Abnormal Psychology

Medical Studentitis:

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

• A form of “hypochondriasis” can occur when learning about abnormal psychology.

• You may find that some of the symptoms we discuss in this chapter sound like something you have experienced.

• This is normal; happens with medical students, too!

• Note, though, that all psychological disorders involve exaggerations of normal tendencies.

• If you can answer, “no” to the question, “Is this out of the norm for me?”, then you probably do not have a disorder!

Psychopathology –Any pattern of emotions, behaviors, or thoughts inappropriate to the situation and leading to personal distress or the inability to achieve important goals Synonymous terms include:

Mental illness Mental disorder Psychological disorder

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

What is PsychologicalDisorder?

Classifications

DSM 5 Diagnostic and

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; the most widely accepted classification system in the United States – recently revised

Anxiety DisordersOCDPTSDMood DisordersSchizophreniaDissociative

DisordersPersonality DisordersSomatoform

DisordersDevelopmental

Disorders

Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Unexplainably and

continually tense and uneasy

Panic Disorder Experience sudden

episodes of intense dread

Phobias Intense and irrational

fear of specific object or situation

Agoraphobia – fear of public places/open spaces

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

OCD

Condition characterized by patterns of persistent, unwanted thoughts and behaviors

New category in DSM 5

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD

Lingering nightmares, memories or other symptoms for weeks after a serious uncontrollable event

New category in DSM 5

Mood Disorders

Major Depressive Disorder Form of depression

that does not alternate with mania

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Believed to be caused

by deprivation of sunlight

Bipolar Disorder Mental abnormality

involving swings of mood from mania to depression

Mania – exaggerated highs

Schizophrenia

Disorder involving distortions in thoughts, perceptions, and/or emotions

Usually strikes in late teens

Major Types of Schizophrenia

Disorganized

Catatonic

Paranoid

Undifferentiated

Positive

Negative

Features incoherent speech, hallucinations, delusions, and bizarre behavior

Word salad This morning when I was at

Hillside [Hospital], I was making a movie. I was surrounded by movie stars … I’m Marry Poppins. Is this room painted blue to get me upset? My grandmother died four weeks after my eighteenth birthday.”

Major Types of Schizophrenia

Disorganized

Catatonic

Paranoid

Undifferentiated

Motionless for long periods of time or appear to be melting wax statue

video

Major Types of Schizophrenia

Disorganized

Catatonic

Paranoid

Undifferentiated

Prominent feature: combination of delusions and hallucinations

video

Major Types of Schizophrenia

Disorganized

Catatonic

Paranoid

Undifferentiated

Persons displaying a combination of symptoms that do not clearly fit in one of the other categories

Major Types of Schizophrenia

Disorganized

Catatonic

Paranoid

Undifferentiated

Any form in which the person displays active symptoms(e.g. delusions, hallucinations)

Major Types of Schizophrenia

PositiveSchizophrenia

NegativeSchizophrenia

Any form distinguished by deficits, such as withdrawal and poverty of thought processes

video

Major Types of Schizophrenia

PositiveSymptoms

NegativeSymptoms