Chapter 14
Psychological Disorders
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Chapter 14
Psychological Disorders
Learning Objectives
Introduction: Understanding Psychological Disorders, pp. 572–577
1.
Define psychopathology and discuss some of the issues related to labeling behavior as “abnormal.”
2.
Discuss the social stigma associated with having a mental disorder, including the accuracy of the
stereotype that people with a psychological disorder are prone to violence.
3.
Define a psychological disorder, and discuss the development and role of DSM-IV-TR in classifying
psychological disorders.
4.
Discuss the key findings of the National Comorbidity Study, including the prevalence of
psychological disorders and gender differences in the incidence of specific disorders.
5.
List and describe core features and examples of key diagnostic categories in DSM-IV-TR.
Anxiety Disorders: Intense Apprehension and Worry, pp. 578–586
6.
Describe the main symptom of the anxiety disorders, and differentiate between pathological anxiety
and normal anxiety.
7.
Identify the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, including cultural
variations, and discuss the cognitive-behavioral explanation of panic disorder.
8.
Describe the most common types of phobias, noting the specific symptoms that characterize
agoraphobia and social phobia.
9.
Discuss how the different learning theories account for the development of phobias.
10.
List the main symptoms and causes of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the factors that
influence the likelihood of developing PTSD.
11.
Describe the main symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, identifying the most common
obsessions and compulsions in different cultures, and discuss current thinking about its causes.
Mood Disorders: Emotions Gone Awry, pp. 586–594
12.
Provide a definition of mood disorder, noting the difference between mood disorder symptoms and
normal mood swings.
13.
Discuss the range of symptoms that characterize major depression, noting how major depression
differs from dysthymic disorder.
14.
Discuss the prevalence and course of major depression and seasonal affective disorder, including
gender differences.
15.
Define bipolar disorder and dysthymic disorder, identify the symptoms of each, and discuss the
prevalence and course of bipolar disorder.
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Chapter 14
Psychological Disorders
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16.
Discuss the role of genetic predisposition, brain chemistry, and stressful life events in the
development of mood disorders, and note the relationship between creativity and mood disorders.
17.
Summarize the findings and implications of research investigating the possible link between cigarette
smoking and psychological disorders, especially depression and schizophrenia.
Personality Disorders: Maladaptive Traits, pp. 595–598
18.
Identify the key characteristics and symptoms of a personality disorder, and describe the three
categories or “clusters” of personality disorders.
19.
Describe the symptoms and characteristics of paranoid personality disorder and antisocial personality
disorder.
20.
Describe the symptoms and characteristics of borderline personality disorder, and note some of the
factors thought to be involved in causing the disorder.
Dissociative Disorders: Fragmentation of the Self, pp. 598–602
21.
Contrast common dissociative experiences with the symptoms of a dissociative disorder, noting the
formal definition of a dissociative disorder.
22.
Describe the symptoms of dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue, and list the factors that have
been identified as triggering these disorders.
23.
Describe the symptoms and possible causes of dissociative identity disorder (DID), and explain the
controversy surrounding its diagnosis and reports of its prevalence.
Schizophrenia: A Different Reality, pp. 602–612
24.
Define schizophrenia, distinguishing between positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
25.
List and describe the key symptoms of schizophrenia, and note how symptoms can be affected by
cultural influences.
26.
Describe the different types of schizophrenia, discuss the prevalence of schizophrenia, and identify
variations in the course of the disease.
27.
Summarize the evidence for the various factors thought to be involved in the development of
schizophrenia, including genetic factors, paternal age, and environmental factors.
28.
Discuss research on the role of the brain in schizophrenia, including the dopamine hypothesis,
abnormal brain structures, and the progressive loss of gray matter in early-onset schizophrenia.
29.
Discuss the findings and implications of the Finnish Adoptive Family Study of Schizophrenia,
describing the roles of heredity and family environment in the development of schizophrenia.
Application: Understanding and Helping to Prevent Suicide, pp. 613–614
30.
Discuss patterns of suicidal behavior and characterize the thinking of the suicidal person.
31.
List and explain five guidelines to help someone who is expressing suicidal intentions.
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