The Troubled PersonalityPsychology

Historical Views on Mental IllnessCauses:Demon possession: Treated by prayer and

rituals, exorcismMortal sin: Confession or penanceNeuropathology: Surgery to remove organ

causing problemToxins in the body: Surgery and dietChildhood trauma: Psychoanalytic therapyConditioned: Behavior modificationSick society leads to sick behavior: Take

responsibility for your own behavior

Treatment of Mentally IllHistorically: often subjected to cruel

inhumane treatment, less rights than others

Mental hospitals isolated and abused patients, experiment on them

Used as sideshow attractions, persecuted, misunderstood, jailed

1700s is when shift toward fair treatment begins in France and US

Education and understanding are necessary to eliminate stigma and provide treatment and equal rights

Mental Illnesshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

JY8Ic7ombDs&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

UTUMt05_nCIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

u5tabap332chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

QpH15-NoFwIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

xg9TAUqaf0Y

Physical Factors that cause Mental IllnessHeredity: Scientists in search of

specific genes that predispose individuals toward mental illness

Schizophrenia: Severe thought disorder, affects 1% of population◦Grandparent: 4% risk factor◦Parent: 16% risk factor◦Both parents: Over 50% risk factor◦ Identical Twin: Over 50 % risk factor◦Contribution: Growing up in household

with schizophrenic family members?

SchizophreniaErratic behavior, delusions, loss of

contact with reality, breakdowns in communication, inappropriate emotions

Most patients in mental hospital have this diagnosis◦Catatonic: Unresponsive, withdrawn◦Paranoid: Ideas of persecution, fear of

attack, being possessed, etc.◦Hebephrenic: Childish behavior and

delusions

Causes of Mental IllnessEnvironmental Causes: Healthy

people learn to cope with stress/anxiety and resolve conflict

Those with troubled personalities:◦Have trouble handling frustration◦Can’t cope with reality/stress/anxiety◦Have issues with

relationships/interactions◦Can’t function normally in their

family/job/society

Stress and FrustrationResult from unmet personal

needs/desires, pressures, poor relationships, etc.

When stress becomes unbearable, poorly adjusted people: ◦Chose behavior that seems to offer

an escape◦Unable to put off gratification◦Become excessively emotional

Coping with AnxietyDefined as vague worries about what

might happen in the future1 in 50 Americans suffer from Panic

DisorderCauses excessive worry to the point

of exhaustion and inability to respond correctly in emergency situations

Can cause fixation on single thought/pattern, in order to block out other concerns

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBkveiaKfBk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wEU-165NRY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=5jOKtTyulXQ&feature=fvwp

Functioning within the FamilyOften a troubled home life is

what lead to the disorderMaintaining close family

relationships is difficult for the mentally ill◦Living with others can cause extreme

mood swings related to conflicts of interest

◦Puts an extreme strain on marriage and parenthood

Functioning on the JobWork can provide personal

satisfaction, but also cause stress and pressure of competition

Mental Illness effects job performance:◦Anxiety creates a distraction

Tasks aren’t done correctly or are forgotten◦Difficulty coping or interacting

Can cause break downs or issues with customers/coworkers

◦People who have issues with authority figures have trouble holding down jobs

Functioning in SocietyFreedom of action is limited by the

rights of othersEmotionally disturbed people find it

hard to accept limits to their desiresPressure to conform can cause even

more abnormal behaviorIn social situations:

◦Inadequacy leads to insecurity and teasing, leading to more anxiety and increasing abnormal behaviors

Biochemical ImbalancesExcess or deficiency of otherwise

useful chemicals can upset the nervous system

Sometimes created through drug/alcohol abuse

Scientists researching influences of proteins, lithium, steroids, antipsychotic drugs, etc.

Withdrawal from substances can depression and other issues

DiseaseDiseases that affect the nervous

system can lead to abnormal behaviorMemory loss, disruption of speech,

hearing voices, violent behavior, etc. can result from inflammation of brain or pressure from tumors

Strokes interrupt blood flow to brain often result in mental issues

STDs may cause breakdown of brain tissue

Accident TraumaInjury or shock to the body can cause

brain damage that changes personalityTrauma during birth can damage brain

tissue, or lack of oxygen can cause impairments

Damage in small area may be restored with proper therapy

Severe brain damage cannot be reversed and tissue does not grow back

Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderCaused by overwhelming stressful events

like war, natural disasters, or physical assault

Victims avoid activities that recall memories of the traumatic event

Often have trouble sleeping and have terrible nightmares

Other symptoms: emotional numbness, depression, sudden rage, jumpiness, and inability to concentrate

15% of veterans display some symptoms but 1% suffer from full disorder

PTSDhttp://www.youtube.com/user/Vet

eransMTC?v=SqjwV-lsVEshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=0YVRieO7y0o&list=PLDD7C9A2F66BE91F3&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69ed6xiNPnk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3cbyoXgobI

Depression: A cause and a symptom Feel down, low energy, little

appetite, trouble sleeping no motivation or desire to do anything they normally enjoy

Refuse to be cheered up, enjoy the misery and dwell on thoughts

Healthy person experiences in brief small doses and then gets over it

Chronic or severe depression requires treatment

DepressionCan be brought on by specific event like

divorce or deathCaused by social ills like poverty,

discrimination or unemploymentCan be due to long term family issues,

abuse, chemical imbalance, etc.Clinical Depression: 7% of population

suffer with this severe form◦Twice as many women as men◦3-5% of teens experience despair or

hopelessness of this disorder

Treating DepressionTalk therapy and anti-depressants are

commonElectroconvulsive Therapy (ECT):

◦ Invented in 1938: Give patient muscle relaxant and anesthetic

◦ Attach electrodes to comatose patient’s skull and shock their brain

◦ Body stays relaxed, but triggers severe brain convulsion

◦ Double-barreled therapy: Antidepressants with ECT every 3-6 months

◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCUmINGae44

Mood Disordershttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=mlNCavst2EUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=cKiAz6ndUbUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=uj8hqXd7N_A

ECT: Safe and Helpful?Pro: Benefits patients who would

otherwise remain mentally ill60-70% Show marked improvement in

their ability to cope with life“Safer than aspirin”, memory loss is

only temporary, minimize by confining treatment to one half of the brain

After ECT, many discard plans for suicide, begin responding to therapy

State/Fed approved, only given to those most likely to benefit

ECT: Safe and Healthy? Cons: Depressed patients show improvement without

ECT Not successful with schizophrenic but still being used on

them Results in death in 1 of 1000 patients, memory loss

often lasts 4+ weeks, and for some it’s permanent Wardens in mental hospitals use it as threat for

controlling patients No statistics prove or disprove the argument that it

prevents suicide◦ Ernest Hemingway received treatment, said it destroyed his

ability to write, he killed himself one month after 2nd treatment Lack of adequate studies to prove safety, govt has

approved dangerous things before 100,000 receive ECT each year, $2500 a session,

common therapist’s last resort

Phobiashttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=i7EAsMNZ6uAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=JDvDCqLCdEE

Hallucinations and Delusionshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIr

A6iCke2M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc2Nox6PMnc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tn8xLQY53U

Personality DisordersSelf-defeating behavior that hurts others as wellBehavior issues start youngAnti-Social Personality Disorder: Hedonist

◦ Display few symptoms, seem charming and smart◦ Selfish, very good liars, manipulative◦ Conduct Disorder: Delinquency, have issues with

authority figures◦ Like to be in control, will exploit others for personal

gain◦ Often called sociopath, lack of empathy, prone to

aggression◦ Often incapable of selfless love◦ Some link to heredity, also childhood issues, patients

often outgrow the disorder in their 40s

Histrionic Personality DisorderDramatizes every situation,

highly emotionalExpects others to take care of

their needsWild mood swings, can’t cope

with experiences/environmentEmotional outbursts aimed at

attracting attention and sympathy

Passive-Aggressive Personality DisorderNever speak up for what they want, others

must guess what’s wrongCannot show normal aggression in an open

healthy wayInstead, they arrange situations where the

other person cannot possibly succeed in making them happy

Sabotages compromise in underhanded ways

“Nice guy” facade with deep hostility underneath, cannot admit anger and resentment

Narcissistic Personality DisorderOverblown sense of self

importanceFeeling of superiority,

uniqueness, exaggeration of talents, boastfulness

Arrogance and overwhelming need for attention and admiration

Deep feelings of inferiority lie beneath the surface

Tend to exploit others, self-centered and fake

Dissociative Personality Disorderhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=8kPIDt3yu1Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=UWgh2t9FTe8

Brain Damage or DysfunctionImperfect brain development prevents

capacity for high level thoughts or doesn’t leave grain the space to grown to full potential

Abilities do not increase with age, limited self-care but need guardian◦Aplasia◦Microcephaly◦Down Syndrome: Caused by genetic defect,

only develop to age 3-7 -1 in 900 births, odds increase as woman ages -Amniocentesis can detect in developing fetus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I13KxRYqoo0

Autism Milder form is Asperger syndrome 1 in 150 children have it Serious neurological problem that can cause kids to be

mute, have issues with social interactions, sometimes violent tantrums

“Live in their own world” responding to inner drives and needs, often very intelligent

Trouble expressing themselves, prone to self-stimulating repetitive behaviors

Caused by abnormally high levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, genetic factors, and sometimes exposure to lead or mercury

Can be treated with medication and punishment/reward system of therapy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeGaffIJvHM

Famous People with Mental Illnesses Bipolar: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mel Gibson, Carrie

Fisher, Kurt Cobain, Isaac Newton, Beethoven, Van Gogh, Robin Williams, Ozzy Osborne

Depression: Brooke Shields (post partum), Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens, Zach Braff, Jim Carey, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel

Dissociative Identity Disorder: Herschel Walker, a Heisman award-winning running back and former NFL player

ADHD: Michael Phelps, Kurt Cobain OCD: Howard Hughes, Cameron Diaz, David Beckham Anxiety Disorder: Paula Deen Eating Disorders: Elton John, Princess Diana, Mary Kate

Olsen, Richard Simmons