Psychological Disorders

Questions

• How is Mental Illness Diagnosed?• What are Anxiety Disorders?• What are Mood Disorders?• What are Schizophrenic Disorders?

How is Mental Illness Diagnosed?

Criteria for mental illness:• Does the behavior violate cultural norms?

(deviant)• Does the behavior interfere with normal

functioning? (maladaptive)• Does the behavior cause distress?

How is Mental Illness Diagnosed?

DSM-IV 1. Major Clinical Syndromes 2. Personality Disorders and Mental Retardation 3. General Medical Conditions 4. Psychosocial and Environmental Problems 5. Global Assessment of Functioning

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Characterized by excessive levels of anxiety.• Generalized Anxiety Disorder• Phobic Disorder• Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Contributing Factors:• Genetic predisposition• Neurotransmitter problem - GABA• Classical conditioning• Operant conditioning• Stress

What are Mood Disorders?

Characterized by emotional disturbances.• Major Depressive Disorder• Dysthymic Disorder• Seasonal Affective Disorder• Biploar Disorder

What are Mood Disorders?

Contributing Factors:• Genetic predisposition• Neurotransmitter problem – serotonin,

norepinephrine• Stress and hippocampual neurogenesis• Learned Helplessness

What are Schizophrenic Disorders?

• Characterized by disorganized thought.• Positive Symptoms– Delusions– Hallucinations– Bizarre behaviors– Disorganized speech

What are Schizophrenic Disorders?

• Negative Symptoms– Flat affect– Catatonic rigidity– Social withdrawal

Misconception Alert!

• Schizophrenia does not mean having multiple personalities.

What are Schizophrenic Disorders?

• Paranoid Schizophrenia• Catatonic Schizophrenia• Disorganized Schizophrenia• Undifferentiated

What are Schizophrenic Disorders?

Contributing Factors:• Genetic predisposition• Abnormality in frontal lobes• Early exposure to viruses• Abnormal dopamine system• Stress