Characteristics of Disorders - Phobias, Schizophrenia and Bipolar.

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Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorders are an example of an Affective Disorder, where ones mood is disturbed.

The primary symptom of a bipolar disorder is manic or rapid cycling episodes of mania or depression. 

Manic episodes are characterised by a period of persistant elevated or irritable moods lasting for at least 1 week.

During this period of mood disturbance, 3 or more of the following symptoms should also be present;

  • increased self esteem or grandeur. 
  • decreased need for sleep.
  • more talkative or flight of ideas.
  • increase in goal directed activies.
  • excessive involvement in pleasurable activies that have a high risk potential. 
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Schizophrenia Disorder

Schizophrenia is an example of an Psychotic Disorder, where someone has lost touch with reality.

The classification systems lists 5 key symptoms of psychotic disorders.

  • Delusions - this can be ideas of grandeur, or delusions of prosecution, where one believes they are being plotted against. 
  • Hallucinations - can be audable or visual. can also be the idea that you feel something that isnt there.
  • Disorganised speech - e.g. i should go and get my coats and hats, its raining fruit trees in the summer.
  • Disorganised behaviour - severe disruption in the ability to perform daily living activies, such as showering, dressing or feeding yourself.
  • Negative symptoms - this means the absence of something, such as emptional responses or empathy. 

For a diagnosis of Schizophrenia at least 2 of these symptoms need to bresent with at least 1 in the first 3.

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Specific Phobia

Specific phobias are an example of an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders involve excessive feelings of fear and anxiety for a situation or object.

A Phobia is an intense, severe and irrational fear of a situation or object that produces a physiological response such as;

  • shaking
  • sweating
  • increased heart rate

symptoms of a phobia include an immediate response of fear when presented with the feared object, which is disproportionate the actual level of danger the object holds. 

Phobias will cause significant distress and impairment in areas of functioning such as social life or work. 

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The Classification Systems.

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders) - Originally published in 1952 by the American Psychiatric Association. The 5th Edition was published in 2013.

157 disorders are catagorised under 18 different subcatagories, for example Schizophrenia is listed under Schizophrenic spectrum and other Psychotic disorders.

This classification system is used in America.

The ICD (International classification of Diseases) - currently in its 10th edition and is published by the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

This is very similar to the DSM, and is used outside of America. The ICD identifies 7 sub-types under the catagory of Schizophrenia, Schizotypal and delusional disorders.

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