Psychological Facts (hiatus)

List of Psychological Disorder (O-P)

1. OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

Etiology

Both biological and psychological causes have been found in OCD.

Symptoms

The key features of this disorder include obsessions (persistent, often irrational, and seemingly uncontrollable thoughts) and compulsions (actions which are used to neutralize the obsessions). A good example of this would be an individual who has thoughts that he is dirty, infected, or otherwise unclean which are persistent and uncontrollable. In order to feel better, he washes his hands numerous times throughout the day, gaining temporary relief from the thoughts each time. For these behaviors to constitute OCD, it must be disruptive to everyday functioning (such as compulsive checking before leaving the house making you extremely late for all or most appointments, washing to the point of excessive irritation of your skin, or inability to perform everyday functions like work or school because of the obsessions or compulsions).

2. ORGASMIC (FEMALE) DISORDER

Etiology

Some research suggests that failure to achieve an orgasm for women is related to intimacy issues, feelings of fear and anxiety, and a sense of not being safe within the intimate relationship or relationships in general.

Symptoms

Delay of orgasm following normal excitement and sexual activity. Due to the widely varied sexual response in women, it must be judged by a clinician to be significant taking into account the person's age and situation. The condition is persistent or occurs frequently and causes significant distress. Is not a direct effect of substance use.

3. ORGASMIC (MALE) DISORDER

Etiology

Although a medical cause needs to be ruled out first, male orgasm disorder is often thought of as beginning in adolescence or early adulthood because sexual intimacy becomes related with a negative life event or aspect.

Symptoms

Delay or absence of orgasm following normal excitement and sexual activity. Due to the widely varied sexual response in men, it must be judged by a clinician to be significant, taking into account the person's age and situation. The condition is persistent or occurs frequently and causes significant distress. Is not a direct effect of substance use.

4. PAIN

Etiology

Some suggest that reinforcement for the sick role may play a role in the development of pain disorder. Other's suggest that unconscious conflicts are converted to pain symptoms.

Symptoms

Pain which causes significant distress or impairment in functioning which cannot be fully explained by a physician. It must be judged to be related to psychological factors and cannot be better explained by another disorder.

5. PANIC DISORDER (WITH OR WITHOUT AGORAPHOBIA)

Etiology

Often the symptoms of this disorder come on rapidly and without an identifiable stressor. The individual may have had periods of high anxiety in the past, or may have been involved in a recent stressful situation. The underlying causes, however, are typically subtle.

Symptoms

Panic Disorder is characterized by sudden attacks of intense fear or anxiety, usually associated with numerous physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, rapid breathing or shortness of breath, blurred vision, dizziness, and racing thoughts. Often these symptoms are thought to be a heart attack by the individual, and many cases are diagnosed in hospital emergency rooms.

6. PEDOPHILIA

Etiology

A large percentage of individuals with this disorder were sexually abused as children, although the vast majority of adults who were abused do not develop pedophilia or pedophilic behaviors. There is also those who argue pedophilia results from feelings of inadequacy with same age peers, and therefore a transfer of sexual urges to children.

Symptoms

This disorder is characterized by either intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child (typically age 13 or younger). To be considered for this diagnosis, the individual must be at least 16 years old and at least 5 years older than the child.

7. PHOBIAS (SIMPLE)

Etiology

Often a traumatic event is the precursor for a phobia, which may or may not be at the conscious level.

Symptoms

Symptoms include either extreme anxiety and fear associated with the object or situation or avoidance. To be diagnosed, the symptoms must be disruptive to everyday functioning (such as quitting a great job merely because you have to use an elevator).

8. POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Etiology

By definition, PTSD always follows a traumatic event which causes intense fear and/or helplessness in an individual. Typically the symptoms develop shortly after the event, but may take years. The duration for symptoms is at least one month for this diagnosis.

Symptoms

Symptoms include re-experiencing the trauma through nightmares, obsessive thoughts, and flashbacks (feeling as if you are actually in the traumatic situation again). There is an avoidance component as well, where the individual avoids situations, people, and/or objects which remind him or her about the traumatic event (e.g., a person experiencing PTSD after a serious car accident might avoid driving or being a passenger in a car). Finally, there is increased anxiety in general, possibly with a heightened startle response (e.g., very jumpy, startle easy by noises).

9. PREMATURE EJACULATION

Etiology

Medical Causes must be ruled out first. Relationship stress, novelty of a relationship, anxiety, issues related to control and intimacy can all play a role in the development of this disorder.

Symptoms

Ejaculation with minimal sexual stimulation before or shortly after penetration and before the person wishes it. The condition is persistent or occurs frequently and causes significant distress. Is not a direct effect of substance use.

10. PYROMANIA

Etiology

Little is known about the etiology of pyromania, although there is research supporting an environmental component from early childhood.

Symptoms

Pyromania involves deliberate and purposeful fire setting on at lease two occasions. There is typically tension or heightened arousal prior to the act and gratification or relief afterward. The fire setting is not done for monetary gain or an expression of anger, vengeance, personal gain, or psychosis.