Abnormal psychology

ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY- a harmful dysfunction in which behavior is judged by ——>>

U- unjustifiable 

M- maladaptive 

A- atypical 

D- disturbing 

DSM V: diagnostic statistical manual of mental disorders. 

-will classify disorders and describe the symptoms 

-DSM will not explain the causes or possible cures 

DISORDERS 

• ANXIETY

- a group of conditions where the primary symptoms are anxiety or defenses against anxiety. 

- the patent fears something awful will happen to them 

- they are in a state or intense apprehension, uneasiness, or fear. 

>phobias

     - a person experiences sudden episodes of intense dread 

>panic disorder

    - an anxiety disorder marked by a minutes long episode of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking and other frightening sensations. 

>generalized anxiety disorder

    - a person is continuously tense, apprehensive and ima state of automatic nervous system arousal 

    - patient is constantly tense and oversensitive and can’t concentrate and suffers insomnia. 

>OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)

    - persisted unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause someone to feel the need (compulsion) to engage in a particular action 

    - obsession about dirt and germs may lead to compulsive hand washing. 

>PTSD

    - flashbacks or nightmares following a persons involvement in or observation of an extremely stressful event 

    - memories of the even cause anxiety 

•SOMATOFORM DISORDERS

- occur when a person manifests a psychological problem through a physical symptom 

- two types 

>hypochondriasis

     - has frequent physical complaints for which medical doctors are unable to locate the cause

>CONVERSIÓN DISORDER 

- report the existence of severe physical problems with no biological reason 

- like blindness or paralysis 

>Dissociative disorders

- involve a disruption in the conscious process 

>> psychogenic amnesia: a person cannot remember things with no physiological basis for the disruption or memory 
    - retrograde amnesia 
    - NOT organic amnesia 
    - organic amnesia can be retrograde or anterograde

>> dissociative fugue: people with psychogenic amnesia that find themselves in an unfamiliar environment. 

>> dissociative identity disorder: multiple personality disorder 
    - a person has several rather than one integrated personality 
    - people with D.I.D. commonly have a history of childhood abuse or trauma 

>MOOD DISORDERS 
- experience extreme or inappropriate emotion 

>> major depression: unhappy for at least two weeks with no apparent cause 
    - depression is the common cold or psychological disorders. 

>> SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER
    - experience depression during the winter months 
    - based not on temperature but amount of sunlight 
    - treated with light temperature 

>> BIPOLAR DISORDER: involves periods of depression and manic episodes 
    - formally maniac depression 
    - manic episodes involve feelings of high energy 
    - engage in risky behavior during the manic episode


>> SCHIZOPHRENIA: 
    - about 1 in every 100 people are diagnosed 

- disorganized thinking: fragmented and bizarre and distorted with false beliefs. Comes from a breakdown in selective attention 
- disturbed perceptions: hallucinations which are sensory experiences without sensory stimulation 
- inappropriate emotions and actions: laugh at inappropriate times, flat affect, senseless, compulsive acts, catatonia- motionless waxy flexibility. 
- delusions of persecution and delusions of grandeur 


Positive vs negative symptoms- 

Positive- presence of inappropriate symptoms 
Negative- absence of appropriate ones 

Types of schizophrenia: 

Paranoid schizophrenia
• preoccupation with delusions or hallucinations 
• somebody is out to get me 

Disorganized schizophrenia 
• disorganized speech or behavior, or flat or inappropriate emotion 

Catatonic schizophrenia 
• parrot like repeating of another’s speech and movements

Undifferentiated schizophrenia 
• many and varied symptoms 

>PERSONALITY DISORDERS: psychological disorders characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning 

>> paranoid personality disorder: distrust of others and so stand suspicion that people have sinister  motives 

>> antisocial personality disorder: lack of conscience. They tend to lie and steal. Believe their victims are weak and deserving to be taking advance over. 

>> borderline personality disorder: mood instability and poor self image. Prone to constant mood swings and bouts of anger. 

>> histrionic personality disorder: constant attention seekers. Center of attention 

>> narcissistic personality disorder: self centeredness-> exaggerate

>> schizoid personality disorder: avoid relationships and do not show much emotion. Prefer to be alone 

>> schizotypal personality disorder: need for social isolation, odd behavior and thinking, and often unconventional beliefs suck as being convinced of having extra sensory abilities. This is a mild form of schizophrenia. 

>> avoidant personality disorder: pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluations. Consider themselves socially inept or personally unappealing, and avoid social interaction for fear of being ridiculed or humiliated. 

>> dependent personality disorder: pervasive psychological dependence on other people. Has difficulty making regular decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance others 

>> obsessive compulsive personality disorder: General psychological inflexibility, rigid conformity to rules and procedures, perfectionism, and excessive orderliness 

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