- OCD is an anxiety disorder with uncontrollable obsessions (repeated thoughts) and compulsions (repeated actions).
- Obsessions are disturbing thoughts that keep coming back despite efforts to stop them.
- Compulsions are repetitive behaviours like washing or checking done to reduce anxiety.
- Unlike normal worry, OCD thoughts and actions are persistent and irrational.
- It interferes with daily life and may include related disorders like hoarding or hair-pulling.
Definitions [15]
Definition: Adaptation
Adaptation refers to a person’s ability to modify her/his behaviour in response to changing environmental requirements.
Definition: Distress
Distress refers to behaviour that is unpleasant and upsetting to the person and to others.
Definition: Dysfunction
Dysfunction refers to behaviour that interferes with the person’s ability to carry out daily activities in a constructive way.
Definition: Syndrome
A syndrome is a cluster or group of symptoms that are generally found together in a psychological disorder.
Definition: Anxiety Disorder
- When a person feels nervous or worried without any obvious reason for a long time such that it starts interfering with the daily life, it is called Anxiety Disorder.
- Ross defines anxiety disorder as a series of symptoms which arises from the faulty adaptation to the stresses and strains of life.
- The term anxiety is usually defined as a diffuse, vague, very unpleasant feeling of fear and apprehension.
Definition: Panic Attack
A panic attack denotes an abrupt surge of intense anxiety rising to a peak when thoughts of a particular stimulus are present.
Definition: Compulsive Behaviour
Compulsive behaviour is the need to perform certain behaviours over and over again.
Definition: Obsessive Behaviour
Obsessive behaviour is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic.
Definition: Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders refer to profound losses of identity, memory, intense feelings of unreality, a sense of being depersonalized (Separate from oneself), and uncertainty about one's own identity (Baron-2004).
Definition: Cyclic Psychoses
In bipolar psychoses, mania and depression usually occur in a circular form. It is therefore called cyclic psychoses.
Definition: Manic Depressive or Bipolar Disorder
It is a mood disorder in which an individual experiences very wide swings of mood from deep depression to wild elation.
Definition: Depressive Disorder
- The disorder in which the individual experiences extreme feelings of sadness as well as guilt for at least two weeks, is called Depressive Disorder.
- Major depressive disorder is defined as a period of depressed mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, together with other symptoms which may include a change in body weight, constant sleep problems, tiredness, inability to think clearly, agitation, greatly slowed behaviour, and thoughts of death and suicide.
Definition: Suicide
Suicide is a result of complex interface of biological, genetic, psychological, sociological, cultural and environmental factors.
Definition: Schizophrenia
- Schizophrenia is the descriptive term for a group of psychotic disorders in which personal, social, and occupational functioning deteriorate as a result of disturbed thought processes, strange perceptions, unusual emotional states, and motor abnormalities.
- Schizophreniais a breakdown of integrated personality function, withdrawal from reality, emotional blocking, distortion, and disturbances of thought and behaviour.
- It is a complex disorder or a cluster of disorders characterized by fragmentation of basic psychological disorders like attention, perception, thought, emotion, behaviour, social relationships, and motivation.
Definition: Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability refers to below-average intellectual functioning (with an IQ of approximately 70 or below), and deficits or impairments in adaptive behaviour (i.e., in the areas of communication, self-care, home living, social/interpersonal skills, functional academic skills, work, etc.) which are manifested before the age of 18 years.
Key Points
Key Points: Concept of Psychological Disorders
- Psychological disorders refer to maladaptive behaviour, where a person fails to adjust effectively to life’s challenges.
- Abnormal psychology studies the causes, symptoms, and treatment of such maladaptive behaviours.
- Historically, abnormal behaviour was explained through supernatural beliefs like evil spirits and exorcism.
- The biological approach explains disorders as results of brain or body dysfunctions.
- The psychological approach views disorders as caused by faulty thinking, emotions, or perceptions.
- Ancient theories like the four humours (Galen) and Indian doshas also linked bodily imbalance to mental disorders.
- The modern view follows a bio-psycho-social approach, which considers biological, psychological, and social factors together in understanding mental disorders.
Key Points: Concept of Abnormal Behaviour
- Modern life stress such as competition, unemployment, disasters, and rapid social changes increases psychological disorders.
- Psychological problems are rising due to changes in society, culture, and lifestyle.
- Abnormal behaviour means deviation from normal behaviour.
- Normal and abnormal behaviour differ in kind, not just in degree.
- Abnormal behaviour shows poor adjustment to environment and situations.
Key Points: Classification of Psychological Disorders
- Classification of psychological disorders is necessary for proper diagnosis and specific treatment.
- Mental disorders are classified based on symptoms and syndromes (a group of related symptoms).
- Proper diagnosis helps in understanding causes and selecting correct treatment.
- Two major classification systems are ICD-10 (by WHO) and DSM (by American Psychiatric Association).
- ICD-10 is used worldwide and includes both physical and mental disorders.
- DSM (currently DSM-5) provides detailed criteria for diagnosis and is widely used by psychologists and psychiatrists.
- DSM classification is descriptive in nature and focuses on patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
Key Points: Factors Underlying Abnormal Behaviour
- Abnormal behaviour is explained through different approaches that focus on biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors.
- Biological factors include faulty genes, brain dysfunction, and neurotransmitter imbalances (e.g., low serotonin in depression, excess dopamine in schizophrenia).
- Psychological factors include early childhood experiences, family problems, stress, and faulty thinking patterns.
- Major psychological models are psychodynamic (unconscious conflicts), behavioural (learned maladaptive behaviour), cognitive (irrational thinking), and humanistic-existential (failure in self-growth).
- Socio-cultural factors such as family environment, social isolation, discrimination, and rapid social change can lead to psychological problems.
- Social labeling and lack of support may worsen abnormal behaviour.
- The diathesis-stress model states that psychological disorders develop when a biological vulnerability combines with stressful life events.
Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Anxiety Disorders
- Anxiety disorder is a long-lasting excessive worry or fear that interferes with daily life.
- GAD involves unrealistic and persistent worry with symptoms like restlessness, headache, and rapid heartbeat.
- A phobia is an intense and irrational fear of specific objects or situations, leading to avoidance.
- Panic disorder causes sudden panic attacks with breathlessness and fear of losing control or dying.
- Severe anxiety shows symptoms like sweating, dizziness, tremors, nausea, and sleep problems.
Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Trauma and Stress Related Disorders
- Trauma and stress-related disorders arise from inability to cope with intense stress.
- Events like accidents, war, or abuse can cause severe stress reactions.
- Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) lasts 3 days to 4 weeks with symptoms like nightmares and flashbacks.
- If symptoms persist beyond a month, it becomes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
- Symptoms include emotional numbness, irritability, guilt, and social withdrawal.
- Trauma progresses through shock, suggestible, and recovery stages, but some may develop PTSD.
Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
- Somatic Symptom Disorders involve physical symptoms without a medical cause, driven by psychological factors.
- Somatic Symptom Disorder includes persistent health worries and physical complaints.
- Illness Anxiety Disorder involves excessive fear of having a serious illness despite reassurance.
- Conversion Disorder causes loss of motor/sensory function (e.g., paralysis) due to stress.
- These disorders disrupt daily life, even without a clear medical condition.
Key Points: Depressive Disorders
- Dissociative disorders affect memory, identity, and sense of reality.
- People may feel detached, confused about identity, or forget important events.
- Main types: Amnesia, Fugue, DID, and Depersonalization/Derealization.
- They are usually caused by severe stress or childhood trauma.
- They are not due to brain damage and occur across cultures.
Key Points: Depressive Disorders
- Depressive Disorder involves extreme sadness and loss of interest lasting at least two weeks.
- Major Depressive Disorder requires five or more symptoms like sleep/appetite changes, fatigue, guilt, poor concentration, and suicidal thoughts.
- Normal sadness is temporary, but depression is long-lasting and seriously affects daily life.
- Bipolar Disorder involves mood swings between mania and depression, often in cycles.
- Mania shows high energy, less sleep, rapid speech, and risky behaviour.
- Risk factors include genetics, stressful life events, and higher risk in women.
Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder) involves alternating episodes of mania (extreme happiness, excitement) and depression (sadness, hopelessness).
- Bipolar I disorder includes clear manic and depressive episodes, sometimes with normal mood periods in between.
- Causes include genetic factors and an imbalance of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
- Suicide risk is high in mood disorders and is influenced by biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors.
- Warning signs in students include sudden behaviour change, declining performance, isolation, and substance use.
- Suicide prevention includes early identification, proper treatment, emotional support, limiting access to means, and strengthening self-esteem.
Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Schizophrenia
- The term schizophrenia was coined by Paul Eugen Bleuler in 1911 from the Greek words schizein (split) and phren (mind), referring to fragmented thinking.
- It is a psychotic disorder that usually begins in adolescence or young adulthood and disturbs thoughts, emotions, perception, and behaviour.
- It is a complex cluster of disorders involving withdrawal from reality and problems in attention, perception, motivation, and social relationships.
- Important theorists include Meyer (life stresses), Sullivan (social isolation), Langfeldt (types of schizophrenia), and Schneider (first-rank symptoms).
- Symptoms include positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganised thinking), negative symptoms (alogia, flat affect, avolition, social withdrawal), and psychomotor symptoms (catatonia).
Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Neurodevelopmental disorders appear in early childhood and affect personal, social, academic, and occupational functioning.
- These disorders include ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and Specific Learning Disorder.
- ADHD is marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, such as difficulty concentrating, sitting still, and controlling behaviour.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder involves problems in social interaction, communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours.
- Intellectual Disability involves below-average IQ (around 70 or below) and deficits in adaptive skills before 18 years of age.
- Specific Learning Disorder causes difficulty in reading, writing, or mathematics despite normal intelligence.
- Early identification and proper support are important to prevent long-term difficulties.
Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders
- Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders include Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder.
- ODD is marked by stubbornness, irritability, defiance, disobedience, and hostile behaviour toward authority figures.
- Children with ODD often justify their behaviour and do not see themselves as angry or oppositional.
- Conduct Disorder involves serious rule violations and behaviour that harms people, animals, or property.
- Aggressive behaviour may be verbal (name-calling), physical (hitting), hostile (intent to hurt), or proactive (bullying without provocation).
Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Eating Disorders
- Eating disorders are serious problems related to eating habits and body image, often starting in adolescence.
- Anorexia nervosa involves fear of weight gain, very little eating, and severe weight loss.
- Bulimia nervosa involves binge eating followed by purging like vomiting or using laxatives.
- Binge eating disorder involves repeated uncontrolled eating without purging.
- Other types include pica (eating non-food items) and rumination disorder (re-chewing food).
Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
- Substance-related and addictive disorders involve repeated and harmful use of substances like alcohol, heroin, cocaine, tobacco, and other drugs that change mood and behaviour.
- Addiction develops when a person becomes physically and psychologically dependent and cannot control or stop the use of the substance.
- Common signs include increased tolerance, painful withdrawal symptoms, neglect of work and family, and continued use despite serious harm.
- Substance abuse can damage physical health, mental functioning, relationships, and may even lead to accidents or death due to overdose.
- Addiction also affects families and society, but recovery is possible with proper treatment and support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Important Questions [2]
Concepts [16]
- Concept of Psychological Disorders
- Concept of Abnormal Behaviour
- Classification of Psychological Disorders
- Factors Underlying Abnormal Behaviour
- Major Psychological Disorder> Anxiety Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Major Psychological Disorder> Trauma and Stress Related Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Dissociative Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Bipolar Disorder
- Major Psychological Disorder> Schizophrenia
- Major Psychological Disorder> Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Eating Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
