Psychological Disorders - Introduction and Anxiety Disorders

Question 1

Panic disorder (without agoraphobia)

Answer 1

Recurrent panic attacks followed by one or more of below (for at least 1 month):
> Persistent concern about future attacks
> Worry about implications of attack (heart attack, ‘crazy’)
> Significant change of behaviour

30-40% of young Americans report occasional attacks

Question 2

Psychological factors in anxiety disorders

Answer 2

Social learning:
Phobias develop through....
> Classical conditioning
> Observational learning
> Behaviours reinforced by avoidance of fears (operant conditioning)
> Reinforcement in compulsions

Cognitive:
> Misinterpretation of bodily sensations in panic
> Negative and catastrophic thinking heighten anxiety

Question 3

PTSD - acute [distress disorder] or chronic

Answer 3

Acute distress disorder - less than one month

Acute of chronic PTSD - duration of symptoms less than 3 months, or longer

Question 4

Estimated lifetime prevalence (gender)

Answer 4

Major depression - women 21%, men 13%
Anxiety disorders - women 31%, men 19%
Antisocial personality disorder - women 1%, men 6%
Substance abuse/dependence disorder - women 18%, men 35%

Question 5

Psychological theories (include four perspectives)

Answer 5

Humane treatment and psychological processes.

Internal and external stressors result in abnormal behaviour

Four predominant perspectives:
> Psychoanalytic - unconscious conflicts
> Social-learning - past learning and modelling
> Cognitive - ineffective mental processes
> Humanistic - distorted perception of self and reality

Question 6

Phobic disorders

Answer 6

Intense fears vs. normal fears
> intense fears causing anxiety, possibly panic attacks, that interfere with functioning

Specific phobias: persistent fear and avoidance of object/situation
> Most common, 8% in lifetime
> Usually begin in childhood

Social phobias:
> Irrational fear of being negatively evaluated by others in social situations

Question 7

Most common anxiety disorders

Answer 7

Specific phobia
Social phobia
PTSD
GAD
Panic disorder
OCD
Agoraphobia

Question 8

Estimated lifetime prevalence (general)

Answer 8

46% > having a psychological disorder
29% > it being anxiety
21% > it being a mood disorder
15% > substance/abuse disorder
0.4%> schizophrenia/psychoses

Question 9

Biopsychosocial model

Answer 9

No one perspective is ‘correct’

Most disorders result of biological, psychological and social factors

Question 10

DSM Model for classifying abnormal behaviour

Answer 10

Ability to describe behaviour is more advanced than understanding of causes

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th addition (DSM-IV-TR) > list specific, concrete criteria for diagnosis.

Atheoretical: does not address causes of mental illness

Question 11

OCD

Answer 11

Obsessions or compulsions that cause marked distress or impairment in functioning

Obsessions: persistent, intrusive thoughts, images and impulses
> product of own mind (not hallucinations
> Difficulty ignoring/suppressing obsessions

Compulsions: repetitive behaviours or mental acts to reduce anxiety and distress and attempt to prevent fear from occurring in an unrealistic way

Question 12

Suicide (rates and facts)

Answer 12

> Panic disorder 20% attempted suicide (similar to depression)
32,000 Americans complete suicide a year
A person more likely to die of suicide than murder in US.
Suicide is 11th leading cause of death overall in the US, yet 2nd for college students
Guns used in more than half completed suicides in US
Females 3x as many attempts, males 4x as many completions

Question 13

Sociocultural theories

Answer 13

Internal biological and psychological processes can only be understood in context of social factors

Culture, age, race, sex, gender-identity, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status and social conditions must be taken into consideration when evaluating abnormal behaviour

Question 14

Panic disorder (with agoraphobia)

Answer 14

Panic disorder and -
Agoraphobia: ‘fear of the marketplace’
> Anxiety and avoidance of places/situations where help may not be available if panic occurs

Question 15

Anxiety Disorders (four components)

Answer 15

> Physical - activation of sympathetic nervous system and hormonal system (fight, flight or freeze response)
Cognitive - unrealistic thoughts (exaggerated danger, fear of losing control, paranoia)
Emotional - terror, panic, irritability
Behavioural - coping (freezing, aggression)

Question 16

Prevalence of abnormal behaviours

Answer 16

26% Americans over 18 have diagnosable psychological disorders within a given year
Psychological disorders leading cause of disability in US and Canada for people 15-44

Question 17

Psychological disorder theories

Answer 17

Western cultures explain abnormal behaviour through three perspectives:

1. Biological theories
2. Psychological theories
3. Social or cultural theories

Question 18

Panic attack (13 criteria)

Answer 18

Discrete period of intense fear/discomfort which usually peaks within 10 minutes. And four of the following:
> Racing heart
> Trembling
> Choking
> Nausea
> Derealization
> Depersonalization (detached from self)
> Fear of dying/losing control
> Numbness
> Chills and hot flashes
> Sweating
> Shortness of breath
> Chest discomfort
> Dizziness

Question 19

What is abnormal behaviour (4 criteria)

Answer 19

> Statistical infrequency - cultural differences should be taken into account
Violation of social norms - again, cultural differences. It’s a problematic criterion by itself.
Personal distress - most important
Level of impairment - interferes with ability to function

Question 20

Biological theories (medical model)

Answer 20

Abnormal behaviour attributable to physical processes:
>Genetics
>Hormone/neurotransmitter imbalance
>Brain/bodily dysfunction

AKA, medical model
Emphasises diagnosis, treatment and cure, similar manner to physical illnesses

Question 21

GAD

Answer 21

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Symptoms:
> Excessive worry, most days (at least 6 months)
> Difficulty controlling worry
> Clinically significant distress or impaired functioning
> 3 or more on most days of:
1. Restlessness
2. Difficulty concentrating
3. Muscle tension 
4. Easily fatigued
5. Irritability
6. Sleep disturbance

Question 22

PTSD - symptoms

Answer 22

Exposure to traumatic event - ‘[perceived] actual or threatened death, serious injury, or physical integrity’. Response involves intense fear and helplessness

Re-experience event: images, dreams, reliving or intense distress from triggers of event

Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with trauma: avoid thoughts, feelings, activities, loss of recall, detachment from others, restricted affect, etc.

Question 23

Suicide (increased risk)

Answer 23

Abuse and assault
> Women with a history of sexual assault during childhood or adulthood have higher risk of suicide attempts. More types of abuse, higher risk

Family history of suicide
> 11x risk

Eating disorders
> 20x suicide mortality rate
> Highest for anorexia nervosa