15 – Psychological disorders. When does behavior become mental illness?

15 – Psychological disorders

When does behavior become mental illness?

What is your experience?

A. I have been diagnosed with a psychological disorder.

B. I suspect I may have one.

C. I have not been diagnosed, nor do I suspect that I have a disorder.

What is your experience?

I know someone who has a disorder.

A. Yes

B. No

Is this abnormal?

Sam is afraid of snakes.

A. Normal

B. Abnormal

Is this abnormal?

Sally is vaguely dissatisfied because she feels that she is not living up to her potential.

A. Normal

B. Abnormal

Is this abnormal?

Sandy has been plotting to assassinate the governor the next time he appears locally.

A. Normal

B. Abnormal

Is this abnormal?

Valencia has visions and hallucinations that she often uses to guide her important decisions.

A. Normal

B. Abnormal

Class presentation video:Psychological disorders

What topics do you need help with?


• A. What does the DSM do?• B. The effect of diagnostic labels• C. Phobias• D. Panic attack• E. I understand


• A. Depression symptoms• B. Bipolar disorder• C. Delusions & hallucinations• D. Schizophrenia’s “word salad”• E. I understand


• A. Obsessive-compulsive disorder• B. PTSD symptoms• C. Dissociative disorder• D. I understand


• A. Catatonic schizophrenia• B. Antisocial personality disorder• C. I understand

Ryan’s social phobia has led him to lose jobs and relationships. In this case, Ryan has a disorder because

his behavior is:A. dangerous.

B. common.

C. medically based.

D. dysfunctional.

Ryan’s social phobia has led him to lose jobs and relationships. In this case, Ryan has a disorder because

his behavior is:A. dangerous.

B. common.

C. medically based.

D. dysfunctional.

The DSM is a diagnostic guide that:

A. describes psychological disorders and their prevalence.

B. describes psychological disorders and their causes.

C. describes only disorders that have medical causes.

D. has been shown to have poor reliability and validity.

The DSM is a diagnostic guide that:

A. describes psychological disorders and their prevalence.

B. describes psychological disorders and their causes.

C. describes only disorders that have medical causes.

D. has been shown to have poor reliability and validity.

Years after he barely survived a terrorist attack that killed his wife and two children, Mr. Puskari suffers recurring flashbacks and

frequent nightmares of the event that render him incapable of holding a steady job. Mr. Puskari is most clearly showing signs of:

A. obsessive-compulsive disorder.

B. generalized anxiety disorder.

C. post-traumatic stress disorder.

D. dysthymic disorder.

Years after he barely survived a terrorist attack that killed his wife and two children, Mr. Puskari suffers recurring flashbacks and

frequent nightmares of the event that render him incapable of holding a steady job. Mr. Puskari is most clearly showing signs of:

A. obsessive-compulsive disorder.

B. generalized anxiety disorder.

C. post-traumatic stress disorder.

D. dysthymic disorder.

From a learning perspective, phobias likely develop as a result of

___________, and ____________ helps to maintain them.

A. operant conditioning; observational learning

B. classical conditioning; reinforcement

C. operant conditioning; reinforcement

D. classical conditioning; observational learning

From a learning perspective, phobias likely develop as a result of

___________, and ____________ helps to maintain them.

A. operant conditioning; observational learning

B. classical conditioning; reinforcement

C. operant conditioning; reinforcement

D. classical conditioning; observational learning

Elaine feels that her life is empty. She has lost all interest in her career and hobbies,

and wonders if she would be better off dead. She is most likely suffering from:

A. a dissociative identity disorder.

B. a generalized anxiety disorder.

C. an antisocial personality disorder.

D. a mood disorder.

Elaine feels that her life is empty. She has lost all interest in her career and hobbies,

and wonders if she would be better off dead. She is most likely suffering from:

A. a dissociative identity disorder.

B. a generalized anxiety disorder.

C. an antisocial personality disorder.

D. a mood disorder.

Mr. James believes that people are constantly laughing at him and that FBI

agents are trying to steal his life savings. Mr. James is most clearly suffering from:

A. compulsions.

B. catatonia.

C. delusions.

D. hallucinations.

Mr. James believes that people are constantly laughing at him and that FBI

agents are trying to steal his life savings. Mr. James is most clearly suffering from:

A. compulsions.

B. catatonia.

C. delusions.

D. hallucinations.

Brandy, who tends to have a pessimistic explanatory style, learns that she earned a

poor grade on her psychology exam. Which attribution is most likely to help her cope

without becoming depressed?A. “I’ll always be a poor student.”

B. “The teacher gave a particularly hard exam this time.”

C. “Of course my grade is bad, since I can’t do anything right.”

D. “Once again I proved that I just don’t know how to study.”

Brandy, who tends to have a pessimistic explanatory style, learns that she earned a

poor grade on her psychology exam. Which attribution is most likely to help her cope

without becoming depressed?A. “I’ll always be a poor student.”

B. “The teacher gave a particularly hard exam this time.”

C. “Of course my grade is bad, since I can’t do anything right.”

D. “Once again I proved that I just don’t know how to study.”

What do you think?

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon, 2009

A student in the early 1990s was expelled for plagiarism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He claimed that he had multiple personalities, and one of the other personalities plagiarized without him (the dominant personality) knowing about it.

He should be reinstated.

A. I strongly agree B. I agreeC. I am neutralD. I disagreeE. I strongly disagree

What do you think?A student in the early 1990s was expelled for plagiarism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He claimed that he had multiple personalities, and one of the other personalities plagiarized without him (the dominant personality) knowing about it.

He should be reinstated.

A. I strongly agree B. I agreeC. I am neutralD. I disagreeE. I strongly disagree

Which of the following is a sufficient criterion for judging

behavioral abnormality?

1. The behavior is not common statistically.

2. The behavior goes against social norms.

3. The behavior causes subjective discomfort.

4. The behavior causes an inability to function from day to day.

5. The behavior causes emotional distress.

Which of the following is a sufficient criterion for judging

behavioral abnormality?

1. The behavior is not common statistically.

2. The behavior goes against social norms.

3. The behavior causes subjective discomfort.

4. The behavior causes an inability to function from day to day.

5. The behavior causes emotional distress.

Copyright © 2012, Pearson Education

Biological models for explaining psychological disorders

may investigate all the following factors EXCEPT:

1. Genetics

2. Imbalance of certain neurotransmitters

3. Brain damage

4. Effects of toxins (e.g., lead) on brain development and psychological functioning

5. Parenting styles and their effects on the psychological development of children


Biological models for explaining psychological disorders

may investigate all the following factors EXCEPT:

1. Genetics

2. Imbalance of certain neurotransmitters

3. Brain damage

4. Effects of toxins (e.g., lead) on brain development and psychological functioning

5. Parenting styles and their effects on the psychological development of children


One morning, a student suddenly feels an intense rush of anxiety, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and a fear of going crazy that is accompanied by a sense of detachment from her body. This episode lasts about fifteen minutes and is followed by exhaustion. Your diagnosis should be

1. Panic disorder.

2. Generalized anxiety disorder.

3. Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

4. Phobic disorder.


One morning, a student suddenly feels an intense rush of anxiety, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and a fear of going crazy that is accompanied by a sense of detachment from her body. This episode lasts about fifteen minutes and is followed by exhaustion. Your diagnosis should be

1. Panic disorder.

2. Generalized anxiety disorder.

3. Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

4. Phobic disorder.


Anxiety that seems to have no real source, consists of

excessive worrying, and is associated with physical

symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, irritability, and

sleeping problems is called:

1. Panic disorder

2. Obsessive compulsive disorder

3. Phobia

4. Agoraphobia

5. Generalized anxiety disorder


Anxiety that seems to have no real source, consists of

excessive worrying, and is associated with physical

symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, irritability, and

sleeping problems is called:

1. Panic disorder

2. Obsessive compulsive disorder

3. Phobia

4. Agoraphobia

5. Generalized anxiety disorder


The intrusion into consciousness of persistent, often disturbing thoughts, is known as a(n)

1. Compulsion.

2. Anxiety attack.

3. Obsession.

4. Phobia.


The intrusion into consciousness of persistent, often disturbing thoughts, is known as a(n)

1. Compulsion.

2. Anxiety attack.

3. Obsession.

4. Phobia.


A psychologist has a patient that believes that they are

being controlled by outside forces, such as the devil. This

patient is likely to be suffering from what?

1. Delusions of reference

2. Delusions of influence

3. Delusions of persecution

4. Delusions of grandeur

5. Delusions of jealousy


A psychologist has a patient that believes that they are

being controlled by outside forces, such as the devil. This

patient is likely to be suffering from what?

1. Delusions of reference

2. Delusions of influence

3. Delusions of persecution

4. Delusions of grandeur

5. Delusions of jealousy


Which of the following mood disorders is most closely

associated with disruptions in the circadian clock?

1. Bipolar disorder

2. Seasonal affective disorder

3. Major depression

4. Dysthymia

5. Mania


Which of the following mood disorders is most closely

associated with disruptions in the circadian clock?

1. Bipolar disorder

2. Seasonal affective disorder

3. Major depression

4. Dysthymia

5. Mania

Discussion Question

1. Do you have any symptoms of being obsessive – compulsive or depressed? What were they? Can you give an example? 2. How would you decide what is “normal” and what is a mental illness? 3. Do you think psychologists should concentrate more on helping people to increase their strengths (e.g. love or courage) or reduce their emotional disorders (e.g. depression), or do they go together? 4. How would you define mental illness? Is it a physical brain structure or just someone who acts or thinks differently than the rest of us, or something else? 5. When does a normal concern about something such as germs and washing your hands become an obsession or a compulsion? 6. Why does one person have a fear of heights and another does not? What things are you afraid of? How does it interfere with your life? 7. If we find more physical changes in the brains of schizophrenics or criminals with PET scans, how could that change our treatments?

Discussion Questions

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15 – Psychological disorders. When does behavior become mental illness?