Makeup Assignment on Session 7
I am writing this essay as a makeup assignment to compensate for my absence on session 7. I
personally found session 7, unfortunately, to be the most important session of all 7 sessions
after reading its content. What was mainly discussed during the session were two main topics,
which are Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapies. From my understanding, psychological
disorders are mental health conditions, that may affect either a person’s thinking, emotions,
behaviors, relationships or even their day-to-day functions They could be temporary or lifelong
and are mostly common. While Psychotherapies are mainly a variety of treatments that help a
person identify emotions, behaviors or even thoughts that are a cause of concern, and change
them.
Psychological Disorders
Psychological disorders can be summed up under 15 main categories, under which each has
their own behavioral patterns or symptoms. These are:
1. Depressive disorders - are known for its low mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily
activities for long periods of time. Depression presents itself in 7 main forms:
(a) Major depressive disorder – it is diagnosed when a person has a persistently low or
depressed mood, along with other symptoms such as changes in sleep, appetite,
movement, lack of concentrations, interest in activities, suicidal thoughts etc..
(b) Persistent depressive disorder – is when a depressed mood lasts for 2 years or more
that alternate between major depression and depression with less severe
symptoms.
(c) Postpartum depression – is major depression that happens to a number of women
during their pregnancy, after delivery or both.
(d) Seasonal affective disorder – tends to happen during seasons with less sun.
(e) Psychotic depression – is a combination of symptoms of major depression and
psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, delusions etc..
(f) Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) – is when women have depression in
addition to other symptoms such as mood swings, irritability, anxiety, fatigue etc.. at
the start of their period.
(g) Treatment resistant depression – is when an individual has tried several treatment
methods for depression with no success.
2. Anxiety disorders - are a group of mental disorders known with certain symptoms such
as excessive fear of perceived threats, which can cause elevated heart rate and or
muscle tension. There are mainly 9 types of anxiety disorders:
(a) Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms include restlessness, fatigue, difficulty
concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep issues.
Page 1 of 9
RH
(b) Panic Disorder: Characterized by sudden and intense fear, often accompanied by
panic attacks that peak quickly.
(c) Phobias: Involve intense fear of specific objects or situations, disproportionate to
actual danger.
(d) Social Anxiety Disorder: Causes intense anxiety in social situations due to fear of
embarrassment, rejection, or humiliation.
(e) Separation Anxiety Disorder: Involves excessive fear of being separated from close
individuals.
(f) Agoraphobia: Typically linked with panic or anxiety disorders, involves fear of
situations perceived as unsafe or difficult to escape from.
(g) Claustrophobia: Intense discomfort and panic in response to small spaces.
(h) Depersonalization Disorder: Sensation of detachment from one's body or reality,
often as a defense mechanism against emotional trauma.
(i) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Characterized by recurring, intrusive
thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that disrupt daily life.
3. Affective Mood Disorders - is a mental health condition that primarily affects a person's
emotional state. Affective mood disorders include a range of conditions characterized
by significant changes or disturbances in mood.
(a) Bereavement: It discusses how children may struggle to comprehend and cope with
the death of a parent or loved one.
(b) Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD): This new diagnosis replaces
bipolar disorder in children, focusing on severe mood swings that require specific
treatment.
(c) Self-Harm: Describes the serious behavior of self-injury, common in individuals with
mental illness, and the accessibility of online resources about it.
(d) Bipolar Disorder: Explains the symptoms and types of bipolar disorder, including
Bipolar I (manic and depressive episodes), Bipolar II (hypomanic and depressive
episodes), and Cyclothymic Disorder (milder mood swings). Treatment options
typically include a combination of medications and psychotherapy.
4. Stress-Related Reactive Disorders - encompass a range of mental health conditions that
arise in response to significant stressors or traumatic events. These disorders are
characterized by psychological and physical symptoms that result from the body's
response to stress. The most common stress-related reactive disorders include:
(a) General Adaptation Disorder (Adjustment Disorder): This diagnosis applies to
individuals experiencing stress that isn't severe enough to be classified as a mental
illness. Various life events such as illness, relocation, marriage, childbirth, school
challenges, or family visits can trigger Adjustment Disorder.
(b) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a psychological condition resulting from
experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms include flashbacks,
Page 2 of 9
RH
nightmares, avoidance of triggers, hypervigilance, and negative thoughts.
Treatments include therapies like cognitive processing therapy and medications.
5. Sleep Disorders - are conditions that disrupt your normal sleep patterns. These
disorders can affect overall health, safety, and quality of life.
(a) Insomnia Disorder: A common sleep disorder causing difficulty falling asleep,
staying asleep, or waking too early and being unable to return to sleep, leading to
fatigue and impacting daily life.
(b) Sleep Terror Disorder: Characterized by sudden episodes of intense fear or
screaming during sleep, distinct from nightmares and more frequent in occurrence.
(c) Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Involves repeated breathing interruptions during sleep
due to airway obstruction, often causing snoring, gasping, or pauses in breathing.
(d) Central Sleep Apnea: Results from the brain failing to regulate breathing during
sleep, leading to periods of no breathing.
(e) Sleep-Related Hypoventilation: Occurs when shallow breathing during sleep leads to
high blood carbon dioxide levels and low oxygen levels, often linked with other
medical conditions.
6. Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses:
(a) Schizophrenia: Symptoms include psychotic (hallucinations, delusions), negative
(reduced motivation, pleasure), and cognitive (difficulty processing information,
focusing) symptoms. Treatments include antipsychotic medications, psychotherapy,
and education.
(b) Schizoaffective Disorder: Combines symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorders
(mania or depression). Treatment involves antipsychotics, mood stabilizers,
antidepressants, psychotherapy, and self-management.
(c) Psychosis: Describes conditions where individuals experience distorted thoughts
and perceptions, struggling to distinguish reality. Symptoms include hallucinations,
delusions, incoherent speech, anxiety, and depression.
7. Eating Disorders - mental health conditions characterized by persistent disturbances in
eating behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. These disorders can have severe physical,
emotional, and social consequences. The most common eating disorders include:
(a) Anorexia Nervosa: Involves severe food restriction, fear of weight gain, and
distorted body image.
(b) Binge-Eating Disorder: Characterized by recurrent episodes of uncontrollable eating
without subsequent purging behaviors.
(c) Bulimia Nervosa: Involves binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like
purging, fasting, or excessive exercise.
Page 3 of 9
RH
8. Disruptive Behavior and Dissocial Disorders - are a group of mental health conditions
characterized by ongoing patterns of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behaviors
toward authority figures, which go beyond the bounds of normal childhood behavior.
Dissociative Disorders: Include dissociative amnesia, depersonalization disorder (feeling
detached from oneself), and dissociative identity disorder (formerly multiple personality
disorder).
9. Autistic Disorders - are a group of complex neurodevelopmental conditions
characterized by challenges with social communication, repetitive behaviors, and
restricted interests
(a) Asperger Syndrome: A mild form of autism characterized by difficulties in social
interaction and nonverbal communication.
(b) Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): Encompasses a range of conditions involving
challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and communication.
10. Attention Disorders - difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and, in some cases,
hyperactivity
(a) Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Symptoms include inattention,
hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Treatments include medication and behavioral
therapy.
11. Personality Disorders - mental health conditions where people have long-term patterns
of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are different from societal expectations. These
patterns can cause problems in relationships, work, and daily functioning.
(a) Paranoid Personality Disorder: Involves distrust and suspicion of others.
(b) Schizoid Personality Disorder: Characterized by social detachment and emotional
coldness.
(c) Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Includes eccentric behavior and discomfort in
close relationships.
(d) Antisocial Personality Disorder: Features disregard for others' rights, impulsivity,
and criminal behavior.
(e) Borderline Personality Disorder: Marked by instability in relationships, self-image,
and emotions.
(f) Histrionic Personality Disorder: Involves attention-seeking behavior and
exaggerated emotions.
(g) Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Includes grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack
of empathy.
(h) Avoidant Personality Disorder: Features social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy,
and hypersensitivity to criticism.
Page 4 of 9
RH
(i) Dependent Personality Disorder: Involves excessive dependence on others and fear
of separation.
(j) Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD): Characterized by perfectionism,
rigidity, and control issues.
12. Substance Dependence and Addiction Disorders - by an individual's compulsive use of a
substance despite harmful consequences.
(a) Cannabis Dependence: Involves problematic use of marijuana, affecting daily life.
(b) Cocaine Dependence: Involves addiction to cocaine, leading to significant life
disruptions.
13. Self-Perception and Identity Disorders - mental health conditions that affect how
individuals see themselves and their sense of identity. These disorders can significantly
impact an individual's self-esteem, self-concept, and the ability to form and maintain a
stable sense of self.
(a) Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Involves obsessive focus on perceived flaws in physical
appearance.
(b) Dissociative Identity Disorder: Controversial diagnosis involving multiple identities.
14. Neurodevelopmental Disorders - developmental deficits that produce impairments of
personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning. The range of developmental
deficits varies from very specific limitations of learning or control of executive functions
to global impairments of social skills or intelligence.
(a) ADHD: Common in children and adults, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity,
and impulsivity.
(b) ASD: Involves challenges with social communication and repetitive behaviors.
15. Dementia - a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life and
activities.
(a) Alzheimer's Disease: A type of dementia involving memory loss and cognitive
decline.
(b) Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia, Mixed
Dementia: Various types of dementia with different symptoms and causes.
Page 5 of 9
RH
Psychotherapies
Psychotherapy, commonly known as talk therapy, is a therapeutic approach used to treat
mental health issues. It involves conversations between a trained therapist or mental health
professional and a client, aimed at understanding and addressing psychological challenges.
Psychotherapy is a treatment method that helps individuals:




Identify Troubling Thoughts: By discussing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
contributing to their mental health condition.
Understand Life Events: Explore life events or problems that may exacerbate their
condition, helping to differentiate between solvable and unsolvable aspects.
Regain Control and Pleasure: Re-establish a sense of control over their lives and find joy
in daily activities.
Develop Coping Skills: Learn healthy coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills to
manage challenges effectively.
Types of Therapy Formats
1. Individual Therapy: Involves one-on-one sessions between the therapist and the client.
2. Group Therapy: Conducted with multiple clients simultaneously, allowing participants
to share experiences and support one another under professional guidance.
3. Marital/Couples Therapy: Focuses on improving relationship dynamics and
communication patterns between partners.
4. Family Therapy: Involves family members to support understanding and coping
strategies for the individual's mental health challenges.
Types of Psychotherapy
1. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT): Targets symptoms of depression related to
interpersonal relationships and life changes.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifies and changes negative thought patterns
and behaviors that contribute to mental health issues.
3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Emphasizes balancing acceptance and change,
particularly effective for emotional regulation and interpersonal difficulties.
4. Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores unconscious thoughts and past
experiences to understand current behaviors and emotions.
5. Humanistic Therapy: Focuses on self-awareness, personal growth, and self-acceptance
through client-directed sessions.
6. Eclectic Therapy: Integrates techniques from various approaches to tailor treatment to
the individual's needs and circumstances.
Page 6 of 9
RH
1. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)








Often used for mood disorders, especially depression, that are triggered by
interpersonal issues such as grief, role disputes, role transitions, or interpersonal
deficits.
Improves interpersonal relationships and social skills to alleviate distress.
IPT examines current interpersonal relationships and identifies specific issues
contributing to the client's distress.
Therapists focus on understanding the client’s social supports, communication styles,
and relational conflicts.
Therapy is structured around addressing one of four main interpersonal challenges:
grieving process, role disputes, role transitions, or interpersonal deficits.
Typically short-term, lasting between 12 to 16 weeks, with weekly 50-minute sessions.
Divided into initial, intermediate, and final phases, each focusing on different aspects of
the client's interpersonal challenges.
Shown effective for mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder,
eating disorders, and postpartum depression.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)





Broadly used for various mental health conditions including anxiety disorders,
depression, OCD, addiction, personality disorders, and more.
Identifies and modifies negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to
distress.
Therapeutic Approach:
o CBT is highly structured and goal-oriented, focusing on present problems rather
than delving deeply into past experiences.
o Therapists help clients identify distorted thought patterns and beliefs, and then
teach practical strategies to challenge and change these patterns.
o Behavioral techniques are employed to modify observable behaviors and
promote new, healthier responses.
o Homework assignments are often given to practice new skills and monitor
progress between sessions.
Also short-term, typically ranging from 12 to 20 weekly sessions, depending on the
specific needs and progress of the client.
Widely recognized as effective for a range of conditions due to its focus on actionable
strategies and behavior change.
3. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)


"Dialectical" refers to the integration of opposing forces. In DBT, opposites are explored
and accepted as simultaneously true.
Therapists help clients understand how opposing ideas can coexist and explore how
these perspectives can be valid simultaneously.
Page 7 of 9
RH


Identifies distress-causing behaviors and develops strategies to modify them. Initially for
borderline personality disorder, but now used for other conditions.
Effective for individuals with strong opinions or rigid views.
4. Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic Therapy




Psychoanalytical Therapy:
o Based on Freud’s psychoanalysis.
o Uncover unconscious thoughts affecting current behaviors and emotions, often
linked to unresolved childhood experiences.
o Long-term treatment by trained professionals, with multiple weekly sessions
over years.
Psychodynamic Therapy:
o Similar to psychoanalysis but short-term.
o On unconscious processes and emotions from past relationships affecting daily
life.
o Limited sessions, usually less than six months.
Conditions Treated: Chronic depression, anxiety disorders, somatic disorders,
borderline personality disorder, PTSD, substance use disorders, and eating disorders.
Therapist Relationship: The therapist-client relationship is crucial for revealing patterns
and unconscious conflicts.
5. Humanistic Therapy




Emphasizes individual traits and self-perception, impacting thoughts, emotions, and
behaviors.
Achieve full potential through self-awareness and acceptance, guided by the client's
process.
Approaches:
o Person-Centered Therapy: Client leads the discussion; the therapist listens and
helps the client understand their thoughts and feelings.
o Gestalt Therapy: Focuses on present experiences, increasing self-awareness, and
promoting positive changes through various techniques (e.g., paradoxical
change, "here and now," empty chair technique, exaggeration technique).
o Existential Psychotherapy: Addresses inherent human conditions like freedom,
death, isolation, and meaninglessness, promoting freedom and self-awareness.
o Experiential Psychotherapy: Includes drama therapy, music therapy, art therapy,
play therapy, outdoor therapy, and animal-assisted therapy.
o Positive Psychology: Concentrates on positive experiences, traits, and
institutions, promoting well-being, happiness, and resilience.
Recommended For: Trauma, depression, chronic conditions, anxiety, low self-esteem,
relationship conflicts, personality disorders, addictions, and existential crises.
Page 8 of 9
RH
6. Eclectic therapy






Adapts to the needs and goals of the individual, utilizing methods from various
therapeutic approaches.
Therapists may have a primary therapeutic orientation but incorporate techniques from
other approaches to meet specific needs.
Suitable for a wide range of concerns and needs.
Important for the therapist to be well-trained in all methods they employ.
Can be short-term or long-term, based on goals and needs.
Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP):
o
o
Often aimed at individuals with PTSD.
Typically involves 16 weekly sessions focusing on specific trauma symptoms and
their emotional impact.
In conclusion, this assignment briefly discussed the main or most common psychological
disorders, and what psychotherapies are typically used to treat them.
Page 9 of 9
RH