Psychopathology

09-B: Potential Causes of Mental Illness

• What are some of the fundamental causes of psychological disorders? Be able to explain how each of the following contribute to the experience of symptoms

  • Biological

  • Psychological

  • Environmental

READ: This article from WebMD called "Causes of Mental Illness" 

Also note that a cognitive approach to mental illness looks at thought patterns, and how distortions in thought (e.g., assuming the worst case scenario, exaggerating negative consequences, focusing only on mistakes and failures) can cause maladaptive feelings and behavior.

09-C: Misinformation on Potential Causes of Mental Illness - Creativity

• The link between creativity and mental health have been speculated due to stories of brilliant musicians and artists of history. Read the paper on creativity and mental health to determine whether creativity and mental health are linked.

  • What sample did the researchers use?

  • What were the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the sample of this study?

  • What questionnaires did the participants complete?

  • What were the researchers' main findings?

READ: This research article from NIH called "Creativity and mental health: A profile of writers and musicians" 

09-D: Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorder

• What are the major symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

  • Why is it called a spectrum disorder?

  • How might some of the symptoms relate to the concept of Theory of Mind?  (Note: we are not stating that the diagnosis implies a complete lack of ToM, but rather we are asking you to think about how specific behaviors we would or would not observe would require ToM.)

• What are some factors that contribute to autism? Include in your response the following:

  • Sex of the child

  • Age of a parent

  • Infection

• What are some possible explanations for why Autism diagnoses have increased dramatically in the past 20 years?

• Is there any evidence that autism can be caused by vaccinations?

• What type of cognitive biases would lead people to (falsely) believe that vaccines are linked to autism?

• What is a "concordance rate"and how does it provide evidence that both genetics and the environment play a role in Autism?

READ: This article from CDC about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 

WATCH: TedTalk given by Wendy Chung called "Autism - what we know (and what we don't know yet)" 

WATCH: YouTube video about the science of anti-vaccination

Early signs of autism

• What three main categories of developmental features that are indicative of ASD are shown in the video?

• In the first pair of children, the difference between neurotypical children and children with ASD are demonstrated by observing how they see social opportunity through play. What are the specific characteristics of the "No ASD" child and the "ASD" child that demonstrate how they see social opportunity through play differently?

• In the second pair of children, the difference between neurotypical children and children with ASD are demonstrated by observing how they make social connections. What are the specific characteristics of the "No ASD" child and the "ASD" child that demonstrate how they make social connections differently?

• In the third pair of children, the difference between neurotypical children and children with ASD are demonstrated by observing how they communicate effectively and share enjoyment. What are the specific characteristics of the "No ASD" child and the "ASD" child that demonstrate how they communicate and share enjoyment differently?

• What signs of ASD did you observe from the video footage of children with ASD in this video? Give specific examples.

WATCH: YouTube video from the Kennedy Krieger Institute called " Early Signs of Autism Video Tutorial"

09-I: Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• What are the major symptoms of OCD?

  • What are obsessions and how are they related to the compulsions that we might observe?

  • What are some common obsessions and compulsions seen in patients with OCD?

  • While many experience intrusive thoughts and perform repetitive behaviors, an OCD diagnosis is not made in every case of intrusive thought and repetitive behaviors. When is a diagnosis of OCD made?

  • What other psychiatric disorders is OCD often comorbid with?

READ: Article from PsychCentral called "Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" 

READ: Clinical practice guidelines for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder published by NIH 

Hoarding Disorder

• What are the major symptoms of Hoarding Disorder?

  • How is it different from OCD?

READ: Article from PsychCentral called "What Are the Symptoms of Hoarding?"

09-J: Dissociative Disorders 

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

• What are the major symptoms of DID (also referred to in popular culture "multiple personality disorder")?

• Why are some psychologists skeptical as to whether this is actually a real disorder?

READ:  Article from PsychCentral called "All About Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)"  

09-M: Substance-related and Addictive Disorders

• Why does the DSM-5 describe substance use disorders for so many different kinds of substances?

• What is the difference between Substance Use disorders and Substance Induced disorders?

  • Which of these two types of disorders has more to do with addiction?  Which deals more with problems relating to substance use?

• Where can a Maryland student go to get help with substance use?

• Where can anyone go to get help with substance use?

  • View the SAMHSA’s National Helpline webpage for the phone number and other resources

  • View this webpage from the U.S. government about finding help for mental health. There is a resource chart listing different mental health issues and emergencies and who one should call.  

READ: Article from Very Well Mind called "DSM 5 Criteria for Substance Use Disorders"

VISIT: The University of Maryland's health center webpage called "Substance Use Intervention & Treatment (SUIT)"

Substance Use Disorder

• What are some of the principles of effective treatment for SUD?

• What are the 5 treatment types used for SUD?

• In SUD treatment, how are medications and devices used?

  • For withdrawal

  • For relapse prevention

    • Opioids

    • Tobacco

    • Alcohol

      • Naltrexone

      • Acamprosate 

      • Disulfiram

• In SUD treatment, how are behavioral therapies used?

READ: Webpage from NIH about the Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction

Opioid Overdose Treatment

• What is Narcan (naloxone HCl)? What is it used for?

• Who can get Narcan?

• Where can you get Narcan?

• Do you need a prescription to purchase Narcan?

• Do most insurances cover the cost of Narcan?

• Resources for opioid overdose training:

  • First Aid for Opioid Overdoses Online Course

  • Opioid Overdose Prevention TOOLKIT

  • Opioid Education

  • OPIOID OVERDOSE BASICS

• Maryland-specific resources for opioid overdose training

  • UMD's chapter of Combating Overdoses in Rural Areas (CORA) has Overdose Response Training every semester, where you can become certified in opioid overdose response and how to use naloxone in the case of opioid overdose. 

READ: This webpage about Narcan