Psychological Disorders - Definition and Diagnosis

Question 1

What is a Psychological Disorder?

Answer 1

Patterns of behaviour or thought that result in DISTRESS or DISABILITY

Which are either developmentally or socially unusual

Ex. Someone who constantly washes their hands, aD behaviour that affect the function of everyday life.

Question 2

Disorders and Deviation from Normalcy

Answer 2

They tend to result with unusual behaviours, feelings, or thoughts. But not ALL unusual of the above are indicative of a psych. disorder.

Ex. Homosexuals used to be considered a disorder bc they were unusual

Question 3

What are the two criterion that need to be present in order to diagnosis to be warranted?

Answer 3

1. Symptoms interfere or impair ones ability to engage activities like going to work, school, eating, sleeping, spending time w friends
2. Symptoms cause subjective experience of distress or anxiety.

Question 4

The Issue of Comobidity

Answer 4

It is NOT unusual for multiple psychological distorters to be present at the same time (They are comorbid).

Ex. Mood disorders and anxiety disorders tend to occur with each eachother

MAJOR DEPRESSION (Mood Disorder)

• Chronic depression with no apparent enviro stem.
• Commonly DEVELOPS ANXIETY in social situations (Because you’re afraid that your mood is making people dislike you)

COMPULSION (Anxiety)

• Experience if you don’t do something routinely
• Commonly DEVELOPS DEPRESSION and avoid social disputations in fear of being judged or misunderstood

Question 5

Diathesis Model

Answer 5

Biological dispositions and vulnerabilities, in the presences of an environmental trigger (Stressful event), many manifest as a psychological disorder

Psychological disorders tend to me heritable, which suggests n underlying genetic cause.

Ex. However, if one twin has a mental disorder, that does not guarantee that the other will too.