Group assignment general psychology

Unit 7
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AND TREATMENT TECHNIQUES
GROUP 5
GROUP MEMBERS
1. BEZAWIT ENAWGAW.
2. METASBIYA SHITAYE
3. ARSEMA SELESHI
4. AKSAN FIKRU
5. GLORIA MASERSHA
6. REDIET TEREFE
7. AYNADIS AGOLIN
8. HAILEGBREAL AYENEW
9. ABENEZER YONAS
10. SAMUEL TADESSE
Adane Zegaye.
submission date; 04,12,2024

Chapter 7
Psychological disorder and treatment technique’s
introduction

 Psychological disorders, also known as mental health disorders, are conditions characterized by
alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior that cause significant distress or impairment in
functioning. These disorders can range from anxiety and depression to more severe conditions
like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The prevalence of psychological disorders highlights the
importance of understanding their underlying causes, which can include genetic, biological,
environmental, and psychological factors.

 The contents of this unit are

presented in four parts. Nature of Psychological Disorders, causes of psychological disorders,

types of Psychological Disorders and about treatment techniques.

1. Nature of Psychological Disorder

 We generally have three main criteria: abnormality, maladaptive Ness, and personal distress.

a. Abnormality

 Abnormal behavior is a behavior that deviates from the behavior of the typical person, the norm.

 A society ‘s norm can be qualitative like interpretation, cultural narratives, socialization

processes, impact on mental health and quantitative statistical analysis, measurement of
attitudes and behaviors, demographic comparison.

 When someone behaves in culturally unacceptable ways and the behaviors, he/she exhibits
violates the norm, standards, rules and regulations of the society, this person is most likely to
have a psychological problem.

b. Maladaptive Ness
 Maladaptive behavior in one way or another creates a social, personal, and occupational

problem on those who exhibit the behaviors. These behaviors seriously disrupt the day-to-day
activities of individuals that can increase the problem more.

 Maladaptive behavior’s a person ability to adapt to new situations cope with stress to
maintain healthy relationship.
Example; someone who consistently avoids social situation due to anxiety.

c. Personal Distress
 Our subjective feelings of anxiety, stress, tension, and other unpleasant emotions determine
whether we have a psychological disorder. It often a rise from perceived threats to one’s
wellbeing, identity, or sense of control over life circumstances.

 Key aspects of personal distress.

 Emotional symptoms.
 Cognitive symptoms.
 Behavioral symptoms.
 Physical symptoms.
 Impact on functioning.

2. Causes of Psychological Disorders (Based on Perspectives)

a. The Biological Perspective

 Biological perspective it emphasizes the influence of biological factor on behavior, thoughts,

and emotions.

b. Psychological Perspective.
 In this part, we will examine three psychological perspectives: the psychoanalytic
perspective, the learning, and the cognitive behavioral perspectives.

A. Psychoanalytic perspective

 Sigmund Freud, the founder of the psychoanalytic approach, believed that the human mind
consists of three interacting forces: the id (a pool of biological urges), the ego (which
mediates between the id and reality), and the superego (which represent society ‘s moral
standards). Sigmund Freud found late 19th and early 20th centuries emphasize influence of
unconscious mind on behavior, thoughts, and emotion.

B. Learning perspective
 Most mental and emotional disorders, in contrast to the psychoanalytic perspective, arise
from inadequate or inappropriate learning. People acquire abnormal behaviors through the
various kinds of learning.

C. Cognitive perspective
Self-defeating thoughts lead to emotional and behavioral issues. the quality of our internal
dialogue either builds ourselves up or tear ourselves down and has profound effect on our
mental health.
 The main theme of this perspective is that self-defeating thoughts lead to the development
of negative emotions and self-destructive behaviors.
 if there is a disturbance in on our thinking, it may manifest in our display of emotions and
behaviors. Our environmental and cultural experiences in our life play a major role in the
formation of our thinking style.
Types of Psychological Disorders

1) Mood Disorders

 Mood disorders are characterized by a serious change in mood from depressed to elevated
feelings causing disruption to life activities

 Elevated moods are characterized by mania or hypomania. The cycling between both
depressed and manic moods is characteristic of bipolar mood disorders. In addition to type
and subtype of mood, these disorders also vary in intensity and severity

 The disorders in this category include those where the primary symptom is a disturbance in
mood. The disorders include Major Depression, Dysthymic Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and
Cyclothymia.

1. Major Depression (also known as depression or clinical depression) is characterized by

depressed mood, diminished interest in activities previously enjoyed, weight disturbance,
sleep disturbance, loss of energy.

2. Dysthymia is often considered a lesser, but more persistent form of depression. as opposed to
major Depression is steadier rather than periods of normal feelings and extreme lows.

3. Bipolar Disorder (previously known as Manic-Depression ) is characterized by periods of

extreme highs (called mania) and extreme lows as in Major Depression. Bipolar Disorder is
subtyped either extreme or hyper manic episodes or moderate or hypomanic episodes.

4. Cyclothymia: Like Dysthymia and Major Depression, Cyclothymia is considered a lesser form
of bipolar disorder.

2. Anxiety Disorders

 Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can be beneficial in some situations. It can alert us
to dangers and help us prepare and pay attention. Anxiety disorders differ from normal
feelings of nervousness or anxiousness, and involve excessive fear or anxiety. Anxiety
disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect nearly 30 percent of adults at
some point in their lives.

disorders in this category include

o Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Specific Phobias, Social Phobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

a. Panic disorder
o A panic attack is an inappropriate intense feeling of fear or discomfort including many of the
following symptoms: heart palpitations, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness

b) Agoraphobia

o literally means fear of the marketplace. It refers to a series of symptoms where the person
fears, and often avoids, situations where escape or help might not be available, such as
shopping centers, grocery stores, or other public place.

c) Specific or Simple Phobia and Social Phobia

o represent an intense fear and often an avoidance of a specific situation, person, place, or
thing.

d) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

o is characterized by obsessions (thoughts which seem uncontrollable) and compulsions

(behaviors which act to reduce the obsession)
o These obsessions and compulsions are disruptive to the person's everyday life, with
sometimes hours being spent each day repeating things, which were completed successfully
already such as checking, counting, cleaning, or bathing

e) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

o occurs only after a person is exposed to a traumatic event where their life or someone else's
life is threatened
 examples are
war, natural disasters, major accidents, and severe child abuse
Once exposed to an incident.

o such as this, the disorder develops into an intense fear of related situations, avoidance of
these situations, reoccurring nightmares, flashbacks, and heightened anxiety to the point
that
it significantly disrupts their everyday life.

f. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

o is diagnosed when a person has extreme anxiety in nearly every part of their life. It is not
associated with just open places (as in agoraphobia), specific situations (as in specific
phobia), or a traumatic event (as in PTSD). The anxiety must be

significant enough to disrupt the person's everyday life for a diagnosis to be made.

3) Personality Disorders
o A personality disorder is a type of mental disorder in which you have a rigid and unhealthy
pattern of thinking, functioning, and behaving.

Thus, Personality Disorders are characterized by an enduring pattern of thinking, feeling, and
behaving which is significantly different from the person's culture and results in negative
consequences.

nine types of personality disorders

1) Paranoid (includes a pattern of distrust and suspiciousness).

2) Schizoid (pattern of detachment from social norms and a restriction of emotions).

3) Schizotypal (pattern of discomfort in close relationships and eccentric thoughts and behaviors).

4) Antisocial (pattern of disregard for the rights of others, including violation of these rights and the
failure to feel empathy).

5) Borderline (pattern of instability in personal relationships, including frequent bouts of clinginess

and affection and anger and resentment, often cycling between these two extremes rapidly).

6) Histrionic (pattern of excessive emotional behavior and attention seeking).

7) Narcissistic (pattern of grandiosity, exaggerated self-worth, and need for admiration).

8) Avoidant (pattern of feelings of social inadequacies, low self-esteem, and hypersensitivity to

criticism).

9) Obsessive-Compulsive (pattern of obsessive cleanliness, perfection, and control).

Treatment Approaches
1. providing psychotherapy

o to be able to understand his or her client's feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Second, being
nonjudgmental is vital if the relationship and treatment are going to work.
 Behavioral therapy; using techniques like exposure therapy.

 Humanistic therapy; encouraging self-acceptance and personal growth.

2. Pharmacological interventions
o Medication like antidepressants, antipsychotics, or anxiolytics.

[Link] approaches

o Integration of therapies with combination of CBT and medication for a holistic treatment.

4. treatment settings

o Outpatient; regular therapy sessions. Inpatient; care in hospital or specialized facility cases.

summary
this chapter outlines the interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors in
psychological disorders .it emphasizes the important of tailored treatment approaches, recognizing
individual difference in symptoms and recovery path.

In conclusion, psychological disorders significantly impact individuals and their daily functioning.
Effective treatment techniques, including psychotherapy and medication, offer pathways for
managing symptoms and improving mental health. A personalized approach that considers the
unique needs of each individual is crucial for successful outcomes. Early intervention, education, and
ongoing support can enhance recovery and promote well-being, ultimately leading to a better quality
of life for those affected

Reference

 module.
 Internet