Discuss characteristics of various psychological disorders i

Discuss characteristics of various psychological disorders including anxiety and mood disorders as well as schizophrenia

Solution

Anxiety disorders are characterized by severe fear or anxiety associated with particular objects and situations.Most people with anxiety disorders try to avoid exposure to the situation that causes anxiety.
Specific Phobia-phobia means fear.A specific phobia is an irrational fear of some specific thing or situation.The fear is irrational in the sense that it is all out of proportion to the actual danger presented.
Panic Disorder-This is a disorder characterized by unforewarned attacks of extreme dread,as if some terrible thing is about to befall the person,generally lasting only a couple of minutes and leaving the person physically exhausted because of the extreme activation of the physiological mechanisms aroused by terror.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder -this disorder arises when people are exposed to servely stressful,life-threatening situations in which they perceive that they have no control over the outcome.Those affected have flashbacks about the situation in which they were helpless,nightmares,difficulty sleeping,and and find it impossible to put the situation behind them and get on with their lives.Situations inducing the disorder include military combat,natural disasters,accidents etc.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder-Obsessions are thoughts,usually of a distressing nature,that constantly intrude into awareness,over and over again.Compulsions are ritualistic behaviors the person feels to perform over and over again,because not to perform them means experiencing rapidly increasing levels of anxiety.Certain drugs and behavior modification techniques have been used to treat the disorder.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-The person suffering from this disorder experiences continuous,high levels of free-floating anxiety that does not seem to have been triggered by any specific thing or situation.The symptoms of anxiety are often treated by prescribing minor tranquilizers as an initial step,this is followed by psychological therapy aimed and uncovering and eliminating the source of the anxiety.

Mood disorders are also known as affective disorders or depressive disorders.These illnesses share disturbances or changes in mood,usually involving either depression or mania.
Major depression –an extreme or prolonged episode of sadness in which a person loses interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities.
Bipolar disorder – alternating episodes of mania and depression.
Dysthymia – continuous low-grade symptoms of major depression and anxiety.
Seasonal affective disorder– a form of major depression that occurs in the fall or winter and may be related to shortened periods of daylight.

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects the way a person behaves,thinks,and sees the world.Many people with schizophrenia withdraw from the outside world, act out in confusion and fear,and are at an increased risk of attempting suicide,especially during psychotic episodes,periods of depression,and in the first six months after starting treatment.Early signs include

There are five types of symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia:delusions,hallucinations,disorganized speech,disorganized behavior,and the so-called “negative” symptoms.The symptoms of schizophrenia vary dramatically from person to person,both in pattern and severity.Not every person with schizophrenia will have all symptoms,and the symptoms of schizophrenia may also change over time.