Personal Psychology 1: The Road to Self-Discovery
Unit 8: Psychological Disorders
Unit Objectives
After studying this unit, you will be able to:
abnormal behavior
any behavior that is outside of societal norms as well as behavior that causes harm to an individual or others
animal-assisted therapy
when animals are used in treatment to mitigate symptoms and provide coping tools
art and music therapy
using art and music to express and work through difficult feelings and emotions
comorbidity
two disorders occurring at the same time
delusions
the belief that something is true or happening that is not real
hallucinations
seeing something that is not real
mental illness
when psychological disorders impact your mental and emotional state, resulting in abnormal behavior that negatively impacts your daily life
psychiatrist
a medical doctor who specializes in psychological disorders and mental health
psychologists
an individual who studies and practices psychology
psychotherapy
when treatment uses a psychological approach rather than a medical approach
stigma
when shame is felt or put on an individual due to circumstances or situations
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Abnormal Behavior
Lesson 1
What is Abnormal Behavior?
Abnormal behavior is any behavior that is outside societal norms and includes behavior that causes harm to self or others
Difficult to define
DSM-5
The History of Psychological Disorders
Hippocrates – imbalanced fluids
Evil spirits and exorcism
Plato – beyond our control
Middle Ages – evil spirits
Asclepiades and Cicero - originated in the emotions of grief, rage, and fear
North America – witchcraft, asylums, Dorothea Dix hospital
Treatment Throughout Current History
Lobotomy
Electroconvulsive therapy
Hydrotherapy
Confinement
Models of Abnormality Today
Behavioral
Biological
Cognitive
Socio-cultural
Psychodynamic
Humanistic-existentialism
Psychological Disorders
Lesson 2
Mental Illness and Diagnosis
DSM-5
Mental illness occurs when psychological disorders impact your mental and emotional state, resulting in abnormal behavior that negatively impacts your daily life
Classification of Disorders
Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Mood Disorders
Personality Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Developmental Disorders
Somatoform Disorders
Classification of Disorders
Dissociate Disorders
Fictitious Disorders
Sexual Disorder and Gender Dysphoria
Sleep Disorders
Eating Disorders
Impulse Control Disorders
Adjustment Disorders
Common Psychological Diagnosis
Depression
Schizophrenia
Bipolar Disorder
Personality Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Challenges to Diagnosing Disorders
Lack of tests
Stigma
Variables complicate things
Is it abnormal or not?
Comorbidity: two disorders occurring at the same time
Diagnosis is subjective
Medical Treatment
Lesson 3
Biomedical Treatments
Psychosurgery
Pharmacology
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Neurofeedback
Treatment by Age
Adolescents
Children
Adulthood
Common Treatments
Disorder | Treatment |
Depression | SSRIs, CBT |
Anxiety | Drug therapy, CBT |
PTSD | CBT, exposure therapy |
Schizophrenia | Antipsychotics, ECT |
Bipolar disorder | Antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, CBT and DBT |
Improving Treatments
Social support
Compliance
Healthy lifestyle
Ask for help
Take a break
Therapeutic Treatment
Lesson 4
Conversation Starter
Do you think it would be a good idea to try therapy if you wanted to become a therapist? Why or why not?
Putting Theory into Practice
Psychoanalytic therapy
Psychotherapy: when treatment uses a psychological approach rather than a medical approach
Client-centered therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Family therapy
Integrative or holistic therapy
Other Treatment Approaches
Animal-assisted therapy: when animals are used in treatment to mitigate symptoms and provide coping tools
Art and music therapy: using art and music to express and work through difficult feelings and emotions
Becoming a Provider
Master’s level practitioners
Doctoral level practitioners
Psychiatrist: a medical doctor who specializes in psychological disorders and mental health
Psychologist: an individual who studies and practices psychology
Bachelor’s level practitioners
Experiencing Mental �Health Challenges
Lesson 5
How does society react to behavior that is labeled as abnormal?
Conversation Starter
Mental Health Misconceptions
Individuals with mental illness are often treated differently or viewed negatively
Commonly presumed that the individual with the illness is at fault
Can dissuade them from seeking proper treatment
Receiving a Diagnosis
Affect of diagnosis on family/friends
Diagnosis can result in friends and families understanding better ways for continuing in healthy relationships
Can also cause loved ones to treat the individual with mental illness differently
Stigma: when shame is felt or put on an individual due to circumstances or situations
Affect of diagnosis on person with mental illness
Diagnosis can be defeating
The Individual Experience
Access to support from family and friends
Preconceived notions
Individual personalities
Private vs. state funding
Access to resources/treatments
Skill level of practitioner
Situational and environmental changes
Ethics of Treatment
Practitioners have biases
Treatment is subjective
Treatments can have side effects
Confining patients who are threats to themselves or others