaggeration of bodily symptoms with no physical basis.
○ Symptoms may be long-lasting, causing distress but lack a medical explanation.

Example:
● A person with a slight cough believes they have advanced lung cancer.

Question 12

Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD)

Answer 12

○ Preoccupation with the fear of having a severe illness.
○ Constant worry about health, even in the absence of significant symptoms.
○ Anxiety is disproportionate to any actual medical condition

Question 13

Somatic Symptom Disorder vs. Illness Anxiety Disorder
Exaggeration vs. Excessive Worry

Answer 13

■ SSD involves exaggerating the severity of existing symptoms.
■ IAD centers around excessive worry about potential illnesses, often in the absence of significant symptoms

Question 14

Duration of SSD and IAD

Answer 14

■ SSD symptoms are typically long-lasting, lasting more than six months.
■ IAD involves continuous worry about health, even if symptoms are mild or non-specific.

Question 15

Confirmation Seeking

Answer 15

■ Individuals with SSD may seek medical attention to affirm their symptoms.
■ Those with IAD might continuously worry about potential illnesses without the need for actual symptoms

Question 16

Understanding Patterns in Somatic Disorders

Answer 16

● Predominant Pain Pattern
● Health Anxiety and Seeking Affirmation

Question 17

Predominant Pain Pattern

Answer 17

○ Pain is subjective, making it challenging to objectively confirm.
○ Individuals may seek affirmation from medical professionals for unexplained pain.
○ Continuous pain, despite no underlying physical basis, is a common feature

Question 18

Health Anxiety and Seeking Affirmation

Answer 18

○ Individuals may move from doctor to doctor in search of validation for their health concerns.
○ Seeking affirmation is a key aspect of their behavior.
○ The anxiety surrounding health often exceeds what is objectively warranted

Question 19

Impact of Gender Bias in Diagnosis

Answer 19

○ Clinicians may show bias in diagnosing certain disorders based on the gender of the patient.
○ Stereotypical gender norms may influence diagnostic decisions, even with identical symptom presentations.

Question 20

purpose of study example

Answer 20

This highlights the need for awareness and training to minimize gender-related biases in diagnosis

Question 21

Conversion Disorder

Answer 21

● One or more symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function.
○ Symptoms have no medical basis, and their origin is believed to be psychological.

■ Example:
● An individual may experience paralysis, blindness, or other functional impairments without any detectable physical cause.

Question 22

Identifying Conversion Disorder

Answer 22

● Muscle Atrophy
● Functional Disconnect

Question 23

Muscle Atrophy

Answer 23

○ Medical paraplegia often involves muscle atrophy due to lack of use.
○ In conversion disorder, where no physical damage is detected, muscle atrophy is absent.
○ The lack of muscle deterioration suggests a psychological origin rather than a medical one.

Question 24

Functional Disconnect

Answer 24

○ Conversion disorder involves a disconnect between the brain’s instructions to move and the actual ability to control movements.
○ While the individual may report the inability to move, there is no physiological basis for the claimed impairment.

■ Example:
● An individual claiming paraplegia may still move their legs, but there is a disconnect between intention and execution

Question 25

Conversion Disorder and Vision Impairment

Answer 25

○ Medically blind individuals, with actual damage to eyes, optic nerves, or visual cortex, exhibit a consistent lack of vision.
○ Conversion disorder blindness may manifest as the inability to see despite no physical damage

Question 26

Task-based Differences: conversion disorder

Answer 26

When given tasks, such as reaching for an object:
■ A medically blind person may not understand the request or reach randomly.
■ A conversion disorder blindness individual may exhibit purposeful actions, indicating a functional rather than physiological issue.

Question 27

Factitious Disorder: Characteristics

Answer 27

○ Deliberate feigning, exaggeration, or induction of physical or psychological symptoms.
○ The motivation is to assume the “sick role” without tangible external incentives

■ Example:
● An individual might pretend to have a medical condition, seeking unnecessary medical procedures or attention

Question 28

Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy)

Answer 28

A caregiver fabricates or induces symptoms in another person under their care.
○ Often directed toward vulnerable individuals such as children.
■ Example:
● A caregiver might deliberately cause a child’s illness, leading to unnecessary medical interventions.

Question 29

Objective Testing

Answer 29

○ Objective tests and tasks can help differentiate between psychological and medical origins.
○ Functional behaviors, like purposeful movements despite claimed impairments, may indicate conversion disorder.

Question 30

Factitious Disorders and Motivation

Answer 30

○ Factitious disorders involve deliberate actions to assume the sick role without apparent external incentives.
○ Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy extends this behavior to causing illness in others, often vulnerable individuals.