Module: 65 Psychological Disorders Flashcards
Psychological Disorder
A syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior
*significantly disturbed thoughts, emotions, or behaviors are dysfunctional or maladaptive - interfere with normal day to day life
Maladaptive
Behavior that inhibits your ability to adjust
Dysfunctional
Not operating normally or properly
Can the definition of “significant disturbance” change over time?
Yes - ex. Homosexuality was classified as a psychological disorder but is not anymore
*however, stigma and stresses of the LGBT+ community often experience can increase the risk of mental health problems
Trephining
A method of “curing” psychological disorders in the Stone Age by drilling skull holes in an attempt to release evil spirits.
How was mental illness treated during the middle ages?
Mental illness was believed to have been induced by the Devil and required harsh cure that would drive out the evil demon
*people considered “mad” were sometimes caged or given “therapies” –> genital mutilation, beating, removal of teeth or lengths of intestines, animal blood transfusions
What is the medical model?
The concept that diseases, have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and, in most cases, cured, often through treatment in a hospital
What is the biopsychosocial approach to understanding mental illness?
Biological, psychological, and social-cultural influences together weave the fabric of our behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.
What are the biological factors that influence mental health?
- evolution
- individual genes
- brain structure & chemistry
What are the psychological factors that influence mental health?
- stress
- trauma
- learned helplessness
- mood-related perceptions & memories
What are the social-cultural factors that influence mental health?
- roles
- expectations
- definitions of normality and disorder
Vulnerability - stress (or diathesis-stress) model
Suggest that genetic predispositions combine with environmental stressors to increase or decrease the likelihood of developing a psychological disorder
*The biopsychosocial approach gave rise to this model
Why do clinicians classify psychological disorders?
- to order and describe symptoms
- more in depth description of a person’s disordered behavior, thoughts, or feelings
- suggest appropriate treatment
- prompt research into causes
DSM-5
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental Disorders, Fifth Edition
*mental health professionals use the detailed diagnostics criteria to guide diagnosis and treatment
Are some diagnoses controversial?
Yes
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder for children who exhibit persistent irritability and frequent episodes of behavior outburst three or more times a week for more than a year
What are some criticism of the DSM-5?
Faulted the DSM for casting too wide a net and bringing “almost any kind of behavior within the compass of psychiatry”
- wider net will extend the pathologizing of everyday life
- over-labeling of common everyday feelings and practical responses to traumatic events
Benefit of labeling disorders with the DSM-5?
Classification aims to predict a disorder’s future course, suggest appropriate treatment, and prompt research into its causes
How can diagnostic labels be misleading?
- view person differently after labeling a person
- labels can change reality by putting us on alert for evidence that confirms our view
- labels can be self-fulfilling
How has broadening the diagnostic criteria of ADHD created a controversy?
Critics suggest that the criteria are now too broad and may turn normal, childish rambunctiousness into a disorder
- more diagnoses - medications - money
How frequently is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosed?
- twice as often in boys as in girls
- 11% 4-17 yrs
- 2.5% adults
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
- inattention & distractibility
- hyperactivity
- impulsivity
What are the arguments regarding the diagnosing of ADHD?
- children are not meant to sit inside for hours in chairs
- the youngest children in a class tend to be more fidgety and more often diagnosed
- older students may seek out stimulant ADHA prescription drugs “good grade pills”
- what are the long-term effects of drug treatment?
- why the increased diagnoses worldwide?
What do the supporters of ADHD Diagnoses say?
More diagnoses reflect increased awareness
- ADHA is a real neurobiological disorder whose existence should no longer be debated
- ADHA is associated with abnormal brain structure, abnormal brain activity patterns, and future risky or antisocial behavior
How can ADHD be treated?
- stimulant medication (ritalin & adderall)
- behavior theory
- aerobic exercise
- ADHA can derail social, academic, and work achievements
- debate continuous over whether normal high energy is too often diagnosed as a psychiatric disorder & whether there is a cost.t o the long-term use of stimulant drugs in treating ADHA
Do disorders increase the risk of violence?
No. Most violent criminals are not mentally ill, most mentally ill people are not violent
* few people w/ disorders who commit violent acts tend to be either those who experience threatening delusions and hallucinated voices that command them to act, who have suffered a financial crisis or lost relationship, or who abuse substances
What are the top three most prevalent in disorders in America?
- Depressive Disordes or Bipolar Disorder
- Phobia of specific object or situation
- Social anxiety disorder
How prevalent are disorders across the globe?
Based on 90- minute interviews with thousands of people who were representative of their country’s population - estimated the number of prior- year mental disorders in 28 countries
What are risk factors for mental illness?
- poverty
- crosses ethnic and gender lines
- academic failure
- birth complications
- child abuse & neglect
- chronic insomnia
etc.
What are protective factors for mental illness?
- Aerobic exercise
- community offering empowerment, opportunity, and security
- economic independence
- effective parenting
- feeling of mastery and control
- feelings of security
- high self-esteem
- literacy
- positive attachment & early bonding
etc.
