CBSE Class 12 Psychology Psychological Disorders Worksheet

Question. Describe the characteristics of children with hyperactivity.
Answer. Hyperactivity also takes many forms. Children with ADHD are in constant motion. Sitting still through a lesson is impossible for them. The child may fidget, squirm, climb and run around the room aimlessly. Parents and teachers describe them as ‘driven by a motor’, always on the go, and talk incessantly.

Question. What are the consequences of alcohol substance addiction?
Answer. People who abuse alcohol drink large amounts regularly and rely on it to help them face difficult situations. Eventually the drinking interferes with their social behaviour and ability to think and work. Their bodies then build up a tolerance for alcohol and they need to drink even greater amounts to feel its effects. They also experience withdrawal responses when they stop drinking. Alcoholism destroys millions of families, social relationships and careers. Intoxicated drivers are responsible for many road accidents. It also has serious effects on the children of persons with this disorder. These children have higher rates of psychological problems, particularly anxiety, depression, phobias and substance-related disorders. Excessive drinking can seriously damage physical health.

Question. “Physicians make diagnosis looking at a person’s physical symptoms”. How are psychological disorders diagnosed?
Answer. The first approach views abnormal behaviour as a deviation from social norms. Many psychologists have stated that ‘abnormal’ is simply a label that is given to a behaviour which is deviant from social expectations. Abnormal behaviour, thoughts and emotions are those that differ markedly from a society’s ideas of proper functioning. Each society has norms, which are stated or unstated rules for proper conduct. Behaviours, thoughts and emotions that break societal norms are called abnormal. A society’s norms grow from its particular culture — its history, values, institutions, habits, skills, technology, and arts. Thus, a society whose culture values competition and assertiveness may accept aggressive behaviour, whereas one that emphasises cooperation and family values (such as in India) may consider aggressive behaviour as unacceptable or even abnormal.
A society’s values may change over time, causing its views of what is psychologically abnormal to change as well. Serious questions have been raised about this definition. It is based on the assumption that socially accepted behaviour is not abnormal, and that normality is nothing more than conformity to social norms. The second approach views abnormal behaviour as maladaptive. Many psychologists believe that the best criterion for determining the normality of behaviour is not whether society accepts it but whether it fosters the well-being of the individual and eventually of the group to which s/he belongs. Well-being is not simply maintenance and survival but also includes growth and fulfilment, i.e. the actualisation of potential, which you must have studied in Maslow’s need hierarchy theory. According to this criterion, conforming behaviour can be seen as abnormal if it is maladaptive, i.e. if it interferes with optimal functioning and growth. For example, a student in the class prefers to remain silent even when s/ he has questions in her/his mind. Describing behaviour as maladaptive implies that a problem exists; it also suggests that vulnerability in the individual, inability to cope, or exceptional stress in the environment have led to problems in life.

Question. Distinguish between obsessions and compulsions.
Answer. People affected by obsessive compulsive disorder are unable to control their preoccupation with specific ideas or are unable to prevent themselves from repeatedly carrying out a particular act or series of acts that affect their ability to carry out normal activities. Obsessive behaviour is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic. The person involved, often finds these thoughts to be unpleasant and shameful. Compulsive behaviour is the need to perform certain behaviours over and over again. Many compulsions deal with counting, ordering, checking, touching and washing. Other disorders in this category include hoarding disorder, trichotillomania (hairpulling disorder), excoriation (skin-picking) disorder etc.

Question. While speaking in public the patient changes topics frequently, is this a positive or a negative symptom of schizophrenia? Describe the other symptoms of schizophrenia.
Answer. Positive symptoms are ‘pathological excesses’ or ‘bizarre additions’ to a person’s behaviour. Delusions, disorganised thinking and speech, heightened perception and hallucinations, and inappropriate affect are the ones most often found in schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia may not be able to think logically and may speak in peculiar ways. These formal thought disorders can make communication extremely difficult. These include rapidly shifting from one topic to another so that the normal structure of thinking is muddled and becomes illogical (loosening of associations, derailment), inventing new words or phrases (neologisms), and persistent and inappropriate repetition of the same thoughts (perseveration).
Schizophrenics show positive symptoms (i.e. excesses of thought, emotion, and behaviour), negative symptoms (i.e. deficits of thought, emotion, and behaviour), and psychomotor symptoms. Positive symptoms are ‘pathological excesses’ or ‘bizarre additions’ to a person’s behaviour. Delusions, disorganised thinking and speech, heightened perception and hallucinations, and inappropriate affect are the ones most often found in schizophrenia.
Many people with schizophrenia develop delusions. A delusion is a false belief that is firmly held on inadequate grounds. It is not affected by rational argument, and has no basis in reality. Delusions of persecution are the most common in schizophrenia. People with this delusion believe that they are being plotted against, spied on, slandered, threatened, attacked or deliberately victimised. People with schizophrenia may also experience delusions of reference in which they attach special and personal meaning to the actions of others or to objects and events. In delusions of grandeur, people believe themselves to be specially empowered persons and in delusions of control, they believe that their feelings, thoughts and actions are controlled by others. People with schizophrenia may have hallucinations, i.e. perceptions that occur in the absence of external stimuli. Auditory hallucinations are most common in schizophrenia. Patients hear sounds or voices that speak words, phrases and sentences directly to the patient (second-person hallucination) or talk to one another referring to the patient as s/he (third-person hallucination). Hallucinations can also involve the other senses. These include tactile hallucinations (i.e. forms of tingling, burning), somatic hallucinations (i.e. something happening inside the body such as a snake crawling inside one’s stomach), visual hallucinations (i.e. vague perceptions of colour or distinct visions of people or objects), gustatory hallucinations (i.e. food or drink taste strange), and olfactory hallucinations (i.e. smell of poison or smoke). People with schizophrenia also show inappropriate affect, i.e. emotions that are unsuited to the situation.
Negative symptoms are ‘pathological deficits’ and include poverty of speech, blunted and flat affect, loss of volition, and social withdrawal. People with schizophrenia show alogia or poverty of speech, i.e. a reduction in speech and speech content. Many people with schizophrenia show less anger, sadness, joy, and other feelings than most people do. Thus they have blunted affect. Some show no emotions at all, a condition known as flat affect. Also patients with schizophrenia experience avolition, or apathy and an inability to start or complete a course of action. People with this disorder may withdraw socially and become totally focused on their own ideas and fantasies.People with schizophrenia also show psychomotor symptoms. They move less spontaneously or make odd grimaces and gestures. These symptoms may take extreme forms known as catatonia. People in a catatonic stupor remain motionless and silent for long stretches of time. Some show catatonic rigidity, i.e. maintaining a rigid, upright posture for hours. Others exhibit catatonic posturing, i.e. assuming awkward, bizarre positions for long periods of time. 

CBSE Class 12 Psychology Chapter 4 Psychological Disorders Objective Type Questions

Question. Biological factors which influence our behaviour are
(a) faulty genes
(b) endocrine imbalances
(c) malnutrition
(d) all the above
Answer. D

Question. An individual having sudden and temporary fluctuation of consciousness that blots out painful experiences is showing signs of:
(a) panic disorder
(b) mood disorder
(c) conversion disorder
(d) dissociative disorder
Answer. C

Question. When people believe themselves to be specially empowered persons suffer from
(a) delusion of reference
(b) delusion of control
(c) delusion of grandeur
(d) hallucination
Answer. C

Question. ‘I can control the weather according to my moods’. This is a statement made by a person suffering from delusion of _____________.
(a) persecution
(b) reference
(c) grandeur
(d) control
Answer. C

Question. ‘At risk’ people fall into which category or model of abnormal behaviour?
(a) Psychodynamic model
(b) Behavioural model
(c) Cognitive model
(d) Diathesis-stress model
Answer. D

Question. Obsessive-Compulsive and related disorders include
(a) Hoarding disorder
(b) Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)
(c) Excoriation (skin-picking disorder)
(d) all the above
Answer. D

Question. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychological problem that results from ____________.
Answer. Traumatic experiences

Question. Stressor–Related Disorders are: ____________disorder and ____________disorder.
Answer. adjustment, acute stress

Question. A dream-like state separating self from reality is known as______________.
Answer. Bipolar mood disorder

Question. Mood disorders in both mania and depression are alternatively present is known as ____________. 
Answer. Depersonalisation

Question. A false belief that is firmly held on inadequate grounds is known as ______________.
Answer. Delusion

Question. The craze for thinness valued by models and actors is termed as ____________.(Anorexia nervosa/Bulimia)
Answer. Anorexia nervosa

Question. In bulimia nervosa, the individual eats excessive amount of food, then purge his/her body of food by using medicines such as laxatives or diuretics or by vomiting. (True/ False)
Answer. True

Question. Inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic is known as _______________ behaviour. 
Answer. Obsessive

Question. Compulsive behaviour is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic. (True/False) 
Answer. False

CBSE Class 12 Psychology Chapter 4 Psychological Disorders Very Short Answer Questions 

Question. Explain the term ‘phobias’. 
Answer. People with phobias have irrational fears related to specific objects, people or situations. For example, irrational fears such as intense fear of a certain type of animal or if being in an enclosed space.

Question. What is Panic Disorder?
Answer. Panic Disorder involves constant anxiety attacks in which the person experiences terror.
The clinical features include shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, palpitations,choking nausea, chest pain or discomfort, fear of going crazy, losing control or dying.

Question. What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? 
Answer. People who have been caught in a natural disaster such as tsunami or have been victims of bomb blasts by terrorists, or been in a serious accident or in a war-related situation experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD symptoms include recurrent dreams, flashbacks, impaired concentration and emotional numbing.

Question. Explain the term ‘anorexia nervosa’.
Answer. In this the individuals have a distorted body image and consider themselves as overweight. They refuse to eat especially in front of others, exercise compulsively and lose large amounts of weight and even starve themselves to death.

Question. What are norms?
Answer. Each society has norms, which are stated or unstated rules for proper conduct.Behaviours, thoughts and emotions that break societal norms are called abnormal.

Question. What is stigma?
Answer. Stigma attached to mental illness means that people are hesitant to consult a doctor or psychologist because they are ashamed of their problems.

Question. Explain binge eating. 
Answer. Binge Eating: In this, there are frequent episodes of out-of-control eating. Large amount of food is eaten even when the individual is not feeling hungry.

Question. Differentiate between externalising and internalising disorders of childhood.
Answer. Externalising Disorders include behaviours that are disruptive, aggressive and aversive to others in the child’s environment while Internalising Disorders are those conditions where the child experiences depression, anxiety and discomfort.

CBSE Class 12 Psychology Chapter 4 Psychological Disorders Short Answer Questions-I 

Question. Explain autistic disorder. 
OR
Explain pervasive developmental disorder.
Answer. Autistic disorder or autism is a Pervasive Developmental Disorder characterised by severe and widespread impairments in social interaction and communication skills, and stereotyped patterns of behaviours, interests and activities and strong desire for routine. About 70% of children with autism are also mentally retarded.
These children experience profound difficulties in relating to other people. They are unable to initiate social behaviour and seem unresponsive to other people’s feelings. They are unable to share experiences or emotions with others. They show serious abnormalities in communication and language that persist over time. Many autistic children never develop speech and those who do, have repetitive and deviant speech patterns. They show narrow patterns of interests and repetitive behaviours such as lining objects or stereotyped body movements such as rocking, hand flapping or banging their head against the wall.

Question. Differentiate between delusions and hallucinations.
Answer. Delusions are false beliefs held on inadequate grounds. For example, delusions of grandeur in which people believe themselves to be specially empowered persons. Hallucinations are perceptions that occur in the absence of external stimuli. For example, in auditory hallucinations patients hear sounds or voices that speak words, phrases and sentences directly to the patient (second-person hallucination) or talk to one another referring to the patient (third-person hallucination).

Question. What are the characteristics of the children suffering from ADHD?
Answer. The main features of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Common complaints of children who are inattentive are that the child does not listen, cannot concentrate, does not follow instructions, is disorganized, easily distracted, forgetful, does not finish assignments and is quick to lose interest in boring activities. Children who are impulsive find it difficult to wait or take turns, have difficulty resisting immediate temptations or delaying gratifications. They may knock things over and sometimes more serious accidents and injuries occur. Hyperactive children fidget, squirm, climb and run around the room aimlessly.

Question. Distinguish between normal and abnormal behaviour.
Answer. There are various views to distinguish abnormal and normal behaviour. Behaviour is considered as abnormal if it is
(i) Deviated from social norms: Behaviour that is deviant from social expectations or norms (the stated or unstated rules for proper conduct) are classified as abnormal.
(ii) Deviant from culture expectations: A society whose culture values competition and assertiveness may accept aggressive behaviour, whereas one that emphasizes cooperation and family values may consider aggressive behaviour as unacceptable or even abnormal.
(iii) Maladaptive: Behaviour is seen as abnormal if it is maladaptive, i.e., if it interferes with optimal functioning and growth.

Question. How does diathesis stress model explain abnormal behaviour? 
Answer. The 3 components of diathesis stress model are:
(i) Diathesis or the presence of some biological aberration which may be inherited.
(ii) The person may carry a vulnerability to develop a disorder. The person is ‘at risk’ or ‘predisposed’ to develop the disorder.
(iii) There is a presence of pathogenic stressors that may lead to psychopathology.

Question. Describe Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders.
Answer. The disorders under this category are:
(i) Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): These children display age inappropriate amounts of stubbornness, are irritable, defiant, disobedient and behave in a hostile manner.
(ii) Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Behaviour: These children show age-inappropriate actions and attitudes that violate family expectations, societal norms and the personal and property rights of others. These include aggressive actions that cause or threaten harm to people or animals, non-aggressive conduct that cause property damage, show major deceitfulness or theft or violate rules.
(iii) Aggression: Children show many different types of aggressive behaviour such as verbal aggression (i.e. name-calling, swearing), physical aggression (i.e. hitting, fighting), hostile aggression (i.e. directed at inflicting injury to others), and proactive aggression (i.e. dominating and bullying others without provocation).

CBSE Class 12 Psychology Chapter 4 Psychological Disorders Short Answer Questions-II

Question. Explain abnormal behaviour from the perspective of socio-cultural model.
OR
Explain mental disorder from socio-cultural perspective. 
Answer. There are various views to distinguish abnormal and normal behaviour. Behaviour is considered as abnormal if it is
(i) Deviated from Social Norms: Behaviour that is deviant from social expectations or norms (the stated or unstated rules for proper conduct) are classified as abnormal.
(ii) Deviant from Culture Expectations: A society whose culture values competition and assertiveness may accept aggressive behaviour, whereas one that emphasizes cooperation and family values may consider aggressive behaviour as unacceptable or even abnormal.
(iii) Maladaptive: Behaviour is seen as abnormal if it is maladaptive, i.e. if it interferes with optimal functioning and growth.
Behaviour is shaped by societal forces and hence family structure and communication, social networks, societal conditions and societal labels and roles play an important role. Socio-cultural factors such as war and violence, group prejudice and discrimination, economic and employment problems, and rapid social change, put stress on most of us and can lead to psychological problems in some individuals. People who are isolated and lack social support i.e. strong and fulfilling interpersonal relationships in their lives are likely to become more depressed.

Question. What are Substance-use Disorders? Illustrate the two categories of substance use disorders.
Differentiate between substance dependence and substance abuse. 
Answer. Substance-use disorders include problems associated with using and abusing drugs such as alcohol, cocaine and heroin. In substance dependence, the person addicted shows withdrawal symptoms and compulsive drug-taking. In substance abuse, the person addicted damage their family and social relationships, perform poorly at work and create physical hazards.
The following are the two types of substance use disorders:
Substance dependence: Intense craving for the substance addicted to. Individuals show tolerance, withdrawal symptoms and compulsive drug taking. The substance can change mood, thinking processes and consciousness.
Substance abuse: Recurrent and significant consequences of use of substances. Damage to family, social relationship, poor work performance and physical hazards. Alcohol, cocaine, heroin are common substances abused.

Question. What are the features of abnormal behaviour?
Answer. Abnormal behaviour has common features known as the four Ds:
(i) Deviance: The person shows different, extreme, unusual or bizarre behaviour.
(ii) Distressing: The behaviour shown is unpleasant and upsetting to the person and to others.
(iii) Dysfunctional: The behaviour interferes with the person’s ability to carry out daily activities in a constructive way.
(iv) Dangerous: The behaviour is dangerous to self and to others.

Question. What is meant by mental disorders? How are they classified? Discuss the role of biological factors in abnormal behaviour.
Answer. Mental disorders are abnormal behaviours deviated from some clearly defined norms or standards. Mental disorders have certain common features called 4D’s: deviance, distress, dysfunction and danger.The American Psychiatric Association (APS) classified mental disorders on 5 axes or dimensions popularly known as Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMIV). World Health Organization (WHO) classified mental disorders by the classification system known as International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Biological causes of abnormal behaviour are faulty genes, endocrine imbalances, malnutrition, injuries and other conditions that may interfere with normal development and functioning of the human body.

Studies indicate that abnormal activity by certain neuro-transmitters can lead to specific psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders are due to low activity of neuro-transmitter Gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), schizophrenia to excess activity of Dopamine and depression to low activity of Serotonin.
Genetic factors have been linked to mood disorders, schizophrenia, mental disorders etc.

Question. What are Somatoform Disorders? Explain with examples.
OR
State the different types of Somatoform Disorders. Discuss conversion disorders with examples.
OR
What are Somatic symptoms and Related Disorder?
OR
What are Somatoform Disorders. Discuss conversion disorders with examples.
OR
Explain Somatoform Disorders. Describe any two somatoform disorders with examples.
Answer. Somatoform Disorders are the conditions in which there are physical symptoms in the absence of a physical disease or a biological cause. In these disorders, the individual has psychological difficulties and complains of physical symptoms, for which there is no biological cause. It is of the following 3 types.
(i) Somatic symptom Disorders: This involves a person having persistent body-related symptom in the absence of a serious medical condition. These people are too occupied with their symptoms, worry about their health and frequently visit doctors. They are extremely distressed and disturbed.
(ii) Illness anxiety Disorders: They are constantly worried about developing a serious illness and anxiety about one’s health.
(iii) Conversion Disorders: In this, the patient reports loss of part or all of some basic body functions. Paralysis, blindness, deafness and difficulty in walking are some of the symptoms reported especially after a stressful experience. For example a person who has lost a dear one in an earthquake has no brain injuries but reports of paralysis of one side of body.
For example
(a) A person who has normal eye-sight may report of blindness just before the exams due to examination anxiety and may show difficulty in reading the book.
(b) A person who has lost a dear one in an earthquake has no brain injuries but reports of paralysis of one side of body.

CBSE Class 12 Psychology Chapter 4 Psychological Disorders Long Answer Questions

Question. Explain the diathesis-stress model of abnormal behaviour giving examples from daily life. 
Answer. The three components of diathesis stress model are:
(i) Diathesis or the presence of some biological aberration which may be inherited.
(ii) The person may carry a vulnerability to develop a disorder. The person is ‘at risk’ or ‘predisposed’ to develop the disorder.
(iii) There is a presence of pathogenic stressors that may lead to psychopathology.
For example, Aggression refers to behaviour that is intended to cause harm to others. It is demonstrated through harsh words or criticism or hostile feelings against others. The 3 components of diathesis stress model are explained in the case of aggression:
(i) Diathesis or the presence of some biological aberration which may be inherited is demonstrated when aggression occurs due to an inborn tendency which may be meant for self-defense.
(ii) The person may carry a vulnerability to develop a disorder. The person is ‘at risk’ or ‘predisposed’ to develop the disorder. This is observed in a general physiological state of arousal or feeling activated which might be expressed in the form of aggression. Personality factors such as people with low self-esteem and those who feel insecure are more likely to show aggression.
(iii) There is a presence of pathogenic stressors that may lead to psychopathology. This is observed in people who in frustrated situations show more aggression than those who are not frustrated. In an experiment children are frustrated by preventing them from getting attractive toys that are visible through a screen. These children are found to be more destructive than those children who are allowed to access the toys.

Question. Describe the psychological models to explain abnormal behaviour/mental disorders.
Explain mental disorders from the perspective of any two psychological models.
Answer. Psychological and interpersonal factors have a significant role to play in abnormal behaviour. These factors include maternal deprivation (separation from the mother, or lack of warmth and stimulation during early years of life, faulty parent-child relationship (rejection, over-protection, over-permissiveness, faulty discipline etc.), maladaptive family structures (inadequate family structures) and severe stress. The following are the psychological models to explain abnormal behaviour:

Psychological models provide a psychological explanation of mental disorders. These models maintain that psychological and interpersonal factors have a significant role to play in abnormal behaviour. These factors include maternal deprivation (separation from the mother, or lack of warmth and stimulation during early years of life), faulty parent-child relationships (rejection, over-protection, over-permissiveness, faulty discipline), maladaptive family structures (inadequate or disturbed family) and severe stress. The psychological models include psychodynamic, behavioural, cognitive and humanistic-existential models.

(i) Psychodynamic model: Psychodynamic theorists believe that behaviour is determined by psychological forces of which the individual is not consciously aware. This model was first formulated by Freud who believed that three forces shape personality – instinctual needs, drives and impulses (id), rational thinking (ego) and moral standards (superego). They believe that abnormal behaviour is due to unconscious mental conflicts that can be traced to early childhood period.

(ii) Behavioural model: According to this model maladaptive ways of behaving is learned through classical conditioning (temporal association in which two events repeatedly occur close together in time), operant conditioning (behaviour is followed by a reward), social learning (learning by imitating others’ behaviour).

(iii) Cognitive model: People may hold assumptions and attitudes about themselves that are irrational and inaccurate. People may also repeatedly think in illogical ways and make over-generalisations and draw negative conclusions on the basis of a single insignificant event.

(iv) Humanistic-existential model: Humanists believe that human beings are born with a natural tendency to be friendly, cooperative and constructive and are driven to selfactualise, i.e., to fulfill this potential for goodness and growth. They further believe that from birth we have total freedom to give meaning to our existence or avoid that responsibility. Those who shrink from this responsibility live empty, inauthentic and dysfunctional lives.

Question. Describe the neurodevelopmental disorders.
Answer. Neurodevelopmental disorders manifest in the early stage of development. Symptoms appear before the child enters school or during the early stage of schooling. These children show age-inappropriate behaviour in which social, academic and occupational functioning are disturbed. Several disorders of childhood are:

(i) Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)– The main features of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Common complaints of children who are inattentive are that the child does not listen, cannot concentrate, does not follow instructions, is disorganized, easily distracted, forgetful, does not finish assignments and is quick to lose interest in boring activities. Children who are impulsive find it difficult to wait or take turns, have difficulty in resisting immediate temptations or delaying gratifications. They may knock things over and sometimes more serious accidents and injuries occur. Hyperactive children fidget, squirm, climb and run around the room aimlessly.

(ii) Autism Spectrum Disorders– These disorders are characterized by severe impairments in social interaction and communication skills, and stereotyped patterns of behaviours, interests and activities. These children have marked difficulties in social interaction and communication; and strong desire for routine. About 70% of children with autism are also mentally retarded.
Children with this disorder experience profound difficulties in relating to other people. They are unable to initiate social behaviour and are unresponsive to other people’s feelings. They are unable to share experiences or emotions with others. They show serious abnormalities in communication and language. Many of them never develop speech and those who do have repetitive and deviant speech patterns. These children show narrow patterns of interest and repetive behaviours such as lining up objects or stereotyped body movements such as rocking hand flapping or banging their head against the wall.

(iii) Intellectual disability– This refers to below average intellectual functioning with IQ 70 or below and deficits or impairments in adaptive behaviour i.e. in areas of communication, self-care, home living, social/interpersonal skills, functional academic skills, work; and which are manifested below the age of 18 years.

(iv) Specific learning disorder – In this, the individual experiences difficulty in perceiving or processing information efficiently and accurately. These get manifested during early school years and the individual encounters problems in basic skills in reading, writing and/or mathematics. The affected child tends to perform below average for his/her age. However, individuals may be able to reach acceptable performance levels with additional inputs and efforts. Specific learning disorder is likely to impair functioning and performance in activities/occupations dependent on the related skills.

Important Notes for Class 12 Psychology Chapter 4 Psychological Disorders 

Chapter At A Glance

Mental disorders are disturbances of an individual’s behavioural or psychological functioning that are not culturally expected and that lead to psychological distress, behavioural disability and/or impaired overall functioning. At different times in the past, psychological disorders were attributed to supernatural causes (e.g., evil spirits) or natural causes (e.g., injuries to the brain). Modern psychological view suggests that mental disorders involve biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors as well as the joint effects of individual vulnerability (diatheses) and stressors. The DSM-V – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – is a widely used guide to mental disorders. It provides descriptions of these disorders, and information about biological factors associated with them. Psychologists use life records, assessment interviews, psychological tests, observations of behaviour and biological measures to accurately identify mental disorders.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood disorder in which children show inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Anorexia nervosa involves excessive fear of becoming fat. Bulimia nervosa involves repeated cycles of binging and purging. Autism is a disorder in which children show marked impairments in establishing social interactions with others, have nonexistent or poor language skills, and show stereotyped, repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests. Major symptoms of depression include negative mood, reduced energy, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in previously satisfying activities, difficulties in sleeping and significant changes in weight. Bipolar disorders involve wide swings in mood between deep depression and mania. Phobias are excessive and unrealistic fears focused on specific objects or situations. Panic disorder is intense, terrible anxiety that is not triggered by any specific situation or event; in many cases it is associated with agoraphobia – fear of open spaces or being away from home. In obsessive-compulsive disorder individuals have uncontrollable, unwanted, disturbing thoughts or mental images (obsessions) and engage in repetitious behaviours (compulsions) to neutralize such thoughts. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder in which people persistently re-experience a traumatic event in their thoughts or dreams, feel as if they are reliving the event from time to time, persistently avoid stimuli associated with the traumatic event, and experience symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep, irritability and difficulty in concentrating. Dissociative disorders are profound disruptions in a person’s memory, consciousness or identity. Mood disorders are influenced by genetic factors and by disturbances in brain activity. Psychological factors include learned helplessness, negative perceptions of oneself and a tendency to focus on one’s shortcomings. Steps that help prevent suicide include accurately assessing individual’s risk for suicidal behaviour, helping resolve the immediate crisis that surround and lead to most attempts and providing treatment to help persons at risk for suicide recover from feelings of hopelessness and despair. Schizophrenia is a very serious disorder characterized by hallucinations (e.g., hearing voices), delusions (beliefs with no basis in reality) and disturbances in speech, behaviour and emotion.

1. What are the four D’s associated with mental disorders?

2. What is exorcism?

3. Explain the word DSM?

4. What are the various eating disorders?

5. What are the various Substance disorders explain with examples?

6. Explain the somatoform disorders?

7. Describe about various dissociative disorders?

8. What are the various Anxiety disorders?

9. Explain various types of Phobias?

10. What are the characteristics of Schizophrenia and explain with examples?

11. What are the various types of schizophrenia explain?

12. What is mania?

13. What is bipolar mood disorder?

14. Explain the word Obsessive and compulsive disorder?

15. What is Autism?

16. Define ADHD?

17. Write about PTSD?

18. What are the various models to explain abnormal behavior?

19. Explain pervasive developmental disorders?

20. What is ODD?

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Differentiate between the various approaches given to describe abnormality.

2. What are the various factors that may exist in defining abnormality?

3. Differentiate between Agro phobia, Social phobia and Specific phobia.

4. How did the concept of Abnormality change from the Renaissance period onwards?

5. “Rupa is a 16 yr old girl who has a persistent belief that she has a serious illness, despite medical reassurance and failure to develop the disease. But she continuously worries about her disease.’

(a) which type of disorder is she suffering from?

(b) Explain the other disorders of the same category?

6. “Rahul is a 27 yr old young adult working in an M.N.C. he did not reach back home after office. After 4 yrs he suddenly came back home, but did not remember the past 4 yrs of his life. It seemed as if he suddenly woke up”

(a) Which type of disorder is Rahul suffering from?

(b) What are the other disorders of the same category?

7. How are negative symptoms different from positive ones?

8. What are the various effects of Alcohol on the biological system of an individual?

9. Differentiate between Veripolar and Bipolar disorder.

10. Explain the classification of various disorders given by ACHENBACK.