Psychological Disorders Overview

Psychological Disorders: Abnormal Behavior

• Abnormal behavior is viewed as a disease by the medical model.
• Criteria for classifying abnormal behavior: deviance (unacceptable by society), maladaptive behavior (hindering functioning), and personal distress.
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) is used for classifying disorders.

Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety disorders are more common in females.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): excessive, constant worrying.
• Phobias: intense, irrational fear interfering with life.
• Panic disorder: sudden onset of intense fear and anxiety.
• Agoraphobia: fear of public places, often associated with panic disorder.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors).
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): follows a traumatic event, characterized by intrusive memories, avoidance, negative alterations, and increased arousal.

Dissociative Disorders

• Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in a sense of self.
• Dissociative amnesia: forgetting significant life events, often due to stress.
• Dissociative fugue: forgetting parts of identity, leading to unknown whereabouts.
• Dissociative identity disorder: multiple distinct personalities.

Mood Disorders

• Major depressive disorder: presence of 5 or more symptoms.
• Reactive depression: caused by external factors.
• Endogenous depression: caused by internal or biological factors.
• Bipolar disorder: periods of depression and mania.
• Bipolar I: more pronounced manic episodes.
• Bipolar II: more pronounced depressive episodes.

Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia involves a disconnect from reality.
• Symptoms include delusions (false, fixed beliefs), hallucinations (most commonly auditory), flat affect (lack of emotional expression), disorganized speech and behavior, and deterioration in daily functioning.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by significant difficulties in social interactions, restricted interests, lack of eye contact, and impaired nonverbal communication.

This quiz explores the characteristics of psychological disorders, focusing on their classification and the medical model's perspective. Key topics include anxiety disorders, their symptoms, and the DSM-5 guidelines for diagnosis. Test your understanding of abnormal behavior and its implications.