abnormal psychology

Abnormal Psychology7/23/13

What is Abnormal Psych?

• Rare or unusual behaviors, emotions, or thoughts.

• Usually from a clinical perspective- treating these unusual behaviors.

Is all unusual behavior bad?

• Nope.

• Only if it is:

• Deviant (abnormal)

• Dysfunctional (interfering with life)

• Distressing (causing you emotional stress.

• Behavior is not considered abnormal if it is a reaction to life events.

Prevalence

• About 46-48% of Americans have been diagnosed with a mental disorder in their lifetimes.

• Why so much stigma towards mental illness?

How do you develop a mental illness?

• Biology

• Some people are biologically predisposed to mental illness.

• Psychology

• Thinking can influence your mental climate. Remember yesterday’s lecture?

• Culture

• Your society can determine how you deal with or treat stress or abnormal behavior.

Depression

• Most common mental disorder in the United States.

• Lack of interest, appetite or weight change, sleep changes, agitation, fatigue, worthlessness, concentration issues, thoughts of death or suicide.

• Depression is not sadness or grief!

• Treatment

Depression

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

• Depression alongside cycles of mania

• Frenzied, euphoric states

• Impulsive and erratic behavior

• Not to be confused with mood swings!

• Treatment

Anxiety

Anxiety

• Panic Disorder - “M”

• Phobias

• Irrational fears that are overwhelming and persistent.

• Agoraphobia

• Social Anxiety

• Treatment

P.T.S.D.

P.T.S.D.• A type of anxiety disorder

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Re-experiences trauma

• Avoidance

• Agitation

• After witnessing an actual/threatened death or injury, along with fear, helplessness, or horror.

• Who gets PTSD?

• Treatment

D.I.D.

D.I.D.• Disassociative Identity Disorder

• Used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder

• Aspects of self are separated.

• Very rare.

• > 2 “personalities”

• Cannot recall info on other personalities

• Not due to substances

• “V”

• Treatment

Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders• Most common during your age group, why?

• Anorexia- cannot see their body for what it really looks like. Typically very underweight. Denial.

• Bulimia- binge eating and inappropriate actions to undue binges- vomiting, starvation, laxatives.

• 5-15% of teens experience symptoms of an eating disorder.

• Gender? Race/Ethnicity? Age?

• Control, obsession, self-esteem, rituals, distress.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia• Positive Symptoms- delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and

behavior, paranoia

• Negative Symptoms- flat, devoid of emotion, catatonia

• “T”

• Related to genetics- you are more likely to develop schizophrenia if you have a family member that has the disorder

• May begin in the womb- toxic exposure, malnutrition, stress, or flu.

• Swedish Army Study- associated with marijuana usage

• Marijuana will not CAUSE schizophrenia- but if you are genetically predisposed, marijuana will significantly increase you likelihood of developing the disorder. If you have genetic predisposition and you smoke, you have 15% chance of developing schizophrenia. SCARY!

Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders• Typically less

severe.

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Borderline Personality Disorder

Reflection:

Describe one of the abnormal psychology topics we covered today and relate it to an experience with yourself, a friend, a

family member, or a fictional character.

REMINDER:Rough Draft Due: TOMORROW Wednesday, 7/24

2-3pgs, typed, double spacedPresentations Begin: Monday, 7/29

Final Papers Due: Tuesday, 7/30