Psychological Disorders and Clinical Assessment Essentials
Phobias and Anxiety Disorders
Types of Phobias (SSA)
- Specific Phobia
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Agoraphobia
Specific Phobia Types (ANBOS)
- Animal
- Natural Environment
- Blood-Injection-Injury
- Other
- Situational
Causes of Phobias (BPBCE)
- Biological
- Psychoanalytic
- Behavioural
- Cognitive
- Evolutionary
Treatment Options
- Exposure Therapy
- Systematic Desensitization
- Modeling
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Formula: Obsession → Anxiety → Compulsion → Relief
Common Obsessions
- Contamination
- Harm
- Doubt
- Symmetry
Common Compulsions
- Washing
- Checking
- Counting
- Arranging
Causes
- Biological
- Behavioural (Negative Reinforcement)
- Cognitive
Treatment
- ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention – Most Important)
- CBT
- Medication
Eating Disorders
- A = Anorexia Nervosa: Restricts food, fear of weight gain, underweight.
- B = Bulimia Nervosa: Binge eating followed by purging.
- B = Binge Eating Disorder: Binge eating with no purging.
Causes
- Biological
- Psychological
- Sociocultural
Dissociative Disorders
Three Major Disorders
- Dissociative Amnesia: Characterized by memory loss.
- Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Characterized by multiple personalities.
- Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder: Feels detached from self or surroundings.
Causes and Treatment
Causes: Trauma, stress, and abuse.
Treatment: Psychotherapy, CBT, and trauma-focused therapy.
Clinical Assessment Fundamentals
Clinical Assessment is the process of collecting and evaluating information to diagnose psychological disorders and plan treatment.
Assessment Types
1. Biological Assessment
- Neuroimaging (MRI, CT, PET)
- Neuropsychological assessment
- Psychophysiological assessment
- Biochemical assessment
2. Psychological Assessment
- Clinical interview
- Observation
- Psychological tests
- Projective tests (e.g., Rorschach, TAT)
- Behavioural assessment
3. Socio-cultural Assessment
- Family assessment
- Community assessment
- Cultural assessment
Objectives and Purpose
- Diagnosis
- Problem identification
- Treatment planning
- Prognosis
Historical Perspectives in Psychology
Evolutionary Flow
Supernatural → Biological → Psychological → Behavioural → Cognitive → Biopsychosocial
Key Figures
- Hippocrates: Biological perspective
- Freud: Psychological perspective
- Pavlov: Behavioural perspective
- Skinner: Behavioural perspective
Intellectual Disability
Definition and Severity
Characterized by deficits in Intellectual Functioning and Adaptive Functioning.
Severity Levels: Mild, Moderate, Severe, and Profound.
Causes and Treatment
Causes: Genetic, prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors.
Treatment: Special education, behavioural training, and family support.
Attachment Styles
- Secure Attachment: Healthy relationship.
- Insecure-Avoidant: Avoids caregiver.
- Insecure-Resistant: Clingy and anxious.
- Disorganized: Confused behaviour.
Memory Reference: Secure, Avoidant, Resistant, Disorganized.
Childhood Depression
- Attachment: Poor attachment → Loneliness → Depression.
- Behavioural: Observation + Lack of Reinforcement → Depression.
- Cognitive: Learned Helplessness + Cognitive Triad.
- Self-Control: Negative self-evaluation.
- Interpersonal: Relationship problems → Depression.