Psychological Disorders and Treatment
Blind Pig Syndrome
nThe belief
that one has all illnesses which one hears about.
Insanity Defense
nMcNaughten
Rule: Insanity is a legal term
that one is not aware or responsible for their own actions.
n1954 Durham Rule, says one is not responsible for their actions.
Defining Abnormal Behavior
nAny
behavior state of emotional distress that causes personal suffering that is
self-destructive or maladaptive.
nStatistical
Deviation: If normal is what most
people do, Abnormal behavior deviates from the norm.
Defining Abnormal Behavior
nViolation
of Cultural Standards: Any action
that violates the standards of the group.
Having visions: religious
blessing in some cultures:
Schizophrenic in others.
nMaladaptive
behavior: Interrupts everyday life
significantly.
Defining Abnormal Behavior
nEmotional
Distress: Feels, angry, anxious
afraid or depressed most of the time.
nImpaired
Judgment: Cannot tell right from wrong or control their own behavior.
DSM-IVR
nCriteria
for the diagnosis of mental disorders.
Defined in behavioral terms, predisposing factors, age of onset,
etc. Rated on six axis.
Problems with Diagnosis
nInconsistent
nOverlapping
nSelf-Fulfilling
prophecy
nStereotyping/Labeling
Anxiety Disorder
nThose
diagnosed are usually psychologically healthy in other ways. Know their behavior is irrational.
nCharacterized
by persistent thoughts if dread or fear and impending doom.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
nContinuous
state of anxiety, lasts a month or more.
Show 3 of the following.
nMotor
Tension
nAutonomic
Hyperactivity
nApprehensive
nViligence
or Scanning
Phobias
nAn
unrealistic fear of a specific situation:
Activity or thing. Simple
phobias (I.e. Claustrophobia).
nAgoraphobia: half of all phobia cases: Fear of being alone in public places
from which escape or help might be difficult. Usually home is a safe place.
nHeritable
component
Panic Attacks
nA brief
feeling of intense fear and impending doom or death accompanied by intense
physiological symptoms such as rapid breathing, dizziness and sweaty palms.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
nObsessions: persistent thoughts that seem to come
unbidden. Reflect maladaptive ways
of reasoning and processing information.
nCompulsions: Repetitive ritualized behavior that a
person carries out in a stereotypical fashion. Designed to prevent some disaster.
Behavioral Therapies
nWork on
changing current behaviors and attitudes.
Assumes that behavior IS the problem.
nSystematic
Desensitization: (Wolpe) Step-by-Step process of getting a
subject acclimated to a feared object.
Relaxing in a hierarchy that gradually leads to greater fear. Must be relaxed before moving on.
Behavioral Therapies
nFlooding: (Implosive Therapy) Take patient directly into their most
feared situation. Can be
physically harmful.
nCounter
conditioning: (Mary Cover
Jones) Conditions new responses to
stimuli that trigger unwanted behavior.
Based on classical conditioning.
Behavioral Therapies
nAversive
Conditioning: Punishment to
replace positive reinforcement that perpetuates a bad habit.
nBehavioral
Records: and contracts: Ways of changing unwanted habits, keep
a running record of when a given habit or behavior occurs.
Behavioral Therapies
nToken
Economy: Rewards desired behaviors,
patient exchanges tokens for various privileges or treats. Usually used in mental health care
facilities.
nCriticisms: When reinforcement stops, so does
wanted behavior. Extrinsically
rewarding: person in control of
someone elseÕs behavior.
Mood Disorders
nMajor
Depression: Number one reason that
people seek treatment. Tearful for
no reason, often think of death and ignore or discount positive events. Thoughts of suicide. Loss of interest in usual
activities. Enormous effort just
to get up.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
nA change in
mood as seasons change, generally depression in the winter.
Dysthmic Disorder
nMinor
depressive episode, fills most of the day nearly everyday for two or more
years.
Mania
nHigh state
of exhilaration (flight of ideas)
feelings of power, plans, ambition, widely optimistic. Inflated sense of self-esteem. Speaks dramatically, many jokes or
puns.
Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive)
nAlternate
between depression and mania.
Anti-Depressants
nStimulants
that influence neurotransmitters in the brain. Elevates levels of seretonin. Non-addictive, side effects dry mouth, constipation.
Anti-Depressants
nProzac: blocks reabsorption and removal of
seretonin from synapses. Cousin of
Zoloft and Paxil, side effects, weight gain, dry mouth and dizzy spells.
nLithium: Calms people with manic-depressive
disorder. Can be dangerous.
Anti-Depressants
nValium: Tranquilizers, depressants, frequently
prescribed to people complaining of unhappiness or anxiety. Least effective and addictive.
nAnti-Anxiety
Drugs: reduce tension and anxiety
without causing excessive sleepiness.
Reduce symptoms without resolving underlying problem.