RGO AbPsy Handout2019 PDF

Abnormal Psychology Review INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Abnormal Psychology
▪ Psychopathology (literally: “pathology of the mind”) is the study of abnormal behavior.
▪ It is the application of science in the study of mental disorders.
▪ It is the study of individuals with mental, emotional, and physical pain.
Defining Normality
▪ Normal Behavior – definitions of what is considered normal behavior describe it as behavior that
is socially acceptable to the standards of the society. In short, if behavior is socially acceptable or
conforming to the standards of society, then that behavior is normal.
Criteria for Normality

1. Normality is average – what is accepted by the majority is considered normal. A problem in
this definition is that not everything that is accepted by the majority can be considered
normal.
2. Normality is social conformity – Anyone who conforms to the standards of the society is
considered normal. Two main problems in this definition put consideration to the Problem of
Criminality and the Problem of Social Standards.
3. Normality is personal comfort – If a person feels/experiences pleasure or comfort, then the
behavior is considered normal. Likewise, if a person feels/experiences displeasure or
discomfort, then that is considered abnormal. Issues with this definition include the Problem
of Objective and Subjective Symptoms, the Problem of Individual Reactions to Discomfort,
and the Problem of Social Consequences.
Other definitions for normality:
1. Normality is Ideal
2. Normality is a process
Criteria for Stating what is Abnormal Behavior

1. Cultural Relativism - the view that there are no universal standards or rules for labeling a
behavior as abnormal. Behaviors can only be considered abnormal based on or relative to
cultural norms.
Although there are rejections to the cultural relativist tradition, it is important to note
that culture and gender play an influence on the way abnormal behavior is expressed and the
way they can be treated:
a. Culture and gender may affect how people express their symptoms.
b. Culture and gender may influence people’s willingness to admit certain behaviors.
c. Culture and gender can determine the types of treatments or interventions that are
deemed acceptable or helpful.
2. Unusualness – behaviors which are considered unusual or deviant are considered as
abnormal behaviors. This is tied to cultural relativism since the culture dictates what is usual
or unusual. We also consider the patterns of the behavior of the person, a sudden change in
behavior may indicate a deviance in the person’s usual behavior.
3. Distress – behaviors should be considered abnormal only if the individual suffers distress and
wishes to be rid of the behaviors.
4. Mental Illness – behaviors are not considered abnormal unless they are a part of a mental
illness.
Compiled by: Renz Christian Argao, MA, RPsy, RPm, DAAETS Page 1 of 24
For: RGO Review Center for Psychometricians
FOUR D’S OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR

1. Dysfunction – behavior causes impairment in social and occupational functioning. This means
that the behavior interferes with the person’s ability to form and maintain relationships or
hold a job.
2. Distress – Behaviors and feelings that cause distress to the individual or to others around him
or her are also likely to be considered abnormal.
3. Deviance – deviant and unusual behaviors lead to the judgment of abnormality.
4. Dangerousness – some behaviors and feelings are of potential harm to the individual, such as
suicidal gestures, or to others, such as excessive aggression. Such dangerous behaviors and
feelings are often seen as abnormal.
The accepted definition of abnormality/psychological disorder, used the DSM-5, describes

behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunctions that are unexpected in their cultural context and
associated with present distress and impairment in functioning, or increased risk of suffering, death,
pain, or impairment. 1
MENTAL DISORDER
“A mental disorder is a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s
cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological,
or developmental processes un-derlying mental functioning. Mental disorders are usually associated
with signif-icant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important activities. An
expectable or culturally approved response to a common stressor or loss, such as the death of a loved
one, is not a mental disorder. Socially deviant be-havior (e.g., political, religious, or sexual) and
conflicts that are primarily be-tween the individual and society are not mental disorders unless the
deviance or conflict results from a dysfunction in the individual, as described above.” (DSM-5)
Summary of the DSM-52 Definition of Mental Disorders
Defining Characteristics: Conditions Excluded from Consideration

A behavioral or psychological syndrome (groups This syndrome or pattern must not be merely:
of associated features) that is associated with: 1. An expectable and culturally sanctioned
1. Current distress (painful symptoms), or response to a particular event (such as the
2. Disability (impairment in one or more death of a loved one)
important areas of functioning), or with 2. Deviant behavior (such as the actions of
3. A significantly increased risk of suffering political, religious, or sexual minorities)
death, pain, disability, or an important loss 3. Conflicts that are between the individual
of freedom and society (such as voluntary efforts to
express individuality)
1 – Adapted from Nolen-Hoeksema (2017)

2 – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (APA, 2013)
DETERMINANTS OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
▪ Behaviors, normal or abnormal, are determined.

▪ Determinants of behavior – factors that cause a particular behavior
Predisposing Factors Precipitating Factors

▪ A factor that makes someone prone or ▪ Factors that trigger the onset of a certain
susceptible to a certain pathology disorder
▪ Remote Effect – does not come out at an ▪ Immediate Effect
early stage, only when triggered
Biological Determinants of Behavior

▪ Can be predisposing or precipitating factor
A. Genetic Factor
B. Biological Deprivation
C. Obnoxious Agents
D. Accidents
E. Body Constitutions
F. Biochemical Factors
Psychological Determinants of Behavior

▪ Can be predisposing or precipitating factor
A. Stress
B. Frustration
C. Over-Use of Defense Mechanisms
D. Psychological Deprivation
Socio-cultural Determinants of Behavior

▪ Precipitating factor
A. Poverty
B. Unemployment
C. War/ Armed Conflict
D. Racial Discrimination
E. Moving from the Rural to the Urban Setting
F. Residential Mobility
Abnormal Psychology Review PERSPECTIVES & THEORIES
PERSPECTIVES IN EXPLAINING THE CAUSE OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
Neurobiological Perspective
– Nervous system controls our behavior
– Ex.: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• GABA System is less functioning
▪ Brain Dysfunction
– A dysfunction in brain structures and function can
cause abnormal behavior.
▪ Biochemical Imbalance
– The Role of Neurotransmitters
 Neurotransmitters – biochemical messengers
which sends information from neuron to neuron
 SEROTONIN - emotions and impulses, such as
aggressive impulses; associated to
depression, OCD
 DOPAMINE - Brain’s Reward System, Muscle
system; Dopamine Hypothesis: High levels is
associated with Schizophrenia and low levels
is associated to Parkinson’s Disease.
 NOREPINEPHRINE - Mood regulation
Figure 1: Divisions of the Brain1
 GAMMA AMINO BUTYRIC ACID (GABA) -
Inhibitor of Neurotransmitter action; associated with Anxiety disorders
– Biochemical Theories
 the amount of certain neurotransmitters in the synapses is associated with specific
types of psychopathology
– Role of Neurotransmitter Systems
 Malfunctioning of Neurotransmitter systems
 PsyDis can cause changes in the NtS
– Role of Receptors on the Dendrites
 Few Receptors or not sensitive enough: the neuron will not be able to make adequate
use of the neurotransmitter available in the synapse
 Too Many Receptors or oversensitive: the neuron may be overexposed to the
neurotransmitter that is in the synapse.
– The Role of the Endocrine System
▪ Hormones
▪ HPA Axis – anxiety and depression
▪ Stress Response: corticotropin release factor (CRF)
▪ Genetic Abnormalities
– Behavioral Genetics: Study of the genetics of personality and abnormality
– Alteration in the gene structure can cause abnormalities
– Genes and the Environment: genes can determine the type of environment we choose;
the environment can serve ass a catalyst for genetic tendencies.
Abnormal Psychology Review PERSPECTIVES & THEORIES
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
Behavioral Perspective
– Focuses on observable behaviors; role of learning
– Influences of punishments and reinforcements in producing behavior
– Classical Conditioning; Operant Conditioning; Modeling or Observational Learning
Cognitive Perspective
– Focuses on how internal thoughts, perceptions, and reasoning contribute to psychological
disorders
– Thoughts or beliefs shape our behaviors and the emotions we experience
– Causal attribution: Specific answers to “why” questions
– Global assumptions: Broad beliefs
– Dysfunctional Beliefs1: causes people to develop abnormal behaviors
1. I should be loved by everyone for everything I do.
2. It is better to avoid problems than to face them.
3. I should be completely competent, intelligent, and achieving in all I do.
4. I must have perfect self-control.
Psychodynamic Perspective
– The psychoanalytic approach suggests that many abnormal behaviors stem from unconscious
thoughts, desires, and memories.
– While these feelings are outside of awareness, they are still believed to influence conscious
actions.
Humanistic Perspective
– This model views behavior as controlled by the decisions that people make about their lives
based on their perceptions of the world.
– People often experience conflict because of differences between their true self—the ideal self
they wish to be—and the self they feel they ought to be to please others.
– Assumption that humans have an innate capacity for goodness and for living a full life.
– Humanistic theorists recognized that we often are not aware of the forces shaping our
behavior and that the environment can play a strong role in our happiness or unhappiness
– Self-actualization
SOCIO-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES
Society and culture can influence the development of abnormal behavior. Factors include Socio-
economic status, poverty and unemployment, environmental issues, housing concerns, cultural and
religious practices, etc.
– Explains abnormality on the perspective of interpersonal relationships
– Social Standards
– Cultural Roles: Abnormal behavior in relation to culture
Abnormal Psychology Review ANXIETY DISORDERS
ANXIETY DISORDERS
Anxiety Disorders
- Extreme fear or worry that impairs functioning and goes beyond what is normal for the age or setting
Fear vs. Anxiety

- Fear is felt when there is danger
- Fight, flight, freeze response
- Panic Attack is an intense fear reaction
- Anxiety is when you expect future danger
- Arranged in increasing age of onset
Separation Anxiety Disorder

▪ Feeling of discomfort a child has when separated – or expects separation – from a loved one.
▪ Worry is focused on possibility of harm or event that may cause separation
▪ Does not want to leave, be alone, or sleep away
▪ Infants show stranger anxiety by crying when someone unfamiliar approaches.
▪ It is important to note that distress upon separation from a parent is normal for a child at the
ages of 8 months until 13-15 months.
▪ Separation anxiety as a normal life stage first develops at about 7 months of age, once object
permanence has been established. It is at its strongest at 10-18 months of age and usually
subsides by 3 years of age.
- Children & Teens: at least 4 weeks
- Adults: at least 6 months
- At least 3 of 8 symptoms
- Impairment in functioning
Selective Mutism
▪ Failure to speak in a situation where there is an expectation to speak (e.g. school)
▪ Ability to speak in other situations
▪ Not caused by organic factors
- At least 1 month
- Not limited to 1st month in school
Sub-types of Specific Phobia
- Interferes with educational or occupational
▪ Animal-Insect Type
achievement ▪ Natural Environment Type
(e.g., heights, storms, water)
Specific Phobia ▪ Blood-Injection-Injury Type
▪ Fear reaction due to an object or situation ▪ Situational Type
(e.g. airplanes, elevators, enclosed
▪ Instant fear; exceeds true risk of danger
places)
▪ Avoidance of object/situation or endurance with ▪ Other Type
intense fear or anxiety (e.g. situations that may lead to choking,
- At least 6 months vomiting, or contracting an illness; in
- Fear, anxiety, or avoidance leads to impairment children, avoidance of loud sounds or
costumed characters)
Abnormal Psychology Review ANXIETY DISORDERS
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

▪ Fear of social settings where others may watch, study, or judge them
▪ Fear that they may offend others, be embarrassed, negatively evaluated, or humiliated
▪ Fear of rejection or that others will not like them
- At least 6 months
- Fear, anxiety, and avoidance lead to impairment or causes significant distress
Panic Disorder
▪ At least one episode of a Panic Attack
▪ Followed by worry of another panic
attack or a major change in normal
behavior in an effort to avoid
another panic attack
- At least one month
- Not everyone with a panic attack
will develop Panic Disorder
Panic Attack
▪ Sudden, intense fear
reaction
▪ At least 4 out of 13 symptoms
▪ Peaks in a few minutes (~10 mins)
▪ Types: Cued, Uncued, Situationally-Bound, Situationally-Predisposed
Agoraphobia
▪ Fear or anxiety about real or expected problems that might occur in a wide range of places
outside their homes
▪ Places where escape may be hard, they may not receive help, or be embarrassed due to panic or
health symptoms
- At least 6 months
- Distress or Impairment
- At least two: e.g. using public transport; being in open spaces; being in enclosed spaces;
standing in line; outside of home
Generalized Anxiety Disorder

▪ Free-Floating Anxiety
▪ Worry on a variety of events or situations, topics or tasks: mostly minor things
▪ May lead to tension, headache, sleeping problems
▪ Symptoms begin slowly, around age 30
- At least 6 months
- Anxiety or worry occurs with at least 3 symptoms, for most days (e.g. restlessness, fatigue,
trouble keeping thoughts focused, irritability, muscle tension, sleep problems)
Abnormal Psychology Review MOOD DISORDERS
MOOD DISORDERS
Symptoms of Mania (Manic Symptoms) Symptoms of Dysthymia/Depression

- Inflated self-esteem - Sadness
- Less need for sleep - Low self-esteem
- Talkative - Lack of interest in activities
- Racing thoughts - Change in weight, sleep, appetite
- Impulsive - Fatigue or restlessness
- Easily distracted - Guilt or feelings of worthlessness
- Increased risky behaviors - Suicidal ideations
Mood Episodes
Manic Episode Hypomanic Episode Major Depressive Mixed Episode
Episode (DSM-IV-TR)
•Almost every day; most of •At least 4 consecutive
the day, 1-week period days •1 week period
•Almost every day; most of
•At least 3 symptoms •At least 3 symptoms the day, 2-week period •Mixed symptoms of
•Impairment in functioning •Not severe enough to •At least 5 symptoms mania and dysthymia
cause impairment in
•Impairment in functioning •Impairment in functioning
functioning
Bipolar & Related Disorders
Bipolar I Disorder
▪ At least one Manic Episode
▪ May include either a Major Depressive
Episode or Hypomanic Episode
▪ Can cause dramatic or wild mood
swings
- Rapid Cycling: four episodes or
more in the same year
Bipolar II Disorder
▪ A combination of at least one episode
of Hypomanic Episode AND Major
Depressive Episode
▪ No Manic Episode
▪ Begins around late teens or early 20s
▪ Hypomanic symptoms do not lead to
major problems
Cyclothymic Disorder
▪ Combination of hypomanic symptoms
and depressive symptoms
▪ Manic and depressive mood swings
occurred at least half the two-year (or
1-year) period
▪ Symptoms have never stopped for
more than 2 months
- Children & Teens: at least 1 year
- Adults: At least 2 years
- No manic episodes
- Distress or impairment
Depressive Disorders
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

▪ Diagnosed in children who are severely irritable or angry and have frequent temper outbursts
▪ Sudden outbursts of physical or verbal aggression
▪ May happen at least 3 times a week
▪ Outbursts are longer and more intense than tantrums
- At least 12 months
- Symptoms must start before 10 years old
- May be diagnosed in children at least 6 y.o. but not older than 18
Major Depressive Disorder

▪ At least one Major Depressive Episode
▪ No manic or hypomanic episodes
▪ May be a Single Episode or Recurrent
▪ Specifiers: with psychotic features (i.e. hallucinations); with postpartum onset (after giving
birth)
- Must not be due to loss or bereavement
- Per episode: at least 2 weeks
- Impairment in functioning or significant distress
Persistent Depressive Disorder

▪ Also known as Dysthymic Disorder
▪ Chronic depression
▪ There is no relief from symptoms lasting more than 2 months
- Symptoms are present most of the day
- At least 2 years
- May cause impairment or significant distress
Double Depression
- Co-morbidity of Major Depressive Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

▪ Symptoms of depression, and tension begin 1 week prior to menstruation
▪ Symptoms improve as the menstruation begins
▪ Symptoms end 1 week after the menstruation
▪ Symptoms have occurred for most of the menstrual cycle in the preceding year
- At least 5 symptoms present
- Impairment in functioning
- Physical symptoms: breast tenderness, joint or muscle pain, weight gain, bloating
Abnormal Psychology Review OC & RELATED DISORDERS
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE & RELATED DISORDERS
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
▪ Obsession: thought that leads to anxiety
▪ Compulsion: act used to deal with the obsessive thought
▪ Compulsions bring temporary relief; may cause the obsessions to become more frequent
▪ Symptoms are time consuming (at least 1 hour per day)
▪ Impairment or Distress
- Note: True Obsessions and True Compulsions are present only in OCD and not in OCPD
Body Dysmorphic Disorder

▪ Similar to OCD in terms of obsessions and compulsions, however note below:
▪ Obsessed with imagined flaws or defects in the body or how they look
- “Imagined ugliness”
▪ Compulsion to check the self in the mirror
▪ Covers up the imagined deformity/flaw
Hoarding Disorder
▪ Collecting and having difficulty throwing items or giving up possessions
▪ Random objects
▪ Items already take their living spaces
▪ Symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in functioning
Trichotillomania
▪ Hair-Pulling Disorder
▪ Pulling out hair from the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or other parts of the body where hair
grows
▪ Attempts to stop or decrease the behavior
▪ In some cases, the hair is eaten
▪ Time consuming, at least 1 hour per day
▪ Impairment or significant distress
Excoriation
▪ Dermatillomania or Skin-Picking Disorder
▪ Pick, rub, or scratch the skin (healthy, pimples, scabs, or calluses)
▪ Fingernails, knives, tweezers, or pins may be used
▪ Attempts to stop or reduce behavior
▪ Time consuming, at least 1 hour per day
▪ Impairment or significant distress
Abnormal Psychology Review TRAUMA- & STRESSOR-RELATED DISORDERS
TRAUMA- & STRESSOR-RELATED DISORDERS
Reactive Attachment Disorder

▪ Absent or very little attachment
▪ Does not seek help or comfort; if given affection, they may reject or ignore such affection
▪ Absence or reduction in emotional responses
- Symptoms must be present prior to age 5
- May be diagnosed for children who are at least 9 months old
Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorders

▪ A child relates to strangers in the same way they relate to parents or other adult caregivers
▪ Talkative or physically affectionate with strangers
▪ No checking back behaviors
- May be diagnosed for children who are at least 9 months old
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

▪ Exposure to a Traumatic Event
▪ 4 Cardinal Symptoms:
▪ Re-experiencing
▪ Avoidance
▪ Negative Alterations in Cognitions and Emotions
▪ Hyperarousal
▪ At least 1 month
- Two criteria sets:
- PTSD for > 6 years old
- PTSD for < 6 years old
Acute Stress Disorder

▪ Exposure to a traumatic event
▪ Intrusion symptoms, negative mood, dissociative symptoms, avoidance symptoms, arousal
symptoms
- At least 3 days to less than 1 month
Adjustment Disorder
▪ Changes in behavior and emotions associated with an identifiable stressor
▪ Symptoms must begin within 3 months from the onset of the stressor and end within 6 months
from the termination of the stressor
Abnormal Psychology Review SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM
SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM & OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
Schizophrenia Spectrum
▪ Characterized by Psychosis- the inability to identify reality from fantasy
▪ Greek words schizein, meaning “to split,” and phren, meaning “mind.”
▪ Develops around late teenage years
Phases of Schizophrenia
▪ Prodromal Phase - Before the person enters the acute phase

▪ Acute Phase - Period when symptoms are present, diagnosable
▪ Residual Phase - After emerging from the acute phase; remission and relapse
Schizophrenia Symptoms
▪ POSITIVE SYMPTOMS - Presence of a behavior, emotion, or thought
- Delusions
• ideas that an individual believes are true but are highly unlikely and often simply
impossible.
▪ Persecutory Delusion ▪ Thought Broadcasting
▪ Delusion of Reference ▪ Thought Insertion
▪ Grandiose Delusion ▪ Thought Withdrawal
▪ Delusion of Being ▪ Delusion of Guilt or Sin
Controlled ▪ Somatic Delusion
- Hallucinations
• Unreal perceptual experiences
• Sensory experience in absence of environmental stimuli or input
▪ Auditory
▪ Visual
▪ Tactile
▪ Somatic
- Disorganized Thought or Speech
• Disorganized thinking: Formal thought disorder
• Problems in the form of thought
▪ Loosening of associations
▪ Derailment
▪ Word Salad
▪ Neologism
▪ Clang Association
- Disorganized or Catatonic Behavior
• Frightening to others
• Display unpredictable and apparently untriggered agitation—suddenly shouting,
swearing, or pacing rapidly
• May be responses to hallucinations or delusions
• Trouble organizing their daily routines of bathing, dressing properly, and eating regularly
• They may engage in socially unacceptable behavior, such as public masturbation.
Abnormal Psychology Review PERSONALITY DISORDERS
• Many are disheveled and dirty, sometimes wearing few clothes on a cold day or heavy
clothes on a very hot day
- Catatonia
• disorganized behavior that reflects unresponsiveness to the world.
• In catatonic excitement, the person becomes wildly agitated for no apparent reason
▪ NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS - Absence of a behavior, emotion, or thought

- Affective Flattening
• Flat Affect or Blunted Affect
• Absence or severe reduction of affective responses to the environment
• Face may remain immobile and body language is unresponsive
• May reflect severe anhedonia
- Alogia
• Poverty of speech
• Reduction in speaking
• The person may not initiate speech with others and, when asked direct questions, may
give brief, empty replies
• Reflects lack of thinking or motivation to speak
- Avolition
• An inability to persist at common, goal-directed activities, including those at work,
school, and home
• Great trouble completing tasks, is disorganized and careless, and apparently is
completely unmotivated
• He or she may sit around all day doing almost nothing and may withdraw and become
socially isolated
▪ COGNITIVE DEFICITS - Problems in memory, attention, reality testing

- Attention and Memory
• Difficulty in focusing and maintaining attention
• Deficits in the working memory (ability to hold information and manipulate it)
- Difficulty in keeping in touch with reality
Schizophrenia Spectrum and other Psychotic Disorders
Delusional Disorder
▪ Involves a false belief (delusion)
▪ No other symptoms of psychosis
▪ Good prognosis
▪ Types of delusion: bizarre, non-bizarre, mood-congruent and mood-neutral
- At least 1 month
- May lead to problems in relating to others
Brief Psychotic Disorder

▪ Psychotic behaviors that are similar to symptoms of schizophrenia
▪ Full recovery after 1 month
▪ May occur after pregnancy
▪ At least 1 day but less than 1 month
▪ Impairment in functioning but return to pre-morbid functioning
Schizophreniform Disorder
▪ Same key symptoms as Schizophrenia but shorter duration
▪ Once symptoms exceed 6 months, diagnosis changes to schizophrenia
▪ At least 1 month but less than 6 months
▪ At least 2 symptoms, one of which is delusion, hallucination, or disorganized speech
Schizophrenia
▪ Brain disorder that disturbs normal thoughts, speech, and behavior
▪ Presence of a positive symptom, a negative symptom, and a cognitive deficit
▪ At least 6 months
Schizoaffective Disorder
▪ A mix of symptoms of schizophrenia and of a mood disorder
▪ Symptoms of psychosis and of mood disorders are independent of each other
▪ Delusions or hallucinations must be present for at least 2 weeks w/o mood symptoms
PERSONALITY DISORDERS
Cluster A Personality Disorders
▪ People with these disorders have symptoms similar to those of people with schizophrenia,
including inappropriate or flat affect, odd thought and speech patterns, and paranoia.
▪ People with these disorders, however, maintain their grasp on reality.
Paranoid Personality Disorder

▪ Essential feature is a pervasive and unwarranted mistrust of others
▪ They believe that other people are chronically trying to deceive or exploit them
▪ They are preoccupied with concerns about the loyalty and trustworthiness of others
▪ Hypervigilance for evidence to confirm suspicion
▪ They are penetrating observers of situations, noting details most other people miss.
▪ They tend to misinterpret situations in line with their suspicions
Schizoid Personality Disorder

▪ They lack the desire to form interpersonal relationships and are emotionally cold (show little
emotion) in their interactions with others
▪ aloof, reclusive, and detached or as dull, uninteresting, and humorless
▪ They view relationships with others as unrewarding, messy, and intrusive.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder

▪ They tend to be socially isolated, to have a restricted range of emotions, and to be
uncomfortable in interpersonal interactions
▪ As children, they are passive, socially unengaged, and hypersensitive to criticism
▪ The distinguishing characteristics of schizotypal personality disorder are the oddities in cognition
Cluster B Personality Disorders
▪ People with these disorders tend to be manipulative, volatile, and uncaring in social
relationships.
▪ They are prone to impulsive, sometimes violent behaviors that show little regard for their own
safety or the safety or needs of others.
Antisocial Personality Disorder

▪ Labeled psychopaths or sociopaths
▪ Key features are an impairment in the ability to form positive relationships with others and a
tendency to engage in behaviors that violate basic social norms and values
▪ Deceitful, repeatedly lying, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
▪ They commit violent criminal offenses against others
▪ When caught, they tend to have little remorse and seem indifferent to the pain and suffering
they have caused others; although, they may mimic remorse, guilt, and positive emotions
▪ They are easily bored and restless, unable to endure the tedium of routine or to persist at the
day-to-day responsibilities of marriage or a job
Borderline Personality Disorder

▪ Characterized by out-of-control emotions that cannot be smoothed, a hypersensitivity to
abandonment, a tendency to cling too tightly to other people, and a history of hurting oneself
▪ Borderline: border between Neurosis and Psychosis
▪ Key feature is instability: Unstable mood, Unstable self-concept, & Unstable relationships
▪ Describes emptiness that leads them to cling to new acquaintances to fill the void
▪ They worry about abandonment and misinterpret other people’s innocent actions as desertion
or rejection
Histrionic Personality Disorder

▪ Shares features with borderline personality disorder, including rapidly shifting emotions and
intense, unstable relationships
▪ People with Histrionic PD want to be the center of attention
▪ The person with BPD may desperately cling to others as an expression of self-doubt and need,
but the person with histrionic personality disorder simply wants the attention of others
▪ They pursue others’ attention by being highly dramatic and overtly seductive and by
emphasizing the positive qualities of their physical appearance
▪ Others see them as self-centered and shallow, unable to delay gratification, demanding, and
overly dependent.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder

▪ Shares features with Histrionic PD
▪ They rely on their self-evaluations and see dependency on others as weak and dangerous
▪ They are preoccupied with thoughts of their self-importance and with fantasies of power and
success, and they view themselves as superior to most other people.
▪ In interpersonal relationships, they make unreasonable demands on others to follow their
wishes, ignore the needs and wants of others, exploit others to gain power, and are arrogant
and demeaning.
Cluster C Personality Disorders
▪ People with these disorders are extremely concerned about being criticized or abandoned by
others and thus have dysfunctional relationships with others.
Avoidant Personality Disorder

▪ They are extremely anxious about being criticized by others and thus avoid interactions in which
there is any possibility of being criticized.
▪ They choose occupations which are socially isolated
▪ When interacting with others, they are restrained, nervous, and hypersensitive to signs of being
evaluated or criticized
▪ They are terrified of saying something silly or doing something that will embarrass themselves.
▪ They tend to be depressed and lonely.
▪ While they may crave relationships with others, they feel unworthy of these relationships and
isolate themselves.
Dependent Personality Disorder

▪ They are anxious about interpersonal interactions, but their anxiety stems from a deep need to
be cared for by others, rather than from a concern that they will be criticized.
▪ Their desire to be loved and taken care of by others leads persons with DPD to deny any of their
own thoughts and feelings that might displease others, to submit to even the most
unreasonable demands, and to cling frantically to others.
▪ They cannot decide for themselves
▪ They do not initiate activity except to please others
▪ They can only function within a relationship
▪ They deeply fear rejection and abandonment and may allow themselves to be exploited and
abused rather than lose relationships
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

▪ Self-control, attention to detail, perseverance, and reliability are highly valued in many societies
but some people carry these traits to an extreme and become rigid, perfectionistic, dogmatic,
ruminative, and emotionally blocked.
▪ Workaholics (see no need for leisure or friendships)
▪ Stubborn, stingy, possessive, moralistic, and officious
▪ They tend to relate to others in terms of rank or status and are ingratiating and deferential to
“superiors” but dismissive, demeaning, or authoritarian toward “inferiors.”
▪ Although they are extremely concerned with efficiency, their perfectionism and obsession about
following rules often interfere with their completion of tasks
Abnormal Psychology Review DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS
DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS
▪ Change in awareness that alters a person’s sense of identity or self, including a person’s ability
to connect to memories and perceptions
▪ Normal part of human lives, becomes a disorder when it leads to impairment
Dissociative Identity Disorder

▪ Formerly Multiple Personality Disorder
▪ Having more than one identity or personality: alter (e.g. child alter, persecutor alter, protector
alter)
▪ DSM-5 requires that at least two (2) personalities take control of the person
▪ Switch: changing between alters or host and alters
▪ Inability to recall large memories of childhood;
▪ Lack of awareness of recent events, and if they do remember, inability to explain them, for
example not being able to explain how the patient got somewhere, or how the acquired a
possession;
▪ “Lost time,” or frequent memory loss;
▪ Flashbacks or sudden return of memories;
▪ Feelings of disconnection or detachment from body or thoughts;
▪ So called “out of body ” experiences;
▪ Self-harm or suicidal thoughts;
▪ Changes in handwriting;
▪ Less commonly observed manifestations observed in patients with DID:
- Mood swings or depression;
- Anxiety, nervousness, panic attacks or phobias;
- Eating and food issues;
- Unexplained sleep disorders;
- Headaches or general body pain;
- Sexual issues, sex addiction or sexual avoidance (AAMFT, 2014).
Dissociative Amnesia
▪ Memory loss that is short-term that can interfere with social and occupational functioning
▪ Psychogenic Amnesia
▪ Can be:
- Localized: events in a certain time frame
- Selective: some but not all of the events in a certain time
- Systematized: certain types of information (like events linked to a certain person)
- Generalized: complete loss of memory for the entire life (retrograde)
- Continuous: forgetting new events as they occur (anterograde)
▪ Specifier: With Fugue- involves travel
Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
▪ Depersonalization: unfamiliarity with the self
▪ Derealization: unfamiliarity with the environment
▪ There is awareness and insight
▪ Symptoms cause impairment or distress
Abnormal Psychology Review SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDERS
SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDERS
Somatic Symptom Disorder

▪ Somatization Disorder
▪ Mental disorder that causes multiple physical symptoms: chronic pain, nausea, dizziness,
fatigue, weakness
▪ No biological cause but with a psychological stressor
▪ At least 1 symptom present for more than 6 moths
▪ Significant distress or impairment in functioning
▪ Specify if:
- With predominant pain (previously pain disorder): This specifier is for individuals whose
somatic symptoms predominantly involve pain.
- Persistent: a persistent course is characterized by severe symptoms, marked impairment,
and long duration (more than 6 months).
- Mild: Only one of the symptoms specified in Criterion B is fulfilled.
- Moderate: Two or more of the symptoms specified in Criterion B are fulfilled.
- Severe: Two or more of the symptoms specified in Criterion B are fulfilled, plus there are
multiple somatic complaints (or one very severe somatic symptom).
Illness Anxiety Disorder

▪ Hypochondriasis
▪ Worry or fear of having a serious illness which causes them to misinterpret their symptoms
▪ Spend a lot of time worrying or thinking of their symptoms and having checked by medical
professionals
▪ Impairment and distress caused by the preoccupation
▪ Specify whether:
- Care-seeking type: Medical care, including physician visits or undergoing tests and
procedures, is frequently used.
- Care-avoidant type: Medical care is rarely used.
Conversion Disorder
▪ Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder
▪ Loss of a sensory or motor function without organic cause
▪ Specify symptom type:
- With weakness or paralysis
- With abnormal movement
- With swallowing symptoms
- With speech symptom
- With attacks or seizures
- With anesthesia or sensory loss
- With special sensory symptom
Abnormal Psychology Review SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDERS
Psychological Factors Affecting Other Medical Condition

▪ Presence of a General Medical Condition
▪ The person’s psychological states affect the GMC through noncompliance to treatment or
behaviors that worsen the condition
Factitious Disorder
▪ Producing or feigning a physical or a mental illness when the person is not really sick
▪ People may lie of the symptoms, hurt themselves, cause symptoms, change test results, worsen
their condition, or prevent recovery/healing
▪ Reasons are not clear; (DMS-IV-TR: medical attention)
▪ Can be: Factitious Disorder Imposed on the Self; or Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another
Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self

▪ Falsification of physical or psychological signs or symptoms, or induction of injury or disease,
associated with identified deception.
▪ The individual presents himself or herself to others as ill, impaired, or injured.
▪ The deceptive behavior is evident even in the absence of obvious external rewards.
▪ The behavior is not better explained by another mental disorder, such as delusional disorder or
another psychotic disorder.
▪ Specify:
- Single episode
- Recurrent episodes (two or more events of falsification of illness and/or induction of injury)
Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (Previously Factitious Disorder by Proxy)

▪ Falsification of physical or psychological signs or symptoms, or induction of injury or disease, in
another, associated with identified deception.
▪ The individual presents another individual (victim) to others as ill, impaired, or injured.
▪ The deceptive behavior is evident even in the absence of obvious external rewards.
▪ The behavior is not better explained by another mental disorder, such as delusional disorder or
another psychotic disorder.
▪ Note: The perpetrator, not the victim, receives this diagnosis.
▪ Specify:
- Single episode
- Recurrent episodes (two or more events of falsification of illness and/or induction of injury)
Abnormal Psychology Review FEEDING & EATING DISORDERS
FEEDING & EATING DISORDERS
Pica
▪ Eating nonfood items (e.g. paper, chalk, dirt) on a regular basis or eating non-nutritive food (e.g.
junk food, ice, candies)
▪ Not a cultural or religious practice
Rumination
▪ Regurgitates and re-chews the food eaten
▪ Occurs without gagging or disgust
▪ Regurgitation has a self-soothing function
▪ Several times per week/daily
▪ Not due to medical condition
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

▪ Avoiding or restricting food intake and fail to meet proper nutrition and energy
▪ Avoidance is due to the sensory properties of the food
▪ Problem may be in digesting certain food, avoid food of certain color or texture, or not be able
to tolerate the smell of food
Anorexia Nervosa
▪ Severe restriction of food intake
▪ Fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even when they appear thin and gaunt to others
▪ Restricting Type and Bing Eating/Purging Type
▪ Weight is lower than by at least 15% of normal
Bulimia Nervosa
▪ People with BN binge eat often, consuming high amount of food
▪ Can be slightly underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese
▪ Purging Type and Non-purging Type
Abnormal Psychology Review SEXUAL & PARAPHILIC DISORDERS
SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS & PARAPHILIC DISORDERS
Sexual Dsyfunction
▪ Occurs 75% to 100% of the time
▪ Causes distress
▪ No biological cause
A. Delayed Ejaculation
B. Erectile Disorder
C. Female Orgasmic Disorder
D. Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
E. Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder
F. Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
G. Premature (Early Ejaculation)
Paraphilic Disorders
▪ Cause Distress
▪ Pleasure is only thru the paraphilia and not in normal/typical sexual activity
▪ Acting on the paraphilia
▪ Lack of consent
A. Voyeuristic Disorder
B. Exhibitionistic Disorder
C. Frotteuristic Disorder
D. Sexual Masochism Disorder
E. Sexual Sadism Disorder
F. Pedophilic Disorder
G. Fetishistic Disorder
H. Transvestic Disorder
Abnormal Psychology Review OTHER DISORDERS
GENDER DYSPHORIA
Gender Dysphoria
▪ Distress and sense of conflict caused by the physical gender’s mismatch with their sexual
identity
▪ The problem is not on the gender identity nor the mismatch in the identity and physical body,
but on the distress caused by such mismatch
CHILDHOOD DISORDERS
Autism Spectrum Disorder

▪ Two main symptoms: Problems in social skills/communication and a fixed set of interests or
repetitive behavior
▪ Problems in social, school, or work functioning
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

▪ Features inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity that disrupts social, school, and work tasks
▪ Symptoms must be noticed before age 12 and last for at least 6 months
▪ Symptoms must occur in at least two settings
References:
American Psychiatric Association (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
DSM-5. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association
Barlow, D. H., Durand, V. M., & Hofmann, S.G. (2018) Abnormal psychology: An integrative
approach (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning
Oltmanns, T. F. & Emery R. E. (2015) Abnormal psychology (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson
Education
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2017) Abnormal psychology (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill

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Abnormal Psychology Review INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

Criteria for Normality

Criteria for Stating what is Abnormal Behavior

FOUR D’S OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR

The accepted definition of abnormality/psychological disorder, used the DSM-5, describes

Summary of the DSM-52 Definition of Mental Disorders

Defining Characteristics: Conditions Excluded from Consideration

1 – Adapted from Nolen-Hoeksema (2017)

▪ Behaviors, normal or abnormal, are determined.

Predisposing Factors Precipitating Factors

Biological Determinants of Behavior

Psychological Determinants of Behavior

Socio-cultural Determinants of Behavior

PERSPECTIVES IN EXPLAINING THE CAUSE OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

Fear vs. Anxiety

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Symptoms of Mania (Manic Symptoms) Symptoms of Dysthymia/Depression

Bipolar & Related Disorders

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE & RELATED DISORDERS

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

TRAUMA- & STRESSOR-RELATED DISORDERS

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorders

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Acute Stress Disorder

SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM & OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS

▪ Prodromal Phase - Before the person enters the acute phase

▪ NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS - Absence of a behavior, emotion, or thought

▪ COGNITIVE DEFICITS - Problems in memory, attention, reality testing

Schizophrenia Spectrum and other Psychotic Disorders

Brief Psychotic Disorder

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Cluster C Personality Disorders

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Dependent Personality Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder

SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDERS

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Psychological Factors Affecting Other Medical Condition

Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self

Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (Previously Factitious Disorder by Proxy)

FEEDING & EATING DISORDERS

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS & PARAPHILIC DISORDERS

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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