Abnormal PsychologyAbnormal Psychology

Psychological Disorders: Psychological Disorders: Mood/Affective, Personality, Mood/Affective, Personality,

SchizophrenicSchizophrenic

Mood DisordersMood DisordersSignificant & chronic disruption in Significant & chronic disruption in moodmoodCauses impaired cognitive, behavioral, Causes impaired cognitive, behavioral, & physical functioning& physical functioning

Differentiated from Differentiated from normal moods bynormal moods by

Duration Duration IntensityIntensityAbsence of causeAbsence of cause

Major (Unipolar) DepressionMajor (Unipolar) Depression• ““Common Cold” of DisordersCommon Cold” of Disorders• Unhappy for more than two Unhappy for more than two

weeks w/no clear reasonweeks w/no clear reason• Sadness, hopelessness, guiltSadness, hopelessness, guilt• Lethargic, slow movementsLethargic, slow movements• Loss of interest, does not enjoy Loss of interest, does not enjoy

usual activitiesusual activities• Difficulty concentratingDifficulty concentrating• Negativity, suicidal thoughtsNegativity, suicidal thoughts• Changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, Changes in appetite, sleep disturbances,

restlessnessrestlessness

Mood DisordersMood Disorders

• Seasonal Affective DisorderSeasonal Affective Disorder Experience Experience depression during certain time of yeardepression during certain time of year– 1-2% of U.S. population1-2% of U.S. population

Bipolar DisorderBipolar Disorder• Alternate between Alternate between

depressed and manic depressed and manic episodesepisodes

• Mania includes high Mania includes high energy, euphoria, energy, euphoria, impulsiveness impulsiveness & risky behavior& risky behavior– Rapid speech, inflated Rapid speech, inflated

self-esteem, self-esteem, grandiositygrandiosity

Prevalence of Bipolar Disorder Prevalence of Bipolar Disorder • 2 million Americans 2 million Americans

each yeareach year• Onset in early Onset in early

twentiestwenties• Affects men & women Affects men & women

in equal ratesin equal rates• Recurring, chronic Recurring, chronic

disorder that disorder that responds well to drug responds well to drug therapytherapy

Bipolar BrainBipolar Brain

Dysthymic DisorderDysthymic Disorder• Chronic depression, but not as Chronic depression, but not as severesevere• Constant low moodConstant low mood• Symptoms for at least 2 yearsSymptoms for at least 2 years

Cyclothymic DisorderCyclothymic Disorder• Similar to bipolar, but more mildSimilar to bipolar, but more mild• Short periods of mild depression and Short periods of mild depression and

less extreme manialess extreme mania

Mood Disorders- SuicideMood Disorders- Suicide

15-24 25-34 35-44 45-44 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+

Suicides per100,000 people

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Males Females

The higher suicide rateamong men greatly increases in late adulthood

Mood Disorders-Mood Disorders-DepressionDepression

• The vicious The vicious cycle of cycle of depression depression can be can be broken at broken at any pointany point

1Stressful

experiences

4Cognitive and

behavioral changes

2Negative

explanatory style

3Depressed

mood

Theoretical Causes of Mood DisordersTheoretical Causes of Mood Disorders• Psychodynamic Psychodynamic anger directed anger directed

toward the self, overly punitive toward the self, overly punitive superegosuperego

• Behavioral/learning Behavioral/learning reinforcement reinforcement– Lack social skills needed to gain positive Lack social skills needed to gain positive

social reinforcement from otherssocial reinforcement from others

Cognitive Views on Causes of Mood Cognitive Views on Causes of Mood DisordersDisorders

• Psychologist Aaron Beck states that Psychologist Aaron Beck states that unreasonably negative ideas about selves unreasonably negative ideas about selves and the world cause mood disordersand the world cause mood disorders

• Attributional style Attributional style – Learned helplessness Learned helplessness person person

feels unable to control aspects feels unable to control aspects of future due to prior of future due to prior experiences (“no matter how experiences (“no matter how hard I try, I will never succeed”)hard I try, I will never succeed”)

Biological Causes of Mood Biological Causes of Mood DisordersDisorders

• Neurotransmitter imbalancesNeurotransmitter imbalances

- Unipolar depression = low serotonin, - Unipolar depression = low serotonin, abnormal abnormal levels of norepinephrinelevels of norepinephrine

- Bipolar disorder = more receptors for - Bipolar disorder = more receptors for acetylcholineacetylcholine

• Twin, family, and adoptive Twin, family, and adoptive studies indicate a genetic studies indicate a genetic predispositionpredisposition

James D. Laird and Nicholas S. Thompson, Psychology. Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Reprinted by permission.

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Genetics & Risk of Mood DisordersGenetics & Risk of Mood Disorders

Personality DisordersPersonality Disorders

Inflexible & enduring behavior patterns Inflexible & enduring behavior patterns that impair functioningthat impair functioning

Recognizable by adolescenceRecognizable by adolescence

Axis II of DSM-IVAxis II of DSM-IV

Antisocial Personality DisorderAntisocial Personality Disorder• Lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even Lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even

towards family/friendstowards family/friends• Irresponsible, reckless, criminal behaviorsIrresponsible, reckless, criminal behaviors• No guilt or remorseNo guilt or remorse• Punishment does not matter Punishment does not matter

Charles Manson

Jeffrey Dahmer Timothy McVeigh

Ted Bundy

Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)(BPD)

• Unstable & intense Unstable & intense relationships w/othersrelationships w/others– Extreme fear of Extreme fear of

abandonmentabandonment

• Instability of emotions Instability of emotions and self-imageand self-image

• ImpulsiveImpulsive• Self-destructive Self-destructive

behaviorsbehaviors• Distorted thoughts Distorted thoughts

and perceptionsand perceptions

Personality DisordersPersonality Disorders

• PET scans illustrate reduced activation in a PET scans illustrate reduced activation in a murderer’s frontal cortexmurderer’s frontal cortex

Normal Murderer

Histrionic Personality DisorderHistrionic Personality Disorder• Displays shallow, attention-Displays shallow, attention-

getting emotionalitygetting emotionality• Need to be the center of Need to be the center of

attentionattention• Extreme emotional reactions Extreme emotional reactions

to minor eventsto minor events• OverdramaticOverdramatic

Narcissistic Personality DisorderNarcissistic Personality Disorder• Grandiose sense of Grandiose sense of

self-importanceself-importance• Fantasies of success Fantasies of success

or poweror power• Need for constant Need for constant

attention & attention & admirationadmiration

• Inappropriate Inappropriate reactions to criticismreactions to criticism

• Feels entitledFeels entitled

Dependent PersonalityDependent Personality• Excessively lacking in self-esteemExcessively lacking in self-esteem• Passively allowing others to make Passively allowing others to make all all decisionsdecisions• Constantly subordinating own Constantly subordinating own needs to needs to others’ needsothers’ needs

Avoidant PersonalityAvoidant Personality• Sensitive to potential rejectionSensitive to potential rejection• Socially withdrawn in spite of Socially withdrawn in spite of desire for acceptance from desire for acceptance from othersothers

Paranoid PersonalityParanoid Personality• Showing pervasive and Showing pervasive and

unwarranted unwarranted suspiciousness suspiciousness and and mistrust of peoplemistrust of people• Overly sensitiveOverly sensitive• Prone to jealousyProne to jealousy• NOT schizophrenic – no NOT schizophrenic – no hallucinations or delusions – hallucinations or delusions –

patient is still somewhat patient is still somewhat grounded in realitygrounded in reality

Theoretical Causes of Personality Theoretical Causes of Personality DisordersDisorders

• PsychodynamicPsychodynamic inability of superego to inability of superego to resolve conflicts (Oedipal complex leads to resolve conflicts (Oedipal complex leads to lack of guilt)lack of guilt)

• LearningLearning childhood experiences lead to childhood experiences lead to maladaptive ways of relating to othersmaladaptive ways of relating to others

• CognitiveCognitive misinterpretation of social info misinterpretation of social info• BiologicalBiological somewhat genetic somewhat genetic

- Parts of brain – prefrontal cortex, gray - Parts of brain – prefrontal cortex, gray matter, etc.matter, etc.- Lack of autonomic nervous system arousal- Lack of autonomic nervous system arousal

Positive SymptomsPositive Symptoms

1) Disordered, distorted 1) Disordered, distorted thinkingthinking

2) Hallucinations – 2) Hallucinations – perceptions without any perceptions without any sensory stimulationsensory stimulation

Schizophrenic Disorders

Inappropriate Inappropriate affect – affect –

emotional emotional responses not responses not suitable to the suitable to the

situationsituation

Positive Symptoms

3) Delusions – beliefs that have no basis in 3) Delusions – beliefs that have no basis in realityreality

- Delusions of persecution – belief that - Delusions of persecution – belief that people are out to get youpeople are out to get you

- Delusions of grandeur – belief - Delusions of grandeur – belief that you enjoy greater power that you enjoy greater power and influence than you doand influence than you do

Schizophrenic Disorders: Negative Schizophrenic Disorders: Negative SymptomsSymptoms

• Flat affect – no emotional responseFlat affect – no emotional response• Inability to enjoy oneselfInability to enjoy oneself• Lack of personal hygiene Lack of personal hygiene

Disorganized SchizophreniaDisorganized Schizophrenia• Disorganized speechDisorganized speech

- Make up own words (neologisms)- Make up own words (neologisms)

- Nonsense words (clang associations)- Nonsense words (clang associations)• Inappropriate or flat affectInappropriate or flat affect• Lack of hygieneLack of hygiene

Paranoid SchizophreniaParanoid Schizophrenia• Delusions of persecutionDelusions of persecution• Possible auditory (most common) or visual Possible auditory (most common) or visual

hallucinationshallucinations• Social withdrawalSocial withdrawal• Irrational behaviorIrrational behavior• Little verbal communicationLittle verbal communication

Catatonic SchizophreniaCatatonic Schizophrenia

• Impairment in motor activity Impairment in motor activity

- Periods of rigid or slow activity- Periods of rigid or slow activity• May hold unusual, difficult postures May hold unusual, difficult postures for for

hours hours

- Waxy flexibility - Waxy flexibility • Mutism – cannot speak but Mutism – cannot speak but

report hearing and report hearing and comprehending what others comprehending what others were saying were saying

Undifferentiated SchizophreniaUndifferentiated Schizophrenia• Disordered thinking but no Disordered thinking but no

symptoms of other types of symptoms of other types of schizophreniaschizophrenia

Chronic v. Acute Chronic v. Acute SchizophreniaSchizophrenia

• Chronic = gradually Chronic = gradually developeddeveloped• Acute = sudden onsetAcute = sudden onset

Warning signs…Warning signs…• Low birth weightLow birth weight• Short attention spanShort attention span• Poor muscle coordinationPoor muscle coordination

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

• Genetic factors– Abnormality on

fifth chromosome

• Dopamine hypothesis – too much dopamine in the brain

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

• Evidence of prenatal viral infection-based cause

• Abnormalities in brain structures/functioning– Brain asymmetries– Fluid-filled ventricles are enlarged in some

patients– Smaller thalamus

Other Causes• Psychodynamic regression to early

childhood• Cognitive Double-binds = person is given

contradictory messages