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abnormal behavior

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1. unusual--deviates statistically from typical behavior. 2. maladaptive--interferes with a person's ability to function in a particular situation. 3. labeled as abnormal by the society in which it occurs. 4. characterized by perceptual or cognitive dysfunction

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theories of psychopathology

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psychoanalytic, humanistic, cognitive, behavioral, biological

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psychoanalytic theory

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abnormal behavior is caused by negative, early childhood experiences or a conflict between the superego and id.

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humanistic theory

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abnormal behavior is a result of people being too sensitive to the criticisms and judgments of others. is related to people being unable to accept their own nature and having low self-esteem

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cognitive theory

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abnormal behavior is a result of faulty or illogical thoughts. treatment involves changing the contents of thought or changing the ways in which those contents are processed

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behavioral theory

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all behavior, including abnormal behavior, is learned. abnormal behavior has, at some point, been rewarded or reinforced, and has now been established as a pattern of behavior. treatment involves the unlearning of the maladaptive behavior, or the modification of the learned responses to certain stimuli

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biological theory

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abnormal behavior is a manifestation of abnormal brain function, due to either structural or chemical abnormalities in the brain. supports medication as providing appropriate treatments for various types of abnormal behavior

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sociocultural theory

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holds that society and culture help define what is acceptable behavior

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Axis I

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major disorders, including schizophrenia and mood disorders. also includes delirium and dementia

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Axis II

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includes personality disorders, such as avoidant and dependent personalities, and intellectual disabilities

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Axis III

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physical disorders that have an impact on behavior. are not limited to disorders of the brain, but include any physical disorder that might interact with behavioral abnormality

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Axis IV

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assesses the level of psychosocial and environmental stress the person is experiencing

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Axis V

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represents an overall assessment of the person's level of functioning

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anxiety disorders

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characterized by feelings of tension and nervousness and sometimes by panic attacks, during which the individual feels an overwhelming sense of panic, fear, and the desire to escape

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panic disorder

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an anxiety disorder characterized by recurring panic attacks, as well as the constant worry of another panic attack occurring

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generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

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an anxiety disorder characterized by an almost constant state of autonomic nervous system arousal and feelings of dread and worry

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obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

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an anxiety disorder characterized by involuntary persistent thoughts or obsessions, as well as by compulsions, or repetitive behaviors that are time-consuming and maladaptive, that an individual believes will prevent a particular (usually unrelated) outcome

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post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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an anxiety disorder caused by exposure to trauma, such as war or violence, which leads to recurring thoughts and anxiety linked to the trauma. these symptoms, in turn, lead to a decreased ability to function as well as to a general detachment from reality

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phobias

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anxiety disorders characterized by persistent, irrational fears of common events or objects

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somatoform disorders

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psychological disorders characterized by physical symptoms without any actual physical causes. a person with somatiation disorder experiences a variety of physical symptoms over an extended time period

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conversion disorder

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a somatoform disorder in which a psychological problem manifests itself as a deficit in physiological function. Freud, for example, described cases of people with paralysis or blindness with no known physiological cause. Freud believed that these symptoms were caused by psychological conflicts, whose resolution resulted in the resolution of the physical problem Freud referred to the physiological manifestation as hysteria, a term rarely used by modern psychologists

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pain disorder

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previously called chronic pain syndrome. a person with pain disorder suffers clinically important pain, the onset or severity of which seems significantly affected by psychological factors. the pain causes significant distress or impairment in work, social, or personal functioning. a different disorder is diagnosed when it is better explained by another psychological disorder or medical condition

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body dysmorphic disorder

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a slight physical anomaly or imagined defect in appearance, often involving the face, hair, breasts, or genitalia. the preoccupation causes significant distress or impairment in work, social, or personal functioning, and it is not better explained by another psychological disorder

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hypochondriasis

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the person is irrationally concerned with having a serious disease. frequently, the person imagines symptoms and seeks treatment. this concern occasionally may result in factitious disorders, in which the person inflicts injury or ingests toxins in order to produce symptoms

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mood disorders

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extreme disturbances of emotional balance. two major types are: major depression and bipolar disorder

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major depression

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is characterized by depressed mood, general lack of interest in things that were once enjoyable, low sense of self-worth, low energy, and possibly by thoughts of death or suicide. these symptoms must last for two or more weeks to qualify for this diagnosis. is often linked to situational factors, such as the death of a close friend or relative, as well as biological factors. low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin

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dysthymic disorder

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a less intense, chronic form of depression. mild symptoms manifest most days for at least two years, with symptoms never absent for more than two months, and without experiencing a major depressive episode

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bipolar disorder

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bipolar 1 is more extreme than 2. experience cyclic mood episodes at both depression and mania. appears to have some genesis in biology

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cyclothymic disorder

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similar to bipolar disorder, but with less extreme moods

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seasonal affective disorder

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a mood disorder that affects people mostly during winter, when the daylight hours are short. low levels of light make some people susceptible to depression

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schizophrenia

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a chronic, incapacitating disorder in which a person is out of touch with reality (psychotic) and suffers material impairment in social, occupational, or personal functioning. symptoms of psychosis are classified as positive or negative (something has been added or removed. eg. delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech could all be positive symptoms, while a lack of desire to form relationships, a lack of motivation to participate in activities, an inability to experience pleasure, limited speech, and little emotional expression could all be negative symptoms)

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hallucination

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a false sensory perception that occurs while a person is conscious. a true hallucination occurs in the absence of related sensory stimuli

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delusion

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a false belief that is not due to culture and is not relinquished despite evidence that it is false

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dopamine hypothesis

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a suggested cause of schizophrenia stating that schizophrenics have an excess number of dopamine receptors in the brain, which may account for many of the positive symptoms. other causes may include abnormal brain tissue, a smaller than normal thalamus, exposure to prenatal viruses, and a genetic link

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schizophreniform disorder

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a person who has not been manifesting the symptoms of schizophrenia for long enough or at a high enough level to be classified as schizophrenic

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organic disorders

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caused by damage to brain tissue. most are the result of disease or chemicals. include demential, Alzheimer's disease, and certain forms of drug/alcohol dependence

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personality disorders

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characterized by the pervasive expression of extreme, abnormal personality constructs which interfere with normal social functioning

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antisocial personality disorder

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disregard for the rights or interests of others

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narcissistic personality disorder

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self-preoccupation and the need for others to focus on oneself

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avoidant personality disorder

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feelings of inadequacy and social inhibition

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obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

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a lack of flexibility as a result of a preoccupation with perfectionism or control

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borderline personality disorder

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sometimes described as "stable instability" of relationships, moods, and self-image

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schizotypal personality disorder

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can be expressed through perceptual or cognitive distortions, odd behavior, and strong discomfort with close (including family) relationships

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dissociative disorder

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those that involve dysfunction of memory or an altered sense of identity. three main types: amnesia, fugue, and identity

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amnesia

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the sudden loss of memory, usually precipitated by a traumatic event

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anterograde amnesia

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the loss of memories occurring after the traumatic event

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retrograde amnesia

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the loss of memories from before the traumatic event

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fugue

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the sudden and complete loss of identity, sometimes caused by severe stress, followed by the assumption of a new identity. people in a fugue state often leave their homes and find a new identity elsewhere

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dissociative identity disorder (DID)

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the appearance of two or more distinct identities in one individual. the identities may or may not be aware of each other, and the personality that manifests itself may depend on the environmental or social context

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ADHD

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evidence of inattentiveness, which includes difficulty paying attention in class, trouble listening, difficulties in organization, forgetfulness, and distractibility. fidgeting, constant movement, and the constant need for attention characterize hyperactivity and impulsivity. related disorders are conduct disorder and oppositional defiance disorder, both of which affect student performance at home and at school

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autism

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symptoms can lessen with time or remain prevalent across a person's life. defined by four factors: 1. deficits in social interactions; 2. impairment in communication; 3. restrictiveor repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities; and 4. the appearance of abnormal functioning by the age of three. is a spectrum disorder, meaning that some people have less severe symptoms (these people are classified as being affected by Asperger syndrome)and others suffer from extreme autism, which can appear alongside intellectual disabilities

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