Difficulty: Introductory | Prerequisites: Neuroscience (neurotransmitters, brain structure), personality basics
This unit covers the major categories of psychological disorders (neurodevelopmental, psychotic, mood, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive), their symptoms, and the primary treatments used for each. It also introduces the biopsychosocial model and the diathesis-stress framework for understanding how disorders develop. The exam tests your ability to match symptom descriptions to diagnoses and to identify the appropriate treatment approach.
Psychological disorders arise from a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Neurodevelopmental disorders (ASD, ADHD) appear early in life. Schizophrenia involves psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions). Mood disorders (major depression, bipolar) affect emotional regulation. Anxiety disorders and OCD involve excessive fear or intrusive thoughts. Each disorder has evidence-based treatments ranging from medication to specific psychotherapy approaches.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
A neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by difficulties with social communication and interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours. Ben avoids eye contact, does not respond to his name, and shows no interest in social games. Mia does not make eye contact, avoids peekaboo, and rocks back and forth.
In simple terms, ASD affects how a person communicates and interacts, and often involves repetitive patterns of behaviour.
Applied behaviour analysis (ABA)
The primary evidence-based treatment for ASD. It uses operant conditioning principles to improve social skills, communication, and adaptive behaviours. Kayla's psychologist using ABA works to improve her skills and behaviours in social settings.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
A neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Jim has trouble keeping focus, cannot sit still, and interrupts others.
Stimulants
The first-line medication for ADHD. Examples include Adderall and Ritalin (methylphenidate). Miranda's Adderall allows her to focus and sit still. They work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine activity.
Schizophrenia
A psychotic disorder characterised by positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking) and negative symptoms (flat affect, social withdrawal, lack of motivation). Tyler hears voices, sees things others cannot, laughs at funerals, and lacks emotions.
Hallucinations
Sensory experiences without external stimuli (hearing voices, seeing things that are not there).
Delusions
False beliefs held with strong conviction despite contradictory evidence. Michael believing the government sends him secret messages through newspapers = delusions.
Antipsychotics
The primary medication for schizophrenia. They work by blocking dopamine receptors.
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Diagnosed when a person experiences depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, with significant stress and impairment.
In simple terms, it is not just "feeling sad for a few days." The duration, severity, and functional impairment must all be present.
Diathesis-stress model
The idea that disorders result from a combination of genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and environmental triggers (stress). Amy has a family history of depression (diathesis) but did not become depressed until her boyfriend broke up with her (stress).
Social anxiety disorder
Intense fear of social situations where one might be judged or scrutinised. Lauren avoids social gatherings and has extreme anxiety when meeting new people because she fears criticism.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Persistent, excessive worry about a variety of everyday things, not tied to one specific social situation.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Characterised by obsessions (intrusive, distressing thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviours performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions). Paul's intrusive thought about getting sick if he does not wash his hands = obsession. His hand-washing ritual = compulsion.
Cognitive restructuring
A therapeutic technique (used in cognitive-behavioural therapy) that helps people identify and challenge irrational or distorted thoughts. Jessica does well in school but believes she will fail out of college; her therapist uses cognitive restructuring to evaluate the evidence.
Exposure therapy
A behavioural treatment that gradually exposes a person to a feared stimulus to reduce the fear response. Michael's therapist shows him pictures of golden retrievers, then has him pet one = exposure therapy.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
A treatment for severe, treatment-resistant depression that induces brief seizures through electrical stimulation via electrodes on the head.
Biopsychosocial approach
An approach to understanding and treating disorders that considers biological (genetics, brain chemistry), psychological (thoughts, emotions), and social (relationships, culture) factors. Dwight's psychologist asking about family history, medication, social support, and thought patterns = biopsychosocial approach.
ASD: social communication deficits + restricted/repetitive behaviours. Treated with ABA (not medication as first line).
ADHD: inattention + hyperactivity + impulsivity. Treated with stimulant medications (Adderall, Ritalin).
Positive symptoms: hallucinations, delusions, disorganised speech.
Negative symptoms: flat affect (emotional blunting), social withdrawal.
Risk factors: family history, identical twin concordance.
Treatment: antipsychotic medication.
MDD criteria: depressed mood or loss of interest, most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, with significant stress and impairment.
"Feeling sad for a few days" does NOT meet criteria. "Feeling this way for at least two weeks with significant stress and impairment" is the correct answer.
The diathesis-stress model explains why some people with a genetic predisposition develop depression only after a triggering event.
Social anxiety disorder: fear of judgment in social situations (Lauren).
GAD: broad, persistent worry about many things.
OCD: obsessions (thoughts) + compulsions (behaviours). The thought is the obsession. The ritual is the compulsion.
Disorder | Primary treatment |
|---|---|
ASD | Applied behaviour analysis (ABA) |
ADHD | Stimulant medication |
Schizophrenia | Antipsychotic medication |
Depression (severe/resistant) | ECT, antidepressants, cognitive therapy |
Social anxiety | Exposure therapy, CBT |
OCD | CBT (including exposure and response prevention) |
Phobias | Exposure therapy |
Clinical psychologist (PhD): can provide therapy but generally cannot prescribe medication. The statement that a PhD clinical psychologist can prescribe medication is FALSE (with limited exceptions in a few U.S. states).
Psychiatrist (MD): can prescribe medication.
A statistical approach to classifying abnormal behaviour is NOT culturally sensitive. The statement that a psychologist could use a statistical approach to be sensitive to cultural differences is FALSE.
Obsessions are thoughts, compulsions are behaviours. Students sometimes reverse these.
"Feeling sad for a few days" is not MDD. The two-week duration with impairment is critical.
ABA is used for ASD, not ADHD. Stimulants are used for ADHD, not ASD.
Antipsychotics treat schizophrenia, not depression. Lithium treats bipolar disorder.
A clinical psychologist with a PhD generally cannot prescribe medication. That requires a psychiatrist (MD) or a specially licensed psychologist in select jurisdictions.
⚠️ ASD symptoms: no eye contact, no social interest, repetitive behaviours. Treatment = ABA.
⚠️ ADHD symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity. Treatment = stimulants.
⚠️ Schizophrenia: hallucinations + delusions + flat affect. Treatment = antipsychotics. Risk = family history, identical twin concordance.
⚠️ MDD diagnosis requires at least two weeks of symptoms with significant impairment. Not just "a few days."
⚠️ Obsession = intrusive thought. Compulsion = repetitive behaviour. Know both for Paul's question.
⚠️ Diathesis-stress model = Amy (family history + breakup trigger).
⚠️ PhD clinical psychologist cannot prescribe medication = FALSE on the true/false.
⚠️ Statistical approach to abnormality is NOT culturally sensitive = FALSE.
⚠️ Cognitive restructuring = challenging irrational beliefs (Jessica's therapist).
⚠️ Exposure therapy = gradual exposure to feared stimulus (Michael and golden retrievers).
Fill in the blank: The intrusive thought is the __________. The repetitive behaviour is the __________. Obsession; compulsion.
True or False: A clinical psychologist with a PhD can prescribe medication. False (in most jurisdictions).
Fill in the blank: The primary treatment for autism spectrum disorder is __________. Applied behaviour analysis (ABA).
True or False: Major depressive disorder can be diagnosed after feeling sad for a few days. False. It requires symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, with significant impairment.
Fill in the blank: Michael believes the government sends him messages through newspapers. These beliefs are called __________. Delusions.
Q: Tyler hears voices, sees things others cannot, laughs at funerals, and lacks emotions. What disorder does he most likely have?
A: Schizophrenia. He displays both positive symptoms (hallucinations) and negative symptoms (flat affect, inappropriate emotional responses).
Q: Amy has a family history of depression but did not become depressed until her boyfriend broke up with her. Which model explains this?
A: The diathesis-stress model. Her genetic vulnerability (diathesis) combined with an environmental trigger (the breakup) produced the disorder.
Q: Paul washes his hands every 10 minutes because of the intrusive thought that he will get sick. What are the thought and the behaviour called?
A: The intrusive thought is an obsession. The hand-washing is a compulsion.
Q: Mohammed has severe, treatment-resistant depression. His doctor recommends a treatment that induces seizures via electrodes. What is it?
A: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). It is used for severe depression that has not responded to other treatments.
Q: Dwight's psychologist asks about his family history, medications, social support, and thought patterns. What approach is this?
A: The biopsychosocial approach. It integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in assessment and treatment.
Neurotransmitters from the Neuroscience unit reappear here: dopamine excess is implicated in schizophrenia (dopamine hypothesis), serotonin deficiency in depression, and norepinephrine/dopamine in ADHD.
Classical and operant conditioning from the Learning unit underpin ABA therapy (for ASD) and exposure therapy (for phobias and anxiety).
The stress unit connects through the diathesis-stress model: chronic stress can trigger latent vulnerabilities.
Cognitive restructuring draws on the Memory unit's concepts of schemas and reconstruction.
psychological disorders, ASD, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, hallucinations, delusions, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, flat affect, major depressive disorder, MDD, depression, bipolar disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, GAD, OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder, obsession, compulsion, diathesis-stress model, biopsychosocial model, antipsychotics, stimulants, SSRIs, lithium, ABA, applied behaviour analysis, cognitive restructuring, CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy, exposure therapy, ECT, electroconvulsive therapy, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, PSYCH 1100, general psychology, Ohio State