Psychology Unit 9 Anxiety Disorders+

Unit 9: Anxiety, Dissociative, and Personality Disorders : 

Unit 9: Anxiety, Dissociative, and Personality Disorders AP Psychology from a Christian Perspective

Anxiety Disorders : 

Anxiety Disorders E.Q. “What are anxiety disorders, and how do they differ from ordinary worries and fears we all experience?” Anxiety disorders: psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety. Generalized anxiety disorder, in which a person is unexplainably and continually tense and uneasy. Panic disorder, in which a person experiences sudden episodes of intense dread.

Anxiety Disorders : 

Anxiety Disorders Phobias, in which a person feels irrationally and intensely afraid of a specific object or situation. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, in which a person is troubled by repetitive thoughts or actions. Post-traumatic stress disorder, in which a person has lingering memories, nightmares, and other symptoms for weeks after a severely threatening, uncontrollable event.

Generalized Anxiety Disorders : 

Generalized Anxiety Disorders Two-thirds are women. Worry continually. Jittery, agitated, and sleep-deprived Concentration is difficult as attention switches from worry to worry. Tension and apprehension leak out through furrowed brows, twitching eyelids, trembling, perspiration, or fidgeting. Person may not be able to identify and therefore cannot deal with or avoid cause. The anxiety is “free-floating” ~ Sigmund Freud

Generalized Anxiety Disorders : 

Generalized Anxiety Disorders Often accompanied by depressed mood. May lead to physical problems, ulcers and high blood pressure.

Panic Disorders : 

Panic Disorders 1 person in 75 with anxiety disorder experience this. Anxiety suddenly escalates into terror. A minutes-long episode of intense fear. Heart palpitations, shortness of breath, choking sensations, trembling, or dizziness. May be misperceived as a heart attack or other serious aliment. Smokers have a two-to-fourfold risk.

Phobias : 

Phobias Anxiety disorders in which an irrational fear causes the person to avoid some specific object, activity, or situation. Many people accept and live with their phobia. Others are incapacitated by their efforts to avoid the feared situation.

Phobias cont. : 

Phobias cont. Not all are specific. Social phobia, an intense fear of being scrutinized by others, avoiding potentially embarrassing social situations Speaking up, eating out, going to parties Will sweat, tremble, or have diarrhea People who have experienced several panic attacks will come to fear the fear. Agoraphobia, fear or avoidance of situations in which escape might be difficult or help unavailable when panic strikes.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder : 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder These behaviors cross the line between normality and disorder when they become so persistent that they interfere with everyday life. They cross that line when they cause distress. 2 to 3% in their late teens and early twenties. Thoughts become haunting. Compulsive rituals senselessly time-consuming. Effective functioning becomes impossible.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder : 

PTSD Recurring haunting memories and nightmares. Social withdrawal. Jumpy anxiety. Insomnia. Depression. 1 in 6 U.S. Combat Infantry soldiers (2004). Symptoms also reported by survivors of accidents, disasters, and violent and sexual assaults. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder : 

So what determines whether whether a person gets PTSD after a traumatic event? The greater one’s emotional distress during a trauma, the higher the risk. The more frequent and severe the assault experiences, the more adverse the long-term outcomes. A sensitive limbic system, floods the body with stress hormones. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder : 

Most people display survivor resiliency. Half of all adults experience at least one traumatic event. 1 in 10 women and 1 in 20 men develop PTSD. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is often true. “What doesn’t kill you reveals just how strong you are.” Suffering may lead to post-traumatic growth. Suffering has transformative power. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Explaining Anxiety Disorders : 

E.Q. “What are the sources of the anxious feelings and thoughts that characterize anxiety disorders?” Anxiety is both feeling and cognition. Freud believed that we repressed intolerable impulses, ideas, and feelings; which later caused anxiety. Today’s Perspectives: The Learning Perspective The Biological Perspective Explaining Anxiety Disorders

The Learning Perspective : 

Fear Conditioning: Fear can be learned. (falling baby example) Naturally painful and frightening events can multiply into fears. Stimulus generalization and reinforcement play a part. Reinforcement helps maintain fears. Compulsive behaviors operate similarly. Observational Learning: Learn fears through observing other’s fears. Parents transmit fears to children. The Learning Perspective

The Biological Perspective : 

We seem biologically prepared to fear some threats. Biology is important. Genes: Genes matter. The Brain: Anxiety disorders are biologically measurable. An over arousal of brain areas involved in impulse control and habitual behaviors. Causes a “mental hiccup.” Fear-learning creates fear circuits in the amygdala. The Biological Perspective

Dissociative Disorders : 

E.Q. “What are the dissociative disorders, and why are they controversial?” Disorders of consciousness. A sudden loss of memory or change in identity. In response to an overwhelmingly stressful situation. Conscious awareness dissociates (becomes separated from) painful memories, thoughts, and feelings. All of us experience some dissociation. Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Identity Disorder : 

A massive dissociation of self from ordinary consciousness. DID Two or more distinct identities are said to alternately control the person’s behavior. Each personality has it’s own voice and mannerisms. The original personality typically denies any awareness of the other(s). Usually not violent, but there can be an exception. Dissociative Identity Disorder

Personality Disorders : 

E.Q. “What characteristics are typical of personality disorders?” Disruptive, inflexible, and enduring behavior patterns that impairs social functioning. Maladaptive. Withdrawn. Eccentric – emotionless disengagement. Dramatic or impulsive behaviors. Personality Disorders

Antisocial Personality Disorder : 

Formerly called sociopath or psychopath. Typically male. Lack of conscience before age 15. Lie, steal, fight, or unrestrained sexual behavior. 50% become antisocial adults. Unable to keep a job. Irresponsible spouse and parent. Assaultive or otherwise criminal. Keen intelligence combined with amorality. *Note: This does not describe most criminals. Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder cont. : 

Feel and fear little. Expresses little regret over violating other’s rights. Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Elwood Toole Antisocial Personality Disorder cont.

Antisocial Personality Disorder cont. : 

Biological and psychological issues play a part. Little autonomic nervous system arousal. Lower levels of stress hormones. Reduced activity in frontal lobe where impulses are controlled. 11% less frontal lobe tissue. Antisocial Personality Disorder cont.

Understanding Personality Disorders : 

Relative to 1960, in 1995 Americans were: Twice as likely to be murdered. Fours times as likely to report being raped. Four times as likely to report being robbed. Five times as likely to report being assaulted. Crime surged in Western nations until a decline after 1995. The Human gene pool has hardly changed. 1787 England exiled 160,000 criminals creating Australia. 5-6% of offenders commit 50-60% of crimes. Understanding Personality Disorders