{"id":1097,"date":"2024-08-29T16:49:54","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T20:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/psychologymtdi\/?post_type=chapter&p=1097"},"modified":"2024-09-03T15:13:14","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T19:13:14","slug":"psychological-disorders-introduction","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/psychologymtdi\/chapter\/psychological-disorders-introduction\/","title":{"raw":"Psychological Disorders Introduction","rendered":"Psychological Disorders Introduction"},"content":{"raw":"

[pb_glossary id=\"595\"]Approximate reading time:[\/pb_glossary] 3 minutes<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_516\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]\"In Figure PD.1. University student.<\/strong> Many university students may experience challenges, set-backs, and low-moods, but when should they (or their friends and family) be concerned?[\/caption]\r\n\r\nEsm\u00e9 is an 18-year-old from Hamilton, ON (Figure PD.1). She did well in high school and received scholarships to attend university in Halifax, NS. Esm\u00e9 is excited to start this new chapter in her life, even though she\u2019ll be almost 2000 kms away from home.\r\n\r\nWhen the semester began, Esm\u00e9 was optimistic about her courses and future degree. She made friends and was engaged in her courses. Halfway through the semester, however, Esm\u00e9\u2019s friends noticed that she seemed disinterested in social activities and was falling behind in her classes. When they asked about her change in behaviour, Esm\u00e9 said that she was just a bit homesick. Towards the end of the term, Esm\u00e9 seemed even more withdrawn from her friends, classes, and other activities. She was spending most of her time alone in her room and was failing most of her courses. Esm\u00e9\u2019s friends decide to contact the Health & Wellness Centre on campus for support. With regular counselling sessions and support from her friends and family, Esm\u00e9 was able to deal with her depression and make significant improvements the following semester.\r\n\r\nEsm\u00e9\u2019s story is hypothetical but may be similar to the experience of many undergraduate students across the country. As you\u2019ll learn in this chapter, the experiences and journeys of everyone are different, and have different outcomes. In this chapter, we\u2019ll explore the difference between atypical and dysfunctional, the concept of psychopathology, and symptoms and signs of common psychological disorders.\r\n

\r\n

Optional pre-reading for this chapter<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe following chapter is necessarily technical at times and presents complex content about psychological disorders. If you would like to benefit from an enjoyable, easier warm-up read that covers the basics of mental health, the following guide will provide you with an excellent foundation from which to begin your introduction to psychological disorders.\r\n
Here I Am, I Am Me: An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health<\/em> <\/a>is a full-colour graphic novel-style adventure through the brain that demystifies and destigmatizes emotional and mental health for children ages 12 and up. It is also an excellent guide for parents, adults enrolled in psychology courses, and clients in psychotherapy.<\/blockquote>\r\nFollow this link to read more about this guide.<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Image Attributions<\/h1>\r\nFigure PD.1. Photo by Sofia Alehandra<\/a> on Pexels<\/a>","rendered":"

Approximate reading time:<\/a> 3 minutes<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"In
Figure PD.1. University student.<\/strong> Many university students may experience challenges, set-backs, and low-moods, but when should they (or their friends and family) be concerned?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Esm\u00e9 is an 18-year-old from Hamilton, ON (Figure PD.1). She did well in high school and received scholarships to attend university in Halifax, NS. Esm\u00e9 is excited to start this new chapter in her life, even though she\u2019ll be almost 2000 kms away from home.<\/p>\n

When the semester began, Esm\u00e9 was optimistic about her courses and future degree. She made friends and was engaged in her courses. Halfway through the semester, however, Esm\u00e9\u2019s friends noticed that she seemed disinterested in social activities and was falling behind in her classes. When they asked about her change in behaviour, Esm\u00e9 said that she was just a bit homesick. Towards the end of the term, Esm\u00e9 seemed even more withdrawn from her friends, classes, and other activities. She was spending most of her time alone in her room and was failing most of her courses. Esm\u00e9\u2019s friends decide to contact the Health & Wellness Centre on campus for support. With regular counselling sessions and support from her friends and family, Esm\u00e9 was able to deal with her depression and make significant improvements the following semester.<\/p>\n

Esm\u00e9\u2019s story is hypothetical but may be similar to the experience of many undergraduate students across the country. As you\u2019ll learn in this chapter, the experiences and journeys of everyone are different, and have different outcomes. In this chapter, we\u2019ll explore the difference between atypical and dysfunctional, the concept of psychopathology, and symptoms and signs of common psychological disorders.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Optional pre-reading for this chapter<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
\n

The following chapter is necessarily technical at times and presents complex content about psychological disorders. If you would like to benefit from an enjoyable, easier warm-up read that covers the basics of mental health, the following guide will provide you with an excellent foundation from which to begin your introduction to psychological disorders.<\/p>\n

Here I Am, I Am Me: An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health<\/em> <\/a>is a full-colour graphic novel-style adventure through the brain that demystifies and destigmatizes emotional and mental health for children ages 12 and up. It is also an excellent guide for parents, adults enrolled in psychology courses, and clients in psychotherapy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Follow this link to read more about this guide.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Image Attributions<\/h1>\n

Figure PD.1. Photo by Sofia Alehandra<\/a> on Pexels<\/a><\/p>\n

definition<\/span>