4.3 - Classification of Psychological Disorders
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Introduction to Psychological Disorders
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Welcome everyone! Today we will discuss psychological disorders. To start, can anyone tell me what they think defines a psychological disorder?
I think it’s when someone acts differently from what is considered 'normal'.
Great point! Psychological disorders are indeed often defined by 'deviance' from societal norms. We generally look for what we call the 'four Ds' to determine if behavior is abnormal: deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger.
What do you mean by dysfunction?
Dysfunction refers to impaired functioning in daily life, such as problems in school, work, or relationships. If someone's behavior significantly disrupts their ability to function, it’s a crucial indicator of a potential disorder.
How does one classify these disorders?
Disorders are classified based on shared characteristics. For instance, the DSM-5 and ICD-10 are commonly used manuals that provide criteria for diagnosis. Can anyone remember the types of psychological disorders we will discuss?
Yes! There are anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and dissociative disorders!
Exactly! Great job! These classifications help professionals communicate and treat effectively. Let's move on to discuss each type in detail.
Models Explaining Psychological Disorders
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Now that we understand what classifications are, let’s dig deeper into the models that help us explain psychological disorders. Can anyone name a model?
Isn't there a biological model?
Correct! The biological model highlights genetic and physiological factors. What other models can you think of?
There’s the psychological model that focuses on thoughts and feelings, right?
Exactly! The psychological model emphasizes cognitive processes and emotional responses. And we also have the socio-cultural model, which looks at the effects of society and culture on behaviors.
How do these models work together in understanding disorders?
Great question! We adopt a bio-psycho-social approach which means we consider biological, psychological, and social factors when examining psychological disorders. Each aspect can influence the individual. Now let’s summarize.
We discussed biological, psychological, and socio-cultural models today, understanding that they offer a comprehensive view of psychological disorders.
Major Types of Psychological Disorders
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Let’s dive into the major types of psychological disorders: anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and more! Who can give me an example of an anxiety disorder?
How about phobias?
Yes! Phobias fall under anxiety disorders and represent irrational fears. We also have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorders. Can anyone explain the difference?
Panic disorders involve sudden episodes of intense fear or terror.
Exactly! Now, moving on to depressive disorders. What do we know about them?
They usually involve persistent sadness and a lack of interest in activities.
Right! Differentiating between these types is crucial for diagnosis and treatment. Let’s summarize our exploration today.
Today we discussed major types of psychological disorders, including anxiety and depressive disorders, and the importance of their classification.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
The classification of psychological disorders is essential for understanding abnormal behavior. Key criteria include deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger. Various models—biological, psychological, and socio-cultural—explain the causes of these disorders. The section describes major types of psychological disorders, including anxiety, depressive, and dissociative disorders, among others.
Detailed
Classification of Psychological Disorders
The classification of psychological disorders serves as a framework for understanding abnormal behavior and its implications. Abnormal behaviors are typically identified by the following criteria known as the 'four Ds': deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger. These criteria help distinguish between normal and abnormal behaviors based on their societal context and the individual's ability to function optimally.
As we explore the nature of psychological disorders, we learn that a range of models interpret their origins, typically falling into three broad categories: biological, psychological, and social-culture factors. The biological model emphasizes genetic and physiological factors, while the psychological model focuses on mental processes and interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, socio-cultural influences, such as family, community expectations, and societal norms, also play a crucial role.
This section details major types of psychological disorders, categorizing them into groups such as Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Trauma-, and Stressor-Related Disorders, and many more. Each disorder presents with specific symptoms and requires a nuanced understanding to offer effective treatment. Aimed to shed light on the complexity of human psychology, this section is pivotal in grasping the foundations of psychological health and wellness.
Youtube Videos
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Introduction to Classification
Chapter 1 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
In order to understand psychological disorders, we need to begin by classifying them. A classification of such disorders consists of a list of categories of specific psychological disorders grouped into various classes on the basis of some shared characteristics.
Detailed Explanation
To comprehend psychological disorders better, we categorize them into different groups. This organizing makes it easier for mental health professionals to communicate effectively and understand the symptoms and characteristics of each disorder. The classification involves identifying shared traits among various disorders, allowing for a systematic approach in assessment and treatment.
Examples & Analogies
Think of classifying psychological disorders like organizing a bookshelf. Each genre (like fiction, non-fiction, mystery) has its unique characteristics and themes. Just as organizing a bookshelf makes it easier to find a book, classifying psychological disorders helps psychologists quickly find the information they need about a patient’s condition.
Importance of Classification
Chapter 2 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Classifications are useful because they enable users like psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers to communicate with each other about the disorder and help in understanding the causes of psychological disorders and the processes involved in their development and maintenance.
Detailed Explanation
Classifying psychological disorders serves several purposes. It aids professionals in discussing and diagnosing disorders accurately, which is crucial because the same symptoms can appear in different disorders. This communication helps in understanding the underlying causes and mechanisms behind these disorders, thus facilitating effective treatment strategies.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a medical team working together to treat a disease. If each doctor cannot communicate well about the symptoms and progress of the patient, they might miss critical aspects of the treatment. Similarly, classification allows mental health professionals to collaborate effectively in understanding and treating psychological issues.
Overview of Classification Systems
Chapter 3 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has published an official manual describing and classifying various kinds of psychological disorders. The current version of it, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), presents discrete clinical criteria which indicate the presence or absence of disorders.
Detailed Explanation
The DSM-5 is a crucial resource that presents clear diagnostic criteria for mental disorders. Each disorder listed within the DSM-5 has specific criteria that need to be met for a diagnosis. This ensures that mental health practitioners can apply consistent standards to their evaluations and increase the reliability and validity of the diagnoses they make.
Examples & Analogies
Think of the DSM-5 like a recipe book for psychological disorders. Just like a recipe provides specific steps and ingredients needed to bake a cake, the DSM-5 outlines the symptoms and criteria needed for diagnosing various psychological conditions. Following these guidelines helps ensure that practitioners produce a consistent outcome in diagnoses.
Understanding Psychological Disorders
Chapter 4 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
A variety of models have been used to explain abnormal behaviour. These are the biological, psychodynamic, behavioural, cognitive, humanistic-existential, diathesis-stress systems, and socio-cultural approaches.
Detailed Explanation
There are multiple frameworks in psychology for understanding why certain behaviours are classified as abnormal. Each model provides a different perspective and emphasizes various factors that contribute to psychological disorders. For instance, the biological model focuses on genetic and physiological aspects, while the cognitive model looks at how thought patterns influence behaviour. Understanding these models is important for comprehensive treatment planning.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine trying to understand why a plant isn’t thriving in your garden. You could examine various factors: soil quality (biological), the way you water it (behavioural), or even how much sun it gets (environmental). Similarly, different models in psychology offer unique perspectives on the same psychological issue, showing that there's not just one answer to understanding mental disorders.
Key Takeaways
Chapter 5 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
The major psychological disorders include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and related, trauma- and stressor-related, somatic symptom and related, dissociative, depressive, bipolar and related, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic, neurodevelopmental, disruptive, impulse-control and conduct, feeding and eating, and substance-related and addictive disorders.
Detailed Explanation
This section lists the significant categories of psychological disorders, indicating the breadth of issues that mental health practitioners may address. Each disorder category comprises various specific disorders that have distinct features and symptoms. This list assists in recognizing and understanding the diverse challenges individuals may face.
Examples & Analogies
Think of these categories like different sections in a hospital. Just as a hospital might have separate wings for pediatrics, surgery, and emergency medicine, the classification of psychological disorders allows for specialized understanding and treatment for various mental health challenges.
Key Concepts
-
Deviance: Behavior that deviates from societal norms.
-
Distress: Emotional suffering that accompanies abnormal behavior.
-
Dysfunction: Impaired ability to function in daily life.
-
Danger: Potential harm to self or others.
-
Bio-psycho-social Model: An understanding that integrates biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
Examples & Applications
A person experiencing intense anxiety before a presentation, showing symptoms of an anxiety disorder.
A teenager exhibiting depressive symptoms following a breakup.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
When behaviors stray from the norm, distress and dysfunction may form.
Stories
Imagine a boy who fears the dark. His fear makes it hard for him to play in the park. That’s a sign of an anxiety spark!
Memory Tools
D3 - Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction; remember these three, they lead to infection!
Acronyms
DDA - Deviance, Distress, and Adjustment. Key traits for understanding disorder investment!
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Abnormal Psychology
The branch of psychology that focuses on atypical behavior and mental disorders.
- Anxiety Disorders
A group of disorders characterized by excessive fear or anxiety.
- Depressive Disorders
Mood disorders that include major depressive disorder and other related conditions.
- Phobias
Irrational fears related to specific situations or objects.
- Dissociative Disorders
Mental disorders characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.