PSYCHOLOGY

Dissociative, Somatosform,

Psychosomatic, and Personality Disorders

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Disorders conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings

Dissociative Disorders1. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalitiesDifferences in:

VoiceVisionMannerismsbalance

formerly called multiple/split personality disorder

Dissociative disorders

Other Dissociative disorders not identified in your text:2. Dissociative amnesia- characterized by loss of memory w/out organic cause

Dissociative Disorders3. Dissociative fugue - involves flight from home & assumption of a new identity, w/amnesia for past identity & events

Explanations for Dissociative DisordersPsychoanalytic (unconscious repression) & learning perspectives view these disorders as ways of dealing with anxiety and/or severe abuse

Somatoform disorders

Somatoform disorders - this is an apparent physical illness for which there is no organic basis

(somato - prefix for body)

Somatoform disorders

Types of Somatoform disorders:1. Conversion disorders - partial

paralysis without physical cause (vision, limbs are common)

2. Hypochondria -deluded conviction of having a serious disease, gnawing fear of disease

3.Body dysmorphic - imagined ugliness, preoccupation with image

Somatoform disorders

Types of Somatoform disorders:4.Somatization disorder -

characterized by numerous & recurrent physical complaints

5.Pain disorder - pain is more severe or persistent then can be explained by medical causes

Other disorders

Psychosomatic = psychophysiological illness Mind-body illness; any stress-related physical illness

Example: ulcers, headaches

Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders disorders characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning

Personality disorders

3 clusters of personality disorders1. Anxiety is express in form of fear of

rejection; withdraw behavior2. Eccentric behavior (unconventional,

different, imaginative, impulsive), social disengaged

3. Dramatic, impulsive, attention getting, exaggerates, imaginative, unstable emotion, unstable relationships

Personality Disorders1. Antisocial Personality Disorder (sociopath, psychopath) disorder in which the person (usually man) exhibits a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members

Manipulative, impulsive, superficial aggressive, ruthless, or a clever con artist

Other Personality Dis.

Paranoid - unreasonably suspicious of others thoughts or motives

Narcissistic - excessive self-admiration/self-centeredness

Borderline - unstable Schizoid - socially disengaged

Personality Disorders PET scans illustrate reduced activation in a murderer’s frontal cortex

Normal Murderer

Personality Disorders