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Name That Disorder

This activity presents case studies in which individuals suffer from symptoms of psychological disorders.

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Case Study 1

Irene occasionally experiences unpredictable episodes of intense dread, accompanied by chest pains and a sensation of smothering or choking. Her symptoms have no apparent physical cause.

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Case Study 1: DIAGNOSIS�Irene suffers from

panic disorder

NOTES

Irene suffers from “B,” panic disorder. Point out that panic disorder is an anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable minutes-long episodes of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations.

Also point out that anxiety disorders are psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety. In a generalized anxiety disorder, a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal.

If you are using Classroom Response System (iClicker) technology to poll your students, you can graph their responses. For more information on iClicker, go to: http://www.iclicker.com

If you don’t have iClicker technology, tally responses manually by having students write responses on a piece of paper. You may collect the papers or ask students to raise their hands to indicate the response they chose.

You can use class responses to launch a discussion or start a debate.

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Case Study 2

Jason is so preoccupied with staying clean that he showers as many as 10 times each day.

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Case Study 2: DIAGNOSIS�Jason suffers from

obsessive-compulsive disorder

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Case Study 3

Although she escaped from war-torn Iraq two years ago, Lila still has detailed haunting memories and nightmares.

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Case Study 3: DIAGNOSIS�Lila suffers from

post-traumatic stress disorder

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Case Study 4

One day Matt felt optimistic, energetic, and on top of the world. A few days later he felt hopeless and lethargic. He thought that the future looked very grim.

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Case Study 4: DIAGNOSIS�Matt suffers from

bipolar disorder

NOTES

Matt suffers from “E,” bipolar disorder. Point out that bipolar disorder is a mood disorder in which the person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depressions and the overexcited state of mania. (Formerly called manic-depressive disorder.)

Also point out that mania is a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state.

If you are using Classroom Response System (iClicker) technology to poll your students, you can graph their responses. For more information on iClicker, go to: http://www.iclicker.com

If you don’t have iClicker technology, tally responses manually by having students write responses on a piece of paper. You may collect the papers or ask students to raise their hands to indicate the response they chose.

You can use class responses to launch a discussion or start a debate.

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Case Study 5

Claiming that she heard a voice commanding her to warn other people that eating is harmful, Sandy attempts to convince other restaurant patrons not to eat. The psychiatrist to whom she is referred finds that Sandy’s thinking and speech are often fragmented �and incoherent. In addition, Sandy has an unreasonable fear that someone is “out to �get her.” Consequently, she trusts no one.

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Case Study 5: DIAGNOSIS�Sandy suffers from

paranoid schizophrenia

NOTES

Sandy suffers from “A,” paranoid schizophrenia. Point out that schizophrenia is a group of severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions.

Delusions are false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders; those with paranoid tendencies are particularly prone to delusions of persecution. Someone with paranoid schizophrenia may jump from one idea to another, even within sentences, thus creating a “word salad.”

If you are using Classroom Response System (iClicker) technology to poll your students, you can graph their responses. For more information on iClicker, go to: http://www.iclicker.com

If you don’t have iClicker technology, tally responses manually by having students write responses on a piece of paper. You may collect the papers or ask students to raise their hands to indicate the response they chose.

• You can use class responses to launch a discussion or start a debate.

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Case Study 6

Bob has never been able to keep a job. He’s been in and out of jail for charges such as theft, sexual assault, and spousal abuse however if you were to meet Bob he can at times seem very charming.

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Case Study 6: DIAGNOSIS�Bob suffers from

antisocial personality disorder

NOTES

Bob suffers from “D,” antisocial personality disorder. Point out that antisocial personality disorder is a personality disorder in which the person (usually a man) exhibits a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members. The person may also be aggressive and ruthless or a clever con artist.

If you are using Classroom Response System (iClicker) technology to poll your students, you can graph their responses. For more information on iClicker, go to: http://www.iclicker.com

If you don’t have iClicker technology, tally responses manually by having students write responses on a piece of paper. You may collect the papers or ask students to raise their hands to indicate the response they chose.

• You can use class responses to launch a discussion or start a debate.

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Case Study 7

Sadie is so fearful of being overwhelmed by anxiety that she rarely steps outside her apartment. The thought of going shopping and getting lost in a crowd terrifies her, so she has her groceries delivered. Because of her fear, she earns her living as a freelance writer and works at home.

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Case Study 7: DIAGNOSIS�Sadie suffers from

agoraphobia

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Case Study 8

For the last month Gabrielle has felt lethargic and has been unable to get out of bed in the morning. She has withdrawn from friends and family because she feels worthless and unlovable.

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Case Study 8: DIAGNOSIS�Gabrielle suffers from

major depressive disorder

NOTES

Gabrielle suffers from “A,” major depressive disorder. Point out that major depressive disorder is a mood disorder in which a person experiences, in the absence of drugs or a medical condition, two or more weeks of significantly depressed moods, feelings of worthlessness, and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities.

If you are using Classroom Response System (iClicker) technology to poll your students, you can graph their responses. For more information on iClicker, go to: http://www.iclicker.com

If you don’t have iClicker technology, tally responses manually by having students write responses on a piece of paper. You may collect the papers or ask students to raise their hands to indicate the response they chose.

You can use class responses to launch a discussion or start a debate.

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Case Study 9

Lorna’s thoughts are extremely random and when she speaks it is often in a very confusing manner with words out of order and meaningless. She seems to have totally lost touch with reality.

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Case Study 9: DIAGNOSIS�Lorna suffers from

Disorganized Schizophrenia

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Case Study 10

Bob has an irrational fear of feathers. Whenever he sees one he shakes and cries and looks for a way to escape. As a result he avoids any place where he might see a feather on the ground.

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Case Study 10: DIAGNOSIS�Bob suffers from

Phobia

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Case Study 11

After the death of his wife from cancer, Robert wakes up one day thinking he is a different person, moves to another state and starts a new life.

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Case Study 11: DIAGNOSIS�Robert suffers from

Dissociative Fugue

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Case Study 12

Richard loses the ability to use his left hand. Doctors can find no physical cause for this.

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Case Study 12: DIAGNOSIS�Richard suffers from

Conversion Disorder

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Case Study 13

Jordan constantly worries over his work, relationships and finances for no particular reason. This has been lasting for more than 6 months.

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Case Study 13: DIAGNOSIS�Jordan suffers from

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

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Case Study 14

Daniel has a cough that he is convinced means he is suffering from Tuberculosis. He also has an upset stomach which he feels is probably a sign of stomach cancer.

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Case Study 14: DIAGNOSIS�Daniel suffers from

Hypochondriasis

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Case Study 15

James stares off into the distance and rarely moves his body. At times he suddenly becomes agitated and then resumes standing in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time.

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Case Study 15: DIAGNOSIS�James suffers from

Catatonic Schizophrenia

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Case Study 16

Harold really wants to have a relationship with another person but he is so scared that he may say or do something embarrassing that he retreats from social contact. Harold is extremely shy.

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Case Study 16: DIAGNOSIS�Harold suffers from

Avoidant Personality Disorder

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Case Study 17

Julie has no interest in having relationships with other people. She seems to lack emotion when it comes to other people. She considers herself a loner and has few friends.

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Case Study 17: DIAGNOSIS�Julie suffers from

Schizoid Personality Disorder

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Case Study 18

Jan is extremely distrustful and suspicious of others and constantly thinks that people are “out to get her.” She sees people’s behaviors as threatening even when they obviously are not. She does however have a good understanding of reality and does not have hallucinations.

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Case Study 18: DIAGNOSIS�Jan suffers from

Paranoid Personality Disorder

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Case Study 19

Following a horrible light saber fight with his recently revealed father, Luke cannot remember the fight or the fact that his father revealed himself to be the evil Darth Vader.

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Case Study 19: DIAGNOSIS�Luke suffers from

Dissociative Amnesia

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Case Study 20

While Jimmy was being severely abused as a child he would pretend to be another person. Later, as an adult Jimmy switches back and forth between different personalities whenever he is under severe stress.

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Case Study 20: DIAGNOSIS�Jimmy suffers from

Dissociative Identity Disorder

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Case Study 21

While waiting for the ambulance to arrive after his car crash, Tim feels as if he is having an out of body experience and observing the entire accident scene from above. Afterwards he finds himself doing this whenever he is under great stress.

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Case Study 21: DIAGNOSIS�Tim suffers from

Depersonalization Disorder

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Causes of Disorder

Tell which school of psychology would agree with the following descriptions

Biology – Learning/Behavioral – Cognitive - Psychoanalytic

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Causes

This perspective would say that disorders are caused by some sort of chemical imbalance in the brain or a genetic flaw.

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Causes Answer

Biological

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Causes

Disorders are caused by hidden urges or anxiety in the unconsciousness usually caused by childhood issues.

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Causes Answer

Psychoanalytic

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Causes

Disorders are the result of a child observing a disordered role model behave and then copying those behaviors.

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Causes Answer

Learning/Behavioral – Observational Learning

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Causes

This perspective says that abnormal behavior is rewarded or reinforced making the person more likely to do it in the future.

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Causes Answer

Learning/Behavior – Operant Conditioning

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Causes

This perspective blames a person’s irrational thoughts and beliefs as the reason for their disorder. People’s thoughts are causing them to misread situations.

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Causes Answer

Cognitive

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Causes

This explanation says that something that was previously neutral (car) can become something you are scared of if it is paired with something (accident) that causes fear.

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Causes Answer

Learning/Behavior – Classical Conditioning

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TREATMENT

Which treatment is being described?

Biomedical – Behaviorist – Cognitive – Psychoanalysis - Humanistic

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Treatment

This treatment would traditionally treat someone with a drug to help them with a neurotransmitter deficiency or over abundance.

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Treatment Answer

Biomedical

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Treatment

This treatment uses unconditional positive regard, active listening and empathy to help create an environment where the patient will be able to understand themselves better and use this to make better decisions in the future.

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Treatment Answer

Humanistic

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Treatment

This Treatment would be when a therapist would challenge a client’s irrational beliefs or thoughts and help the client to first recognize and then change these to be more realistic and less harmful.

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Treatment Answer

Cognitive

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Treatment

This treatment would use electroconvulsive therapy for treatment of severely depressed and suicidal patients.

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Treatment Answer

Biomedical

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Treatment

This treatment would use free association, dream analysis and hypnosis in an effort to get the client to transfer their unconscious conflicts onto the therapist where they can then be worked out.

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Treatment Answer

Psychoanalytic

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Treatment

This treatment aims to teach the client a new behavior using modeling techniques, progressive relaxation and visualization, reinforcement and counter conditioning.

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Treatment Answer

Behavioral

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Defining Terms

How do we define “abnormal behavior”?

Typicality
Maladaptive
Emotional Discomfort
Socially Unacceptable Behavior

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Defining Terms

What is the DSM-IV and how is it used?

Diagnostic Statistical Manual used for categorizing and diagnosing mental disorders.

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A Concluding Thought

A medical model is when a disease has physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and, in most cases, cured.
With psychological disorders, the medical model assumes that these mental illnesses can be diagnosed on the basis of their symptoms and cured through therapy, which may include treatment in a psychiatric hospital.

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Consider This…

How do we define “abnormal behavior”?
Why are personality disorders different from the other “common” psychological disorders?
Can you truly make a diagnoses based on short descriptions such as these?

NOTES

Point out that mental health workers view psychological disorders as persistently harmful thoughts, feelings, and actions. When behavior is deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional, psychiatrists and psychologists label it disordered (Comer, 2004).

Also point out that standards for deviant behavior vary by culture and context. For example, going naked in some cultures may be considered routine behavior that in other cultures would be grounds for arrest. As another example, mass killings during wartime may be considered as normal, or even heroic.

Further point out that maladaptive behavior patterns impair people’s social functioning without anxiety, depression, or delusions—and these disruptive patterns are personality disorders. As an example, remind students of the symptoms presented in case study 6 (Bob, who suffered from antisocial personality disorder).

Point out that the DSM-IV-TR is considered by practitioners to be a helpful and practical tool, although not all are enthralled with its medical terminology. The World Health Organization uses the International Classifications of Disorders (ICD-10), which covers both medical and psychological disorders. Also, most insurance companies in North America require an ICD diagnosis before they will pay for therapy.

***These questions should be used to promote class discussion. They are not constructed for use with Classroom Response System (iClicker) technology.

Source:

Comer, R.J. (2004). Abnormal Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers.