AP Psychology – Psychological Disorders (DSM-5, Anxiety, Mood, Schizophrenia)

AP Psychology – Psychological Disorders (DSM?5, Anxiety, Mood, Schizophrenia)

AP Psychology: Psychological Disorders (DSM-5, Anxiety, Mood, Schizophrenia) – Exam-Ready Study Guide

What This Is

Psychological disorders are clinically significant disturbances in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflect dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is the standard classification system used by mental health professionals to diagnose disorders. This topic is high-yield on the AP exam—expect multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on symptoms, causes, and treatments, as well as FRQs asking you to compare disorders or apply the biopsychosocial model. Example: Vincent van Gogh, the famous painter, likely suffered from bipolar disorder—his periods of intense creativity (mania) were followed by deep depression, leading to his eventual suicide.

Key Terms & Concepts

• DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition): The official manual used by psychologists and psychiatrists to diagnose mental disorders. It includes criteria for symptoms, duration, and impairment (e.g., a person must show 5+ symptoms of depression for at least 2 weeks to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder).

• Biopsychosocial Model: A framework explaining disorders as the result of biological (genes, brain chemistry), psychological (thoughts, trauma), and social (culture, environment) factors. Example: Schizophrenia may involve genetic predisposition (bio) + childhood trauma (psycho) + urban living (social).

• Anxiety Disorders: Excessive fear or anxiety that is disproportionate to the threat and disrupts daily life. Includes:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Chronic, uncontrollable worry about everyday things (e.g., health, money) for 6+ months.
• Panic Disorder: Recurrent unexpected panic attacks (sudden terror, heart racing, shortness of breath) + fear of future attacks.
• Phobias: Irrational, intense fear of a specific object/situation (e.g., arachnophobia = fear of spiders).

• Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of negative evaluation in social situations (e.g., public speaking, eating in front of others).

• Mood Disorders: Extreme disturbances in emotional state that impair functioning. Includes:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): 2+ weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest + 4+ other symptoms (e.g., fatigue, guilt, suicidal thoughts).
• Bipolar Disorder: Alternating between mania (elevated mood, reckless behavior) and depression. Bipolar I = full manic episodes; Bipolar II = hypomania (less severe mania) + depression.

• Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia): Chronic, low-grade depression for 2+ years.

• Schizophrenia: A psychotic disorder characterized by delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (false perceptions), disorganized speech, and negative symptoms (flat affect, social withdrawal). Positive symptoms = added behaviors (e.g., hallucinations); negative symptoms = missing behaviors (e.g., lack of emotion).

• Causes: Dopamine overactivity, enlarged ventricles, genetic predisposition, prenatal viruses.

• Onset: Typically late teens to early 30s (earlier in males).

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Obsessions (intrusive thoughts) + compulsions (repetitive behaviors) to reduce anxiety. Example: Fear of germs (obsession)-excessive handwashing (compulsion).

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance after a traumatic event (e.g., war, assault). Symptoms must last 1+ month.

• Dissociative Disorders: Disruptions in memory, identity, or consciousness, often linked to trauma. Includes:

• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): 2+ distinct personalities (formerly "multiple personality disorder").

• Dissociative Amnesia: Inability to recall important personal info (e.g., forgetting a traumatic event).

• Somatic Symptom Disorder: Excessive anxiety about physical symptoms (e.g., pain, fatigue) with no medical explanation.

• Personality Disorders: Inflexible, enduring patterns of behavior that impair social functioning. Includes:

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Unstable relationships, self-image, and emotions (e.g., fear of abandonment, self-harm).
• Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD): Disregard for others’ rights, lack of remorse (e.g., serial killers, con artists).

Step-by-Step: How to Compare Disorders on an FRQ

If an FRQ asks you to compare two disorders (e.g., schizophrenia vs. bipolar disorder), follow this structure:

1. Identify the disorders (e.g., "Compare schizophrenia and bipolar disorder").
2. List key symptoms for each:
3. Schizophrenia: Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, negative symptoms.
4. Bipolar Disorder: Mania (elevated mood, impulsivity) + depression (low mood, fatigue).
5. Compare causes (biological, psychological, social):
6. Schizophrenia: Dopamine overactivity, enlarged ventricles, genetic risk.
7. Bipolar Disorder: Genetic predisposition, neurotransmitter imbalances (serotonin, dopamine).
8. Contrast treatments:
9. Schizophrenia: Antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine), therapy (CBT).
10. Bipolar Disorder: Mood stabilizers (e.g., lithium), therapy (family-focused therapy).
11. Apply the biopsychosocial model (e.g., "Both disorders have biological roots, but stress can trigger episodes").
12. Conclude with a real-world example (e.g., "A person with schizophrenia might hear voices, while someone with bipolar disorder might go on a spending spree during mania").

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Confusing bipolar disorder with mood swings. Correction: Bipolar disorder involves extreme, prolonged mood episodes (mania/depression), not just daily mood changes.

• Mistake: Thinking schizophrenia = split personality. Correction: Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder (delusions, hallucinations), while DID (dissociative identity disorder) involves multiple personalities.

• Mistake: Assuming anxiety disorders = just being "nervous." Correction: Anxiety disorders involve persistent, excessive fear that impairs functioning (e.g., avoiding school due to social anxiety).

• Mistake: Forgetting that depression requires 2+ weeks of symptoms. Correction: A bad day-depression; the DSM-5 requires 5+ symptoms for 2+ weeks.

• Mistake: Mixing up positive vs. negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Correction:

• Positive = added behaviors (hallucinations, delusions).
• Negative = missing behaviors (flat affect, social withdrawal).

AP Exam Insights

What’s Frequently Tested? - Symptoms of disorders (e.g., "Which symptom is characteristic of schizophrenia?"). - DSM-5 criteria (e.g., "How long must symptoms last for a major depressive disorder diagnosis?"). - Biopsychosocial causes (e.g., "Which factor is biological in PTSD?"). - Comparing disorders (e.g., "How does bipolar disorder differ from major depressive disorder?").

Tricky Distinctions: - Bipolar I vs. Bipolar II: Bipolar I = full mania; Bipolar II = hypomania + depression. - OCD vs. OCPD: OCD = anxiety-driven compulsions; OCPD = perfectionism, rigidity (a personality disorder). - Hallucinations vs. Delusions: - Hallucinations = false perceptions (e.g., hearing voices). - Delusions = false beliefs (e.g., "The CIA is watching me").

FRQ Tips: - If asked to apply the biopsychosocial model, list all three factors (bio, psycho, social) with specific examples. - If asked to compare treatments, mention both medication and therapy (e.g., "SSRIs for depression, CBT for anxiety").

Quick Check Questions

1. Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a negative symptom of schizophrenia? A) Hallucinations B) Delusions C) Flat affect D) Disorganized speech

Answer: C) Flat affect Explanation: Negative symptoms involve missing behaviors (e.g., lack of emotion), while positive symptoms involve added behaviors (e.g., hallucinations).

2. Short FRQ (1–2 sentences)

Question: How does the biopsychosocial model explain the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Sample Answer: The biological factor may include genetic vulnerability to stress or hyperactivity in the amygdala. The psychological factor could be childhood trauma or learned helplessness. The social factor might involve lack of social support after the traumatic event.

3. Multiple Choice

A person who experiences sudden, intense fear with chest pain and dizziness but has no identifiable trigger most likely has: A) Generalized anxiety disorder B) Panic disorder C) Social anxiety disorder D) Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Answer: B) Panic disorder Explanation: Panic disorder involves unexpected panic attacks with physical symptoms (e.g., chest pain, dizziness).

Last-Minute Cram Sheet

1. DSM-5 = Diagnostic manual for mental disorders (symptoms, duration, impairment).
2. Anxiety disorders = Excessive fear (GAD, panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety).
3. Major depressive disorder = 5+ symptoms for 2+ weeks (e.g., sadness, fatigue, suicidal thoughts).
4. Bipolar I = Full mania + depression; Bipolar II = hypomania + depression.
5. Schizophrenia = Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, negative symptoms.
6. Positive symptoms = Added behaviors (e.g., hallucinations); negative symptoms = Missing behaviors (e.g., flat affect).
7. OCD = Obsessions (thoughts) + compulsions (behaviors).
8. PTSD = Flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance after trauma (1+ month).
9. DID = 2+ distinct personalities (formerly "multiple personality disorder").
10. Schizophrenia-split personality (that’s DID); Bipolar-mood swings (requires mania/depression episodes).

Good luck! Remember: Symptoms, causes, treatments, and comparisons are the 4 pillars of this unit. Use the biopsychosocial model to explain any disorder on the FRQ!