Lecture 8: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

What is psychopathology?

Answer 1

Maladaptive, disruptive, or uncomfortable patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving

Question 2

What can psychopathology affect?

Answer 2

Affects the individual and the people with whom they interact.

Question 3

How many people suffer from psychological disorders world wide?

Answer 3

Worldwide, over 400 million people suffer from some form of psychological disorder

Question 4

What are the effects of world wide psychological disorders?

Answer 4

Human suffering and financial burdens on individuals, families, communities, society.

Question 5

What are the three D’s that are considered abnormal?

Answer 5

Deviance, Distress and Dysfunction.

Question 6

What is deviance?

Answer 6

Statistical infrequency and norm violation within a culture.

Question 7

What is distress?

Answer 7

Personal suffering

Question 8

What is dysfunction?

Answer 8

(Maladaptive bahaviour) impaired functioning.

Question 9

What is involved in the practical approach for identifying abnormal behaviour?

Answer 9

• Content of the behavior
• Sociocultural context in which it occurs
• Consequences for that person and for others

Question 10

Why do we classify psychological disorders?

Answer 10

• Determine the nature of a problem
• Choose the most appropriate method of treatment
• Study the causes of mental disorders

Question 11

What classification system is there in north america?

Answer 11

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Question 12

Who is the DSM published by?

Answer 12

The American Psychiatric Association

Question 13

How many classified diagnostic labels are in the DSM?

Answer 13

over 300

Question 14

What classification system is there outside of North America?

Answer 14

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10)

and The International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH-2)

Question 15

Who published the ICD-10 and ICIDH-2?

Answer 15

The World Health Organisation

Question 16

Explain Axis I for DSM?

Answer 16

Diagnosed mental disorder

Question 17

Explain Axis II for DSM?

Answer 17

Personality disorders/ intellectual disability

Question 18

Explain Axis III for DSM?

Answer 18

Relevant medical conditions

Question 19

Explain Axis IV for DSM?

Answer 19

Psychosocial and environmental problems

Question 20

Explain Axis V for DSM?

Answer 20

Current level of psychological, social, and occupational functioning

Question 21

What are the two validity evaluation points for the DSM?

Answer 21

Stronger for some diagnoses
e.g., schizophrenia, depression

Weaker for others
e.g., ADHD, somatoform disorders

Question 22

What are the two inter-rater reliability evaluation points for the DSM?

Answer 22

High for some disorders
e.g., anxiety disorders, affective disorders, schizophrenia

Low for others
e.g., somatoform disorders, personality disorders

Question 23

What are 6 problems with the diagnostics system?

Answer 23

1/ Mixed disorders are common
2/ Same symptoms seen in different disorders
3/ Subjective nature of criteria judgments
4/ Possibility of bias in diagnosis
5/ Insufficient attention to sociocultural variables
6/ Labeling can be dehumanizing

Question 24

How does the biological model explain psychological disorders?

Answer 24

Argues that Biological factors cause mental illness through:

• Physical illnesses
• Disruptions or imbalances in bodily processes, particularly central nervous system

Question 25

Give examples of how biological affects cause psychological disorders?

Answer 25

- Structural difference in grey matter (Alzheimer’s) - Structural difference in white matter (Autism) - Imbalance in neurotransmitters (Schizophrenia) - Genetic influences (Austism etc)

Question 26

How does the psychological model explain psychological disorders?

Answer 26

``` It emphasizes psychological factors such as: Wants Needs Emotions Learning experiences Attachment history World view ```

Question 27

Within the psychological model, what are the two approaches to psychological disorders?

Answer 27

Psychodynamic explanation and Social-cognitive (social learning) explanation.

Question 28

What does the psychodynamic explanation suggest?

Answer 28

Unresolved, mostly unconscious conflicts between inborn impulses and the limits placed on those impulses by society

Question 29

What does the Social-cognitive (social learning) explanation suggest?

Answer 29

- Interaction of past learning and current situations | - Emphasizes the roles of learned expectations, schemas, and other mental processes

Question 30

According to the sociocultural perspective, sociocultural factors include...?

Answer 30

- Gender, age, and marital status - Physical, social, and economic situations - Cultural values, traditions, and expectations

Question 31

According to the sociocultural perspective, sociocultural factors influence...?

Answer 31

- What is labeled abnormal - Who displays what kind of disorder - Likelihood of treatment - Overall prevalence of disorders - Form of abnormality

Question 32

According to the The Sociocultural Perspective, what can be a Culture-General Disorder?

Answer 32

Depression

Question 33

According to the The Sociocultural Perspective, how is depression a culturally influenced symptom?

Answer 33

- In Western cultures, emotional and physical experiences are viewed separately, so symptoms appear as emotional distress - In China and Japan, emotional and physical experiences are seen as one, so symptoms may appear as stomach or back pain

Question 34

What is the diathesis stress model?

Answer 34

The diathesis–stress model is a psychological theory that attempts to explain behavior as a predispositional vulnerability together with stress from life experiences. It takes Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors into account.

Question 35

What will people with strong diathesis succumb to?

Answer 35

People with a strong diathesis may succumb to relatively mild stress

Question 36

What will people with weak diathesis succumb to?

Answer 36

People with weaker diathesis may not show signs of a disorder until stress becomes extreme or prolonged

Question 37

What is the main example of an anxiety disorder?

Answer 37

Panic Disorder.

Question 38

What is panic disoder

Answer 38

A disorder where recurrent, terrifying panic attacks without warning or obvious cause

Question 39

What do panic disorder symptoms include?

Answer 39

Intense heart palpitations, pressure or pain in the chest, dizziness or unsteadiness, sweating, and feeling faint

Question 40

What are behavioural/longterm affects of panic disorder?

Answer 40

- Restricted activities due to constant worry about suffering future panic episodes - Can lead to agoraphobia - Periods of improvement may be followed by recurrences

Question 41

percantage of adults panic disorder affects every year?

Answer 41

Affects 2%-3% of adults in any given year

Question 42

What are the biological causes of anxiety disorders?

Answer 42

Genetic influences such as.... Supported by twin studies and family studies Degree of genetic influence is moderate, and varies among disorders

Question 43

What is an issues with genetic influences explaining anxiety disorders?

Answer 43

Difficult to pinpoint specific genes or gene combinations predictive of anxiety disorder

Question 44

What are the 3 biological causes of panic disorders?

Answer 44

1/ Genetic predisposition 2/ Over active fight or flight response 3/ Neurotransmitter system abnormalities

Question 45

How can neurotransmitter system abnormalities cause panic disorders?

Answer 45

- Excessive activity of norepinephrine circuits linked to panic disorder - Dysregulation of the hypothalmic-pitutary-adrenal system (stress response) - Abnormal function of brain regions involved in regulating fear response (amygdala, hippocampus, ACC, PFC),

Question 46

What are the psychological causes of anxiety disorders?

Answer 46

Cognitive processes such as: - Exaggerating dangers creates unrealistic expectations of bad events - This leads people to dwell on, and be alert for negative events - Anxiety and desperation result from underestimating control capacity during feared events - Lack of perceived control can lead to overreacting or avoiding threatening situations

Question 47

Example of how the diathesis-stress model integrates biological and psychological risk factors?

Answer 47

``` Diathesis: Genetic predisposition Over active fight or flight response + Stress: Lack of perceived control Financial worries, health worries = Panic Disorder ```