Transcript What are Psychological Disorders and How Can We Understand

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
WHAT IS ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR?
• Four criteria help distinguish normal from
abnormal behavior:
• Uncommon
• Violation of social norms *
• Personal distress
• Level of impairment
PREVALENCE OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIORS
• 26% of Americans over 18 have diagnosable
psychological disorders within a given year;
46% lifetime prevalence
• Psychological disorders are leading cause of
disability in U.S. and Canada for individuals
between 15 and 44
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
• Why do these occur?
• Biological theories – Relating to neurons
and neurotransmitters
• Psychological theories – Related to
upbringing and experiences
• Social or cultural theories – Related to
societal pressures
GENERAL ANXIETY DISORDER
• Symptoms:
- Psychological: Uncontrollable worry, panic, or fear
- Physical: Fatigue, nausea, trembling, insomnia
• Affects 3.1% of U.S.
PANIC ATTACK
• Discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, which
usually peaks within 10 minutes.
• And… 4 of the following:
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Racing Heart
Trembling
Choking
Nausea
Sweating
Shortness of breath
Chest discomfort
Dizziness/lightheadedness
OCD
• Obsessions Or compulsions that cause marked
distress or impairment in functioning.
• Affects 2.3% of population
• Symptoms:
• Compulsive behavior, repetition, agitation
OCD
• Obsessions: persistent, intrusive thoughts, images
and impulses.
• Product of own mind (e.g., not hallucinations)
• Difficulty ignoring or suppressing obsessions
• Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts
(to reduce distress and anxiety…attempt to prevent
fear from occurring in an unrealistic way).
DEPRESSION
• Affects 9.5% of the population per year
• Most experience some depression
• clinical depression is related to length of time symptoms
exist
• Symptoms:
• Behavioral and mood changes, Insomnia,
Weight loss, social isolation
DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS
• Depression is leading cause of disability in
U.S. and worldwide
• 17% acute episode in lifetime; 6% chronic
• Average age of onset is 32
• 15 to 24 years at highest risk for major depressive episode
BIPOLAR DISORDER
• Bipolar disorder is more than just mood
swings
• Affects 2.6% of population
• Symptoms:
• Rapid and sudden shift in mood between two states (poles)
• Involves depression and mania
• Mania is a state of high energy, impulsiveness, and euphoria
SCHIZOPHRENIA
• From Greek…“split mind”
• Affects approximately 1-2% of population in lifetime
• Strong biological component
SCHIZOPHRENIA
2 or more of these criteria:
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Delusions
Hallucinations
Disorganized speech
Grossly disorganized, or catatonic behavior
PERSONALITY DISORDER
• Psychopathy, sociopathy, antisocial personality
disorder
• Estimated as high as 9% of the population
• Symptoms vary, but can be:
- Lack of sympathy, empathy, understanding or
acceptance of social norms
PTSD
• Exposure to traumatic event
• “actual or threatened death, serious injury, or physical
integrity”
• Response involved intense fear, helplessness
• Re-experience event: images, dreams, reliving, or
intense distress from triggers of event
• Persistent avoidance of anything related to the
experiment