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Redefining Our Perceptions of What Constitutes Psychological Disorders

This document provides an overview of various psychological disorders discussed in a class. It begins with introducing the topic and learning objectives. It then discusses several case studies to illustrate different disorders. The remainder of the document categorizes and explains major disorders like anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, somatoform disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. It provides brief descriptions of each disorder type and examples.

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aKmaL
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1K views21 pages

Redefining Our Perceptions of What Constitutes Psychological Disorders

This document provides an overview of various psychological disorders discussed in a class. It begins with introducing the topic and learning objectives. It then discusses several case studies to illustrate different disorders. The remainder of the document categorizes and explains major disorders like anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, somatoform disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. It provides brief descriptions of each disorder type and examples.

Uploaded by

aKmaL
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT or read online on Scribd
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PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Redefining our perceptions


of what constitutes
psychological disorders.
Learning to ask “Why?”
Focus on observable data.
PSYCHOLOGICAL
DISORDERS
 Learning Objectives:
 Introduction: 3 cases
 Anxiety Disorders
 Dissociative Disorders
 Somatoform Disorders
 Mood Disorders
 Schizophrenia
 Personality Disorders
Psychological
Disorders
 Three cases:
– Jim Gordon
– Vincent “The Chin “Gigante
– Andrea Yates
 What is Insanity?
 Disease vs. Disorder (illness)
What’s your perception?
 Psychological Disorders
Psychological
Disorders
 A brief history: the pendulum swings
– Greeks: perceived natural causes
– Middle Ages: natural & supernatural
causes
– Colonial America: supernatural or
natural?
– hysteria + ergot
= trouble
– Present: natural versus supernatural
– The role of technology
Anxiety
Disorders
 Phobias (irrational fears)
– specific, social
 Panic Disorder
 Generalized Anxiety
Disorders
– at least 6 months duration
 Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder
– thoughts and actions
Anxiety Disorders
 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD)
 Acute Stress Disorder
– occurs w/i 1 month of event, lasts 2 days
- 4 weeks

 Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA)


– Inhibitory neurotransmitter implicated in
anxiety reactions
– aids in calming us during anxiety
Dissociative
Disorders
 Sudden, temporary changes in
consciousness or self identity.
– Dissociative Amnesia, Fugue (fleeing)
– Depersonalization Disorder
– Dissociative Identity Disorder (MPD);
Most extreme form of chronic PTSD,
Dissociation as coping mechanism
 Four Cases:
 Chris Sizemore; Shirley Ardell Mason; Billy
Milligan; Truddi Chase.
Somatoform
Disorders
 Complaints of physical
(somatic) problems
despite physical
abnormalities.
 Symptoms are not
intentional.
 Motivation for illness is
unconscious
Conversion
Disorder
 unconscious conflicts are
converted into physical
symptoms.
 Symptoms are often
significant to the patient.
 Can persist for years.
Conversion
Disorder
 FYI: Hysteria = womb / uterus
– Psychosomatic (Hysterical)
Blindness
– Psychosomatic (Hysterical)
Pregnancy
 Couvade
 “La belle Indifference”
– characterized by an indifference
to their symptoms.
Conversion
Disorder
 Hypochondriasis
– Not attention seeking
behavior

 Related Somatoform
Disorders:
– Pain Disorder
– Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Mood Disorders
 Major Depression
– Characteristics
– Types
 Bipolar Disorder (manic
depression)
– Types
 Seasonal Affective Disorder
Suicid
e
 Rates
– 300,000 people per year
 Factors
– Links to depression /
hopelessness
 Diversity
 Myths
Schizophre
nia
 Split between thought and
reality
 Characteristics
– Delusions
– Stupor
– Loss of control of thought
processes
– inappropriate emotional
responses
– Onset

Schizophrenia
 Three types:
– Paranoid
– Disorganized
– Catatonic: waxy flexibility,
mutism
 Dopamine Hypothesis:
Glutamate may be the more
important precursor.
Personality Disorders
Enduring patterns of maladaptive
behavior.
– Sources of distress to the individual or
others.

 Overview of Types of Personality


Disorders.
– Paranoid / Schizotypal / Schizoid /
Avoidant / Antisocial
Personality
Disorders
 Paranoid Personality Type

– Persistent suspiciousness
– Emotionally detached
– bear persistent grudges.
 Schizotypal Personality
Type
– Oddities of thought and behavior
– Eccentricities of behavior
– “Magical thinking”
– inappropriate dress
Personality
Disorders
 Schizoid Personality
Type
– Social withdrawal
– Express few emotions
 Avoidant Personality
Type
– Generally unwilling to enter
relationships without
assurance of acceptance
Personality
Disorders
 Antisocial Personality Type
(“Sociopath”)
– Frequent conflict with society, undeterred by
punishment
– little guilt, anxiety, or remorse for actions
– Ongoing disregard for the rights of others
– Deceitfulness
– Repeated lying (lying for personal gain and/or
pleasure)
– Must be at least 18 years old
Personality
Disorders
 Malingering: “disease
forgery”
 Factitious Disorder
– attention
– Munchausen Syndrome (by
proxy)
 hero / victim
– Rarely treated successfully
Personality
Disorders
 Narcissistic Personality Type
– exaggerated sense of self importance,
entitlement
– Disturbed self-centered relationships.
 Histrionic Personality Type
– excessive emotionality
 Borderline Personality Type
– Pattern of unstable personal relationships.
– poor self image, impulse control.
 Impulse Control Disorders:
– Kleptomania, Pyromania, Trichotillomania
(hair pulling)

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