Psychology in Action (9e)
{ Chapter 14:
Psychological Disorders
Studying Psychological Disorders

Abnormal Behavior: patterns of emotion,
thought, & action considered pathological
for one or more of four reasons:
• statistical infrequency
• disability or dysfunction
• personal distress
• violation of norms
Studying Psychological Disorders:
Four Criteria for Abnormal Behavior
Page 476 of text

Culture-General Symptoms: shared
symptoms across cultures

Culture-Bound Symptoms: unique
symptoms that differ across cultures
Studying Psychological Disorders
(Continued)

Historical perspectives:
In ancient times, people believed
demons were the cause of abnormal
behavior, & boring holes in the skull
(trephining) allowed evil spirits to escape.
 In the 1790s, Pinel & others emphasized disease
& physical illness, which led to the medical
model & later to modern psychiatry.

Studying Psychological Disorders
(Continued)

Modern
psychology
includes
seven major
perspectives
on abnormal
behavior.
Studying Psychological Disorders:
Classifying Abnormal Behavior

Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-IV-TR):
provides detailed symptom descriptions
• contains over 200 diagnostic categories
grouped into 17 major categories & five
dimensions (or axes)
•
Studying Psychological Disorders:
Classifying Abnormal Behavior (Cont.)

Five Axes of DSM-V-TR (guidelines for making
decisions about symptoms; attempts to address the
‘whole person’ )
•
•
•
•
•
Axis I (principal disorder needing immediate
attention)
Axis II (personality disorders contributing to the
above disorder)
Axis III (general medical information relevant to
above disorder)
Axis IV (psychosocial & environmental problems
contributing to disorder)
Axis V (global assessment of level of functioning –
how are they coping?)
Labelling with the DSM

While the DSM is the accepted manual for
diagnosing mental disorders, there are many
who argue its limitations

Biggest argument – definitions are too vague


For example: Manic depressive or bipolar Mood
Disorders are characterized by dramatic "mood
swings" or episodes of Mania or Major Depression.
Is there still an advantage to using the guide?
Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorder: overwhelming apprehension
& fear accompanied by autonomic nervous
system (ANS) arousal

Five Major Types:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Phobias
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Discussed
in Chapter 3)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Five Types of Anxiety Disorders
1.
Generalized Anxiety
Disorder: persistent,
uncontrollable, &
free-floating anxiety
2.
Panic Disorder: sudden &
inexplicable panic attacks
Anxiety Disorders (Continued)
3. Phobia: intense,
irrational
fear & avoidance of a
specific object or
situation
Anxiety Disorders (Continued)
4. Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder (OCD): intrusive,
repetitive, fearful thoughts
(obsessions), with urges to
perform repetitive,
ritualistic, behaviors
(compulsions),
or both
5. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD): anxiety disorder
following extraordinary
stress (discussed in Chapter
3)
Explanations of Anxiety Disorders
Psychological--faulty cognitions,
maladaptive learning
Biological--evolution, genetics,
brain functioning, biochemistry
Sociocultural—environmental
stressors, cultural socialization

Anxiety Disorders (Continued)
Mood Disorders
Mood Disorders: characterized by
extreme disturbances in emotional states
 Two Main Types of Mood Disorders:
• Major Depressive Disorder: long-lasting
depressed mood that interferes with the ability
to function, feel pleasure, or maintain interest in
life
• Bipolar Disorder: repeated episodes of mania &
depression

Mood Disorders
(Continued)

Note how major
depressive
disorders differ
from bipolar
disorders on this
hypothetical graph.
Explanations of Mood Disorders

Biological--brain functioning,
neurotransmitter imbalances,
genetics, evolution

Psychosocial--environmental
stressors, disturbed
interpersonal relationships,
faulty thinking, poor selfconcept, learned helplessness,
faulty attributions
Mood Disorders (Continued)

Gender & Cultural
Diversity:
Culture-general symptoms
for depression (e.g., sad
affect, lack of energy)
 Women more often
depressed. Why?
Combination of biological,
psychological, & social
forces (biopsychosocial
model)

Biological
Social
Psychological
Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia: group of psychotic disorders,
characterized by a general loss of contact with
reality

Five areas of major disturbance:
Perception (hallucinations)
Language (word salad, neologisms)
Thoughts (psychosis, delusions)
Emotion (exaggerated or flat affect)
Behavior [unusual actions (e.g., catalepsy, waxy
flexibility)]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Subtypes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia (Continued)

Explanations of Schizophrenia:
Biological: genetic predisposition,
disruptions in neurotransmitters, brain
abnormalities
 Psychosocial: diathesis-stress model,
disturbed family communication

Genetics & Schizophrenia
Disturbed Brain Activity in
Schizophrenia

Note the differing
amounts of brain
activity in the normal,
schizophrenia, and
depressed brains.
(Warmer colors =
more activity)
Schizophrenia (Continued)

Gender & Cultural Diversity:
Numerous culturally general
symptoms, but significant differences
exist in:
prevalence
• form
• onset
• prognosis
•
Other Disorders

Substance-related disorder (abuse of, or
dependence on, a mood- or behavior-altering
drug)

Two general groups:
Substance abuse (interferes with social or
occupational functioning)
 Substance dependence (causes physical
reactions, such as tolerance & withdrawal)

Other Disorders:
Substance-Related Disorder
Other Disorders (Continued)

People with
substance-related
disorders also
commonly suffer
other psychological
disorders, a
condition known as
comorbidity.
Other Disorders (Continued)

Dissociative Disorders: splitting apart (disassociation) of experience from memory or
consciousness

Types of Dissociative Disorders:
 Dissociative Amnesia
 Dissociative Fugue
 Depersonalization Disorder
 Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Other Disorders (Continued)

Best known dissociative
disorder:

Dissociative Identity
Disorder (DID): presence of
two or more distinct
personality systems in the
same person at different
times (previously known as
multiple personality disorder)
Other Disorders (Continued)


Personality Disorder: inflexible,
maladaptive personality traits causing
significant impairment of social &
occupational functioning
Two types of personality disorders:
 Antisocial Personality Disorder
 Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Other Disorders (Continued)

Antisocial Personality Disorder: profound
disregard for, & violation of, the rights of
others

Key Traits: egocentrism, lack of
conscience, impulsive behavior, &
superficial charm
Other Disorders (Continued)

Explanations of
Antisocial Personality
Disorder
Biological: genetic
predisposition, abnormal
brain functioning
• Psychological: abusive
parenting, inappropriate
modeling
•
Other Disorders (Continued)

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD):
impulsivity & instability
in mood, relationships,
& self-image

Explanations of BPD:
Psychological--childhood history of neglect,
emotional deprivation, abuse
Biological--genetic inheritance, impaired
brain functioning
•
•