Module 22 Assessment Anxiety Disorders Virginia Union University

Module 22 Assessment & Anxiety Disorders Virginia Union University Introduction to Psychology

What are your norms? • What do you consider to be “normal” behavior? • What do you consider to be “abnormal” behavior?

Mental Disorder • A prolonged or recurring problem that seriously interferes with an individual’s ability to live a satisfying personal life and function adequately in society ▫ Not just abnormal behavior, but abnormal behaviors that are: �Statistically infrequent �Deviate from social norms �Maladaptive behaviors

Definition of Abnormal Behavior • Statistical Frequency ▫ Behavior may be considered abnormal if it occurs rarely or infrequently in relation to the behaviors of the general population �Ex: Cannibalism in the US vs. in Melanesian tribes ▫ But……limited usefulness, depends on whether the abnormal behavior is considered “desirable” �Ex: getting a Ph. D or becoming a millionaire

Definition of Abnormal Behavior • Deviation from Social Norms ▫ Deviates greatly from accepted social standards, values or norms ▫ Can be risky as norms are prone to change �Ex: men wearing earrings, women desiring to be thin

Definition of Abnormal Behavior • Maladaptive Behavior ▫ Behavior is psychologically damaging or abnormal if it interferes with the individual’s ability to function in his or her personal life or in society. �Ex: do you prefer smaller social gatherings or are you agoraphobic? �Ex: do you drink socially on occasion, or does your life center around your maintaining a state of drunkenness? ▫ Most useful definition for mental health professionals

Causes of Mental Disorders • Biological Factors ▫ Genetic factors �Are unlearned or inherited tendencies that influence how a person think, behaves and feels �Ex: genetic link to schizophrenia ▫ Neurological factors �Abnormal brain functioning contributing to mental disorders �Ex: overactive amygdala contributing to social phobia

Causes of Mental Disorders • Cognitive/Emotional/Behavioral/Environmental Factors ▫ Include deficits in cognitive processes (such as having unusual thoughts or beliefs) ▫ Deficits in processing emotional stimuli (such as understanding or overreacting to emotional situations) ▫ Behavioral problems (such as lacking social skills) ▫ Also includes the experience of traumatic events �Ex: war veterans & PTSD

PTSD • PTSD – The War Within ▫ Experienced by those who experience a traumatic event/episode ▫ Estimated to impact one in three soldiers who have served in Afghanistan & Iraq

Assessing Mental Disorders • Clinical assessments used to diagnose mental disorders ▫ Involves systematic evaluation of an individual’s various psychological, biological, and social factors, as well as identifying past and present problems, stressors, and other cognitive or behavioral symptoms ▫ Three methods �Neurological tests �Clinical interviews �Psychological tests

Assessing Mental Disorders • Neurological Tests ▫ Check for possible brain damage or malfunction �Might include evaluating reflexes, brain structures (MRI scans) and brain functions (f. MRI) �Mental disorders can be caused by tumors, diseases & brain infections

Assessing Mental Disorders • Clinical Interviews ▫ One method of gathering information about a person’s past and current behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, emotions & problems ▫ Some are unstructured – no set questions ▫ Some are structured – follow a standard format or ask similar questions

Assessing Mental Disorders • Psychological Tests ▫ Includes two different types of tests �Objective tests �Self report, questionnaires �Consists of specific statements or questions to which the person responds �Ex: personality tests �Projective tests �Have no set answers �Consists of ambiguous stimuli for a person to interpret �Ex: Rorschach inkblot tests

Rorschach Inkblot Test