Abnormal Psych Disorders List

What is abnormal Psychology?

Abnormal psychology is considered one of the major branches of psychology that focuses on thoughts, behavior, or psychopathology.

The definition of abnormal psychology is discussed amongst many clinicians because there is no one definition of what is abnormal behavior. Instead, psychologists and counselors who specialize in abnormal psychology focus on the thoughts and behaviors of a person and to which degree these affect their daily life.

 

What are abnormal psych disorders?

Abnormal psychology applies to all psychological disorders, including anxiety disorders, developmental disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, dissociative disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, personality disorders, mood disorders.

 

Symptoms of abnormal psych disorders

Signs and symptoms of abnormal psych disorder can vary, depending on circumstances, the disorder, and other factors. Symptoms of mental illness can affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Examples of signs and symptoms of psychological disorder include:

• Feeling down or sad

• Confused thinking and reduced capability to concentrate

• Extreme feelings of guilt, orexcessive fears or worries

• Extreme changes in mood

• Major changes in eating pattern

• Sex drive changes

• Excessive violence, anger, or hostility

• Suicidal thinking

• Withdrawal from activities and friends

• Significant tiredness, sleeping problems or low energy

• Detachment from reality (delusions), hallucinations or paranoia

• Inability to cope with stress or daily problems

• Difficulty understanding and relating to people and to situations

• Problems with drug or alcohol use

Sometimes mental health disorder symptoms appear as physical problems, like headache, back pain, stomach pain, or other unexplained aches and pains.

 

Abnormal psych disorder list and examples

 Abnormal psych disorder list and examples may include:

 

Anxiety disorders 

People who live with anxiety disorders face increased anxiety, often daily. There are 10 anxiety disorders listed in the DSM-5, and anxiety is the major symptom of each type. They generally include the following:

• Panic disorder

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

• Social anxiety disorder

• Separation anxiety disorder

• Selective mutism

• Agoraphobia

• Specific phobias

• Substance or medication-induced anxiety disorder

• Anxiety disorder due to another medical condition

• Other specified anxiety disorder

In the DSM-5, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is listed under trauma and stressors-related disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is now listed under obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. These two conditions are no longer considered anxiety disorders.

 

Specific phobias

Phobias cause people to fear a particular situation or stimulus, such as spiders or heights. Individuals experiencing phobias may understand that their fears are maladjusted. However, even with this knowledge, the terror remains.

There are 3 sub-classes of phobias: simple phobia, agoraphobia, and social phobia. Phobias are often treated with exposure and response prevention (ERP) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

People with OCD often experience frequent  intrusion of unwelcome images, thoughts, or impulses that cause fear. Compulsions are behaviors, acts, or rituals that reduce fear temporarily. Many people living with obsessive compulsive disorder are aware that their behavior is abnormal but struggle to alter it out of fear. Exposure and response prevention (EPR) treatment are often recommended for this type of abnormal psych disorder.

 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is usually caused by a traumatic event or chain of events. Traumatic events such as, robbery, accidents, and violent personal assaults for example, may cause a person to develop PTSD. Prolonged events such as abuse can also lead to PTSD.

This abnormal psych disorder can cause insomnia, flashbacks, guilt, or nightmares. Triggers of the event cause people living with post-traumatic stress disorder to go into the fight-flight-freeze response, which generally decreases their ability to cope. They may also experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders.

 

Mood disorders

Disturbances of mood commonly characterize mood disorders. There are 2 general classifications of mood disorders, including depressive disorders and bipolar disorders.

Bipolar disorder leads to noticeable mood transitions from depressed states to mania or hypomania, which are terms to describe heightened irritability, energy, and ability. Mania can be dangerous and involve delusions, risky behaviors, insomnia, and psychosis.

Depressive disorders are characterized by prolonged periods of sadness, often without an appropriate cause. These conditions can also lead to a lack of interest in activities once you enjoy them.

Personality disorders

Personality disorders cause unhealthy and often rigid behavior patterns and thinking that impact daily function. People with personality disorders can have difficulty perceiving and relating to people and situations. They may experience severe challenges in relationships, work, school, and social interactions. Personality disorders generally include but are not limited to:

 

• Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

• Histrionic personality disorder (HPD)

• Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)

• Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)

 

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia can cause people to clarify reality differently than others. It may cause symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking, along with behaviors that negatively affect the ability to function in daily life. Researchers are uncertain regarding the exact causes of schizophrenia, but they believe that a combination of brain chemistry, genetics, and environment contribute to it.

 

Substance use disorders

Substance use disorders involve addiction and dependency to specific substances. These conditions may include substance use and chemical dependence that interferes with daily life. For the diagnosis of this abnormal psych disorder, a person must struggle to function in family roles, at work, and with other obligations because of the use of alcohol and other drugs.

 

Dissociative disorders

A disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, behaviors, surroundings, and identity characterize dissociative disorders. People with dissociative disorders avoid reality in unsafe and often involuntary ways. These abnormal psych disorders may be developed to cope with trauma, like past sexual, physical, or emotional abuse.

 

Impulse control disorder

Impulse control disorder is usually characterized by impulsivity. Afflicted people may struggle to resist temptations or urges to think, speak, or act, about particular stimuli or thoughts. A disturbance in neurotransmitters  in the brain, frustration, and traumatic childhood experience can cause impulse control disorders. People with impulse control disorder may display abnormal behavior such as  trichotillomania, sexual complexity, pathological gambling, kleptomania, or intermittent explosive disorder.

 

Other abnormal psych disorders

Note that there are above 100 conditions in the DSM-5. Not all disorders  are listed above. The study of abnormal psychology often covers a vast range of disorders. You’re not alone if you believe you are living with a mental illness, consider contacting a psychologist for support and a more deep understanding of your symptoms.

 

Abnormal psych disorder treatment

Abnormal psych disorder can be treated in various ways such as:

• Medication

• Psychotherapy

• Brain stimulation therapies