Abnormal Psychology Quiz

Psychological Disorders

• Psychological disorders are patterns of emotion, thought, and action considered pathological due to statistical infrequency, disability or dysfunction, personal distress, or violation of norms.

Studying Psychological Disorders

• The presentation covers various psychological disorders including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, other disorders, and how gender and culture affect abnormal behavior.

Studying Psychological Disorders: Defining Abnormal Behavior

• Abnormal behavior refers to patterns of emotion, thought, and action considered pathological for several reasons:
  • Statistical infrequency
  • Disability or dysfunction
  • Personal distress
  • Violation of norms

The Four Criteria for Abnormality

• A slide presents the four criteria of abnormality in a visual format, detailing examples of each.

Historical Perspective on Psychological Disorders

• In ancient times, people believed demons caused abnormal behavior
• In the 1790's, the medical model emerged, emphasizing disease and illness as causes
• Currently, seven significant perspectives exist on understanding abnormal behaviors

Perspectives on Abnormal Behavior

• This section presents a diagram illustrating the various perspectives on abnormal behavior:
  • Biological perspective: Brain function problems, genetic predispositions, and biochemical imbalances as causes
  • Sociocultural perspective: Cultural values and beliefs influence abnormal behavior
  • Behavioral perspective: Inappropriate conditioning or modeling leading to abnormal behavior
  • Cognitive perspective: Faulty thinking patterns that lead to abnormal behavior
  • Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic perspective: Unconscious conflicts leading to abnormal behavior
  • Humanistic perspective: Blocked personal growth due to problems in life
  • Evolutionary perspective: An exaggeration of adaptive reactions to the environment

Classifying Abnormal Behaviors: The DSM

• The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is a standardized classification tool mental health professionals use to diagnose mental health disorders.
• It's developed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
• Key features of the DSM include:
  • Clear diagnostic criteria to ensure consistency across clinicians.
  • Common language for research and practice.
  • Guidelines for mental health disorder assessment, emphasizing symptoms, duration, and impact

Historical Context of the DSM

• DSM-I (1952): Focused on psychoanalytic theories
• DSM-II (1968): Emphasized symptom categorization
• DSM-III (1980): Introduced a multi-axial system
• DSM-IV-TR (2000): Refined categories, including cultural considerations
• DSM-5 (2013): Shifted to dimensional models, integrating cultural and developmental aspects

DSM Structure

• DSM-5 organizes mental disorders into categories based on shared characteristics
• Key updates to the DSM-5 include:
  • Removal of the multi-axial system
  • Consolidation of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
  • Introduction of new disorders, like Hoarding Disorder and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Advantages and Disadvantages of Labeling with DSM Diagnosis

• Discussion point: The pros and cons of labeling someone with a DSM diagnosis are presented for consideration

Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety disorders involve excessive, disproportionate fear or anxiety to the situation, interfering with daily life.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• GAD involves persistent worrying about various aspects of life, accompanied by physical symptoms (restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue, and sleep difficulties).
• Factors contributing to GAD include:
  • Biological: Genetic predisposition and overactivity in brain regions like the amygdala
  • Psychological: Maladaptive thinking patterns and heightened sensitivity to threats
  • Environmental: Chronic stress or traumatic experiences

Panic Disorder

• Panic disorder involves sudden panic attacks characterized by intense fear or anxiety (chest pain, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fear of dying, loss of control).
• Biological factors: Abnormal functioning within the brain's fear circuits
• Psychological factors: Catastrophic misinterpretations of bodily sensations

Phobias

• Phobias involve intense and irrational fears of specific objects, activities, or situations (fear of flying, heights, spiders), often accompanied by avoidance behaviors.
• Biological factors: Evolutionary predispositions
• Environmental factors: Conditioning experiences, like traumatic events involving the feared objects.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• OCD includes recurring intrusive thoughts (obsessions, like fears of contamination) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions, like excessive hand-washing) aimed at reducing anxiety.
• Factors:
  • Biological: Abnormal serotonin activity and dysfunction in brain areas, like the orbitofrontal cortex
  • Psychological: Perfectionism and need for control

Mood Disorders

• Mood disorders involve disturbances of affect, categorized into two primary types:
  • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Continued depressed mood, interfering with daily functioning, pleasure, and interest in life.
  • Bipolar Disorder: Recurring episodes of mania (elevated mood, increased activity, impulsivity) and depression (low energy, hopelessness).

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

• Symptoms: Persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, difficulties concentrating, changes in appetite, and suicidal thoughts
• Factors:
  • Biological: Imbalances in serotonin and norepinephrine
  • Psychological: Negative thought patterns (e.g., hopelessness).
  • Environmental: Stressful life events and lack of social support

Bipolar Disorder

• Symptoms: Alternating periods of mania (elevated mood, increased activity, impulsivity) and depression
• Factors:
  • Biological: Genetic predisposition, irregular dopamine activity
  • Environmental: Stressful or traumatic events

Key Differences Between Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder

• A table highlighting key differences between bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, including mood episodes, onset, duration of symptoms, treatment, genetic heritability.

Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia is a group of psychotic disorders characterized by major disturbances in:
  • Perceptions (hallucinations)
  • Language (word salad)
  • Thoughts (delusions)
  • Emotion
  • Behavior

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Psychotic Disorders

• Description: Severe disorders characterized by distorted thinking, perceptions, and emotional responses.

Schizophrenia: Symptoms and Contributing Factors

• Positive symptoms: Hallucinations (e.g., hearing voices) & delusions (e.g., paranoid beliefs)
• Negative symptoms: Reduced emotional expression, social withdrawal
• Cognitive symptoms: Impaired memory & decision-making
• Factors:
  • Biological: Genetic predisposition, and dopamine dysregulation.
  • Environmental: Prenatal exposure to infections, stress

Subtypes of Schizophrenia

• Paranoid, Catatonic, Disorganized, Undifferentiated, Residual

Personality Disorders

• Inflexible, maladaptive personality traits that significantly impair social and occupational functioning

Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Exhibits egocentrism, lack of conscience, impulsive behavior, and manipulation of others.
• Factors:
  • Biological: Defects in brain activity or genetic predisposition
  • Psychological: Disturbed family relationships.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

• Exhibits impulsivity, mood instability, and unstable relationships and self-image
• Factors:
  • Psychological: Childhood history of neglect, abuse, or emotional deprivation
  • Biological: Genetic factors, impaired functioning in frontal lobes

Dissociative Disorders

• Critical elements of personality split apart
• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Presence of two or more distinct personalities within the same person.
• Common link includes childhood trauma.

Other Disorders

• Substance-related disorders involve drug use interfering with social or occupational functioning, causing drug tolerance or withdrawal symptoms.
• Comorbidity is a common aspect, where individuals with substance-related disorders also often exhibit other psychological disorders.

How Gender and Culture Affect Abnormal Behavior

• Gender & Depression: Women are more likely to experience depression than men
• Why? Some suggest women inherit genetic or hormonal factors that increase susceptibility & societal perceptions might also contribute
• Culture & Schizophrenia: While symptoms are generally similar across cultures, there are differences in their presentation, prevalence, course, and prognosis

Culture-bound Symptoms

• Symptoms of psychological distress expressed differently across various cultures
• These expressions can be understood and treated within the cultural context.

Test your knowledge on key concepts of abnormal psychology, including the features of disorders, the DSM, and historical perspectives on mental illness. This quiz covers critical criteria for diagnosing abnormal behavior and highlights significant changes in the DSM classification system.