Psychological Disorders Overview

Historically, mental illness was often attributed to evil spirits or demons. Treatments included harsh methods like drilling holes in the skull (trephining) and exorcism. People were frequently confined in asylums.

Today, mental illness is viewed as a medical condition and treated with therapy and medication. The focus is on understanding biological, psychological, and social factors.

Deviance: The behavior is unusual or breaks social norms. Distress: The behavior causes emotional pain or anxiety. Dysfunction: The behavior disrupts daily life. Danger: The behavior is harmful to the person or others.

No, there isn't a clear line for each factor of the 4 D's. Judgement about abnormality can vary depending on context, culture, and individual circumstances.

Anxiety disorders are typically caused by a combination of biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

It's characterized by persistent, free-floating anxiety not tied to a specific threat. It's excessive worry that lasts for at least six months.

It's a disturbance that occurs after a traumatic event. Symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, numb emotions, arousal, anxiety, anger, guilt, and avoidance of stimuli associated with the event.

It's characterized by sudden attacks of overwhelming anxiety, often accompanied by chest pain, trouble breathing, and body weakness. These attacks must occur repeatedly for diagnosis.

A persistent and intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as snakes, heights, or flying.

A fear of social situations where one might be judged or embarrassed, such as public speaking or eating in front of others.

A fear of open or crowded places, often with a fear of escaping or getting help in case of panic or anxiety.

Recurrent and intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety or distress. Common examples include contamination fears or doubts about actions.

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety caused by obsessions. These behaviors may be senseless but feel necessary to relieve the distress.

A mood disorder characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of death or suicide.

A mood disorder with alternating episodes of mania characterized by elevated mood, racing thoughts, and increased energy, and depression.

Added behaviors not normally present in people without the disorder, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thoughts/speech.

A mental health condition marked by intense emotional instability, fear of abandonment, and turbulent relationships. Individuals with BPD experience rapid mood swings, struggle with a consistent sense of self, and may engage in impulsive behaviors.

A group of conditions characterized by unhealthy eating habits and an obsessive focus on food, weight, and body image.

A serious eating disorder characterized by extremely low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight (even when underweight), distorted body image or perception of weight, and purging behaviors like vomiting or using laxatives.

An eating disorder involving recurrent binge eating episodes followed by compensatory behaviors like purging (vomiting, excessive exercising, or fasting) to prevent weight gain. Individuals with bulimia often maintain a normal or above-average weight.

Having multiple diagnoses at the same time. In mental health, it means an individual experiences two or more disorders concurrently.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides a standardized system for diagnosing mental health conditions. This framework helps mental health professionals agree on diagnostic criteria, offers clear guidelines for treatment, facilitates research and drug development, and ensures insurance coverage for treatments.

The DSM can label normal behaviors as disorders, potentially leading to stigma and judgment. It might not be suitable for all individuals, especially those from diverse cultural backgrounds. It focuses heavily on medical solutions rather than addressing life stressors, potentially leading to overdiagnosis and making treatment more complex.

Psychoanalytic therapy focuses on exploring the unconscious mind to uncover hidden thoughts and past experiences that influence current behaviors. It believes that unresolved childhood conflicts contribute to psychological issues and aims to bring them to consciousness to resolve them.