PSYCH101: Introduction to Psychology

8a. Define the subfield of psychopathology and psychological disorders

• What is psychopathology?
• What does the term "harmful dysfunction" mean?
• What are the criteria for defining the symptoms of a psychological disorder?

Scientists and clinicians who study psychopathology research and treat psychological disorders. Psychological disorders are conditions that persist for several weeks, meet diagnostic symptoms, and negatively impact a patient's life. Examples of psychological disorders include mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders including phobias and panic disorders, and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
 
Harmful dysfunction refers to the idea that psychological disorders lead to negative consequences for the individual. A disorder may interfere with how a person lives their lives, their employability, their ability to form close relationships, and other factors. The criteria for defining a psychological disorder requires all three of the following: 1. the behavior is atypical, 2. the person is distressed by the behavior (or others are distressed for them), and 3. the behavior has harmful consequences.
 
Clinical psychologists who specialize in psychopathology see patients to diagnose psychological disorders and develop treatment plans depending on the patient's situation. These may include talk therapy, medication, or a combination. Treatment may occur in a therapist's office or in a hospital, community mental health center, or another location.
 
To review, see What Are Psychological Disorders?, Ten Common Mental Illnesses, and What Happens When Things Go Wrong: Mental Illness.
 

8b. Identify perspectives on psychological disorders

• What does the harmful dysfunction model mean? How does it relate to the APA definition of psychological disorders?
• What are the differences and similarities between the DSM and ICD?
• What is the diathesis-stress model?

Some people suggest psychological disorders are harmful dysfunctions, with an emphasis on those that are harmful. Since cultural variations define dysfunctions differently for different groups of people, what makes something a true psychological disorder is when the dysfunction becomes harmful to the patient. The American Psychological Association (APA) draws on this definition to outline a definition for psychological disorders.
 
The APA defines psychological disorders as conditions that exhibit significant disturbances in thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Moreover, these disturbances reflect a biological, psychological, or developmental dysfunction that causes significant stress in a patient's life. In addition, these disturbances are not culturally appropriate.
 
Psychologists use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) reference manuals to diagnose psychological disorders. The DSM is used more frequently in the United States since it is published by the APA, while the ICD is used more widely elsewhere since it is published by the World Health Organization (WHO).
 
Various perspectives explain psychological disorders. Historically, people assumed supernatural events caused psychological disorders to develop. The biological perspective argues that genes and biological factors such as brain abnormalities and chemical imbalances cause psychological disorders. The diathesis-stress model suggests that biological and psychosocial factors predict the occurrence of psychological disorders – some people are predisposed to experiencing these disorders during their lifetimes.
 
To review, see Perspectives on Psychological Disorders.
 

8c. Classify psychological disorders

• Why are classification systems necessary for psychopathology?
• What is the DSM-5? How has the DSM changed over time?
• Which disorders are the most common?

A classification system is needed to diagnose someone who is distressed and experiencing dysfunction to ensure professionals make the same conclusion about a set of symptoms.
 
Mental health professionals in the United States use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to classify psychological disorders. Note that the authors of the DSM have removed some disorders (such as homosexuality) and added others (such as post-traumatic stress disorder). Each revision of the DSM provides new data to give professionals confidence that the classification system is accurate.
 
The most common disorders in the United States are major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse disorder, specific phobia, and social anxiety disorder.
 
To review, see Diagnosing and Classifying Psychological Disorders and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
 

8d. Describe commonly diagnosed psychological disorders and their symptoms, including anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, mood disorders, schizophrenia, dissociative disorders, disorders in childhood, and personality disorders

• What types of symptoms does someone with anxiety disorder experience? How does a panic disorder differ from an anxiety disorder?
• How are major depressive and manic disorders part of bipolar disorder? What is the biological basis for these mood disorders?
• What characterizes a schizotypal personality?

Clinical psychologists use the DSM or ICD to diagnose psychological disorders. These reference manuals contain checklists of symptoms to identify certain diagnostic criteria. Clinical psychologists interview patients to evaluate their diagnoses. They also use diagnostic tests specific to each condition.
 
For example, someone who suffers from generalized anxiety disorder might experience increased heartbeat when they confront a stimulus they are afraid of or panic attacks when they think about it. Patients diagnosed with panic disorders experience recurring panic attacks for at least one month and worry about the attack and its consequences.
 
Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) report intrusive thoughts and urges (obsessions) and feel forced to engage in repetitive behaviors (compulsions). For example, a patient may report thoughts about remaining clean or feeling dirty and engage in excessive hand-washing and showering.
 
Patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event that causes stressful responses, such as flashback memories where they experience the traumatic event over and over.
 
Mood disorders include states of sadness and euphoria. Patients diagnosed with depressive disorders may report prolonged states of sadness, feelings of despair, and a general lack of interest. Some may have suicidal ideations. Patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder experience at least one manic episode and struggle with episodes of depression. There is some biological evidence for mood disorders, especially related to an imbalance of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine.
            
Psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia are marked by a complete breakdown of thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and behavior. Patients with schizophrenia experience delusions (feelings of grandiosity such as being king of the world) and demonstrate disorganized thinking (absence of logic in thought or making connections), disorganized behaviors such as wearing inappropriate clothing such as heavy winter clothes during the summer heat, and disorganized emotional responses such as a lack of empathy.
 
Patients with personality disorders exhibit consistent personality traits that differ from cultural expectations and variations. These are usually evident in patients' interactions with others. For example, a person with a schizotypal personality displays strange eccentricities in thought, perception, emotion, speech, and behavior. They may be overly suspicious or paranoid with idiosyncratic or rambling speech and exhibit discomfort in social situations. Most schizotypal people have few friends and often experience extreme social anxiety.
 
To review, see Anxiety Disorders, Seven Types of Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), More on PTSD, Mood and Related Disorders, Bipolar Disorder versus Depression, Schizophrenia, What is it Like to Have Schizophrenia?, Dissociative Disorders, Five Signs You Are Experiencing Dissociation, Disorders in Childhood, ADHD: Signs, Symptoms, Solutions, Personality Disorders, and Ten Personality Disorders.
 

8e. Compare current psychological therapies, including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, humanistic therapy, and biomedical therapy

• How could a behavioral therapist work with a patient suffering from an anxiety disorder?
• What happens during a psychoanalytic therapy session?
• Which school of psychology does exposure therapy draw upon? For what types of psychological disorders is it most useful?

Clinical psychologists are trained to diagnose psychological disorders and provide treatment. Treatment varies according to the patient, diagnosis, and context.
 
Psychologists employ several perspectives and specializations when treating psychological disorders. For example, a behavioral therapist may help patients unlearn negatively paired associations with the anxiety-inducing stimulus through operant or classical conditioning techniques.
 
Other clinicians may ask patients undergoing psychoanalytic therapy to describe their dreams or free associate to uncover unconscious ideas or concepts. Exposure therapy draws upon behaviorism principles and is best suited to treat patients experiencing anxieties and phobias.
 
To review, see Types of Treatment, Treatment Modalities, Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: A Special Case, and The Sociocultural Model and Therapy Utilization.

 

Unit 8 Vocabulary

Be sure you understand these terms as you study for the final exam. Try to think of the reason why each term is included.
Try to think of the reason why each term is included.

• American Psychological Association (APA)
• bipolar disorder
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
• diathesis-stress model
• generalized anxiety disorder
• harmful dysfunction
• International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
• mood disorders
• obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• personality disorders
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• psychological disorder
• psychopathology
• psychotic disorders
• schizophrenia
• treatment
• World Health Organization (WHO)