Psychological Disorders Flashcards
Why is abnormality hard to define
It is hard to define because what is consdered to be abnormal can differ depending on the time and culture.
Abnormal behaviour
The behaviour that is personlly distressing, personally dsyfunctional and/or so culturally deviant that other people judge it to be inappropriate or maladaptive
Four components of anxiety
- Subjective-emotional component including feelings of fear and apprehension
- A cognitive component, includidng worrisome thoughts and a sense of inability to cope
- Physiological responses, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, muscle tension, rapid breathing, nausea or dry mouth
- Behavioural responses, such as avoidance of certain situations and impaired performance on other tasks
Anxiety and related disorders
The frequency and tendency of anxiety responses are out of proportion to the situations that trigger them
Phobias
Are strong and irrational fears of certain objects or situations.
Generalised anxiety disorder
Is a chronic (ongoing) state of diffuse , or free floating anxiety and worry that is not attached to specific situations or objects.
Panic disorder
Occur suddenly and unpredictably, and they are much more intense
Judgement of abnormality
It is determined by whether or not it is distressing to the self or others, if a person is dysfunctional for themselves or society. If a person exhibits abnormal behaviour
Historical perspectives
Ancient Chinese Eygptian and hebrew people contrbuted deviance as the work of the devil
Medival Europe people believed that abnormal people were either possessed involuntarily by the devil or had voluntarily made up a pact with the forces of darkness
Greek physicians Hippocrates suggested that mental illnesses were a disease just like physical disorders
Vulnerability-stress model
Each person has some degree of vulnerability for developing a psychological disorder. The predispositons can be biological, environmental, social and.or cultural.
Disorders
Are triggered when created by a stressor
The Four P’s
Predisposing factors
Precipitating factors
Perpetuating factors
Protective factors
Mood disordes
Refers to a long-lasting emotional state that influences our perceptions of the world
Boh positive and negative moods become patholigcal when they start to affect our ability to learn, work and function
Major Depression
Is an intense state of sadness (dysphoria) and/or lack of ability to feel positive emotion (anhedonia) that leaves them unable to function effectively
Depression (Emotional symptoms)
Sadness
Hopelessness
Misery
Inability to enjoy
Depression (Motivational symptoms)
Loss of interest
Lack of drive
Difficulty starting anything
Cognitive symptoms
Negative cognitions about self- world and future
Difficult making decisions and concentrating
Somatic symptoms
Loss of appetitie
Lack of energy
Sleep difficulties
Weight loss/gain
Bipolar disorder (1.8% of the population)
Depression alternates with periods of mania which is a state of highly exicted mood and behaviour that is quite the opposite of depression. Must have symptoms for 12 months
Different forms of bipolar disorder
Bipolar I
Bipolar II
Cyclothymia
Dysthymia
Less intense form of depression that has a less dramatic effects on personal and occupational functioning, but continues for a signifcant amount of time largely unabated
Dopamine hypothesis (Schizophrenia)
The symptoms of schizophrenia - particularly positive symptoms- are produced by overactivity of the dopamine system in areas of the brain that regulate emotional expression, motivated behaviour and cognitive functioning
Symptoms of a manic episode
Elevated mood, diminished nned for sleep, racing thoughts, delusional thoughts, shopping sprees
Hypomania Symptoms
Hightened creativity,
Increased productivity
Extremly pleasurable/rewarding
Schizophrenia (1% of the worlds population)
Results in sever disturbances in speech, thinking, perception, emotion & behaviour
Positive symptoms of schizophrenia
Hallucinations (auditory, visual, sensory, gustatory & olfactory)
Delusions (Grandeur, Persecutions, capgras syndrome [imposter]. thought insertion, ideas of reference, control)
Delusions
False beliefs that are sustained in the face of evidence that normally would be sufficient to negate these beliefs
Halluncinations
False perceptions that have a compelling sense of reality
Antisocial personality disorder(APD)
Seem to lack a conscience, they exhibit little anxiety or guilt and tend to be impulsive and unable to delay gratification of their needs
Negative symptoms (Schizophrenia)
Avolition, alogia, anhedonia, affective flattening, catatonia
Disorganised symptoms (Schizophrenia)
Speech (tangentiality, loose association or derailment, word salad, clanging, flight ideas)
Inappropriate affect
Appearance
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Is when two or more personalities coexist within the same person
Frank Putnam Trauma-dissociation theory
The development of new personalities occurs in response to severe stress. For the majority of patients this begins in early childhood, frequently in response to physical or sexual abuse.
