5.4 Selection of Categories of Psychological Disorders

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected neurodevelopmental disorders.

• Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of disorders with onset occurring during the developmental period. Symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders focus on whether the person is exhibiting behaviors appropriate for their age or maturity range. Selected disorders in scope for AP Psychology in this category are attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Possible causes of neurodevelopmental disorders may be environmental, physiological, or genetic in nature.

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected schizophrenic spectrum disorders.

• Schizophrenic spectrum disorders are characterized by issues in one or more of these five areas: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking or speech, disorganized motor behavior, and negative symptoms. Schizophrenia can be experienced as an acute or chronic condition.
  • i. Delusions (false beliefs) are positive symptoms and may manifest in ways such as delusions of persecution or grandeur.
  • ii. Hallucinations (false perceptions) are positive symptoms and may involve one or more of the senses.
  • iii. Disorganized thinking or speech is a positive symptom and may manifest as speaking in ways such as speaking in a word salad (stringing together words in nonsensical ways).
  • iv. Disorganized motor behavior may manifest as catatonia. Catatonia, or disordered movement, may be experienced as excitement (a positive symptom manifestation) or stupor (a negative symptom manifestation).
  • v. Negative symptoms present as the lack of a typical behavior, such as the lack of emotional expression (flat affect) or lack of movement (catatonic stupor).
• Possible causes of schizophrenia suggest a genetic or biological link, such as prenatal virus exposure or imbalances with certain neurotransmitters (dopamine hypothesis).

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected depressive disorders. | Possible causes of depressive disorders focus on biological, genetic, social, cultural, behavioral, or cognitive sources.

• Depressive disorders are characterized by the presence of sad, empty, or irritable mood along with physical and cognitive changes that affect a person’s ability to function. Selected disorders in scope for AP Psychology in this category are major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder.
• Possible causes of depressive disorders focus on biological, genetic, social, cultural, behavioral, or cognitive sources.

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected bipolar disorders.

• Bipolar disorders are characterized by periods of mania and periods of depression. Bipolar cycling involves experiencing periods of depression and mania in alternating periods that can last various amounts of time. Selected disorders in scope for AP Psychology in this category are Bipolar I disorder and Bipolar II disorder.
• Possible causes of bipolar disorders focus on biological, genetic, social, cultural, behavioral, or cognitive sources.

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected anxiety disorders.

• Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive fear and/or anxiety with related disturbances to behavior. Selected disorders in scope for AP Psychology in this category are specific phobia, agoraphobia, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.
  • i. Specific phobia involves fear or anxiety toward a specific object or situation, such as acrophobia (heights) or arachnophobia (spiders).
  • ii. Agoraphobia is intense fear of specific social situations, including using public transportation, being in open spaces, being in enclosed spaces (e.g., shops, theaters, etc.), standing in line or being in a crowd, or being outside of the home alone.
  • iii. Panic disorder involves the experience of panic attacks (unanticipated and overwhelming biological, cognitive, and emotional experiences of fear/anxiety). Panic disorder can manifest as a culturebound anxiety disorder such as ataque de nervios (experienced mainly by people of Caribbean or Iberian descent).
  • iv. Social anxiety disorder involves the intense fear of being judged or watched by others. Social anxiety disorder is distinct from but may include agoraphobia. Taijin kyofusho is a culture-bound anxiety disorder experienced mainly by Japanese people in which people fear others are judging their bodies as undesirable, offensive, or unpleasing.
  • v. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves prolonged experiences of nonspecific anxiety or fear.
• Possible causes of anxiety disorders focus on learned associations between and among stimuli, maladaptive thinking or emotional responses, and biological or genetic sources.

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected obsessive-compulsive disorders and related disorders.

• Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders are characterized by the presence of obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (intrusive, often repetitive, behaviors intended to address obsessions). Selected disorders in scope for AP Psychology in this category are obsessive-compulsive disorder and hoarding disorder.
• Possible causes of obsessive-compulsive disorders involve learned associations between and among stimuli, maladaptive thinking or emotional responses, and biological or genetic sources.

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected dissociative disorders.

• Dissociative disorders are characterized by dissociations from consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior. Selected disorders in scope for AP Psychology in this category are dissociative amnesia (with and without fugue) and dissociative identity disorder.
• Possible causes of dissociative disorders involve the experience of trauma or stress. IVE

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected trauma and stressor-related disorders.

• Trauma and stressor-related disorders are characterized by exposure to a traumatic or stressful event with subsequent psychological distress. Symptoms of trauma and stressorrelated disorders may involve hypervigilance, severe anxiety, flashbacks to traumatic or stressful experiences, insomnia, emotional detachment, and hostility. The selected disorder in scope for AP Psychology in this category is posttraumatic stress disorder.
• Possible causes of trauma and stressor-related disorders involve the experience of trauma or stress.

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected feeding and eating disorders.

• Feeding and eating disorders are characterized by altered consumption or absorption of food that impairs health or psychological functioning. Selected disorders in scope for AP Psychology in this category are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
• Possible causes of feeding and eating disorders focus on biological, genetic, social, cultural, behavioral, or cognitive sources.

Describe the symptoms and possible causes of selected personality disorders. UNIT 5 Mental and Physical Health

• Personality disorders (which fall into three clusters) are characterized by enduring patterns of internal experience and behavior that is deviant from one’s culture; is pervasive and inflexible; begins in adolescence or early adulthood; is stable over time; and leads to personal distress or impairment.
  • i. Cluster A is the odd or eccentric cluster and includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders.
  • ii. Cluster B is the dramatic, emotional, or erratic cluster and includes antisocial, histrionic, narcissistic, and borderline personality disorders.
  • iii. Cluster C is the anxious or fearful cluster and includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.
• Possible causes of personality disorders focus on biological, genetic, social, cultural, behavioral, or cognitive sources.