The troubled mind: psychological
disorders
Autism spectrum disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disorder characterised by deficits in social relatedness and
communication skills that are often accompanied by repetitive, ritualistic behaviour. Individuals with
ASD experience problems with social relatedness, no language abilities OR delayed acquisition of
language, and they may not take pleasure in reciprocal games. ASD is a neurodevelopment disorder.
Individuals with ASD have narrower minicolumns. Abnormalities in the amygdala, hippocampus and
cerebellum can be observed.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
This is a disorder characterised by either unusual inattentiveness, hyperactivity with impulsivity, or
both. The core feature of inattention is the ability to maintain sustained attention for an age-
appropriate length of time.
Schizophrenia
This is a disorder characterised by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganised thought and speech.
Symptoms, indicating a state of psychosis:
Delusions: a false, illogical belief
Hallucinations: a false perception
Disorganised speech
Disorders of movement
Patients with schizophrenia demonstrate a lower level of frontal lobe activity, both at rest and
during cognitive tasks.
Bipolar disorder
This is a mood disorder characterised by alternating periods of mania and depression. A mania is a
period of unrealistically elevate moods. A maniac phase consists of a distinct period of abnormally
and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood it could also consist of abnormally and
persistently increased goal-directed activity or energy.
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
This is a disorder characterised by lengthy periods of depressed mood, loss of pleasure in normal
activities, disturbances in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness and
possible thoughts of suicide.
Learning explanations: MDD occurs when a person experiences a reduction in positive
reinforcement or an increase in negative outcomes. MDD can results from learned
helplessness which is a state in which experiencing random or uncontrolled consequences
leads to feelings of helplessness and possibly depression.
Cognitive explanations: MDD is the result of a combination of negative thoughts about the
self, the world, and the future
disorders
Autism spectrum disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disorder characterised by deficits in social relatedness and
communication skills that are often accompanied by repetitive, ritualistic behaviour. Individuals with
ASD experience problems with social relatedness, no language abilities OR delayed acquisition of
language, and they may not take pleasure in reciprocal games. ASD is a neurodevelopment disorder.
Individuals with ASD have narrower minicolumns. Abnormalities in the amygdala, hippocampus and
cerebellum can be observed.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
This is a disorder characterised by either unusual inattentiveness, hyperactivity with impulsivity, or
both. The core feature of inattention is the ability to maintain sustained attention for an age-
appropriate length of time.
Schizophrenia
This is a disorder characterised by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganised thought and speech.
Symptoms, indicating a state of psychosis:
Delusions: a false, illogical belief
Hallucinations: a false perception
Disorganised speech
Disorders of movement
Patients with schizophrenia demonstrate a lower level of frontal lobe activity, both at rest and
during cognitive tasks.
Bipolar disorder
This is a mood disorder characterised by alternating periods of mania and depression. A mania is a
period of unrealistically elevate moods. A maniac phase consists of a distinct period of abnormally
and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood it could also consist of abnormally and
persistently increased goal-directed activity or energy.
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
This is a disorder characterised by lengthy periods of depressed mood, loss of pleasure in normal
activities, disturbances in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness and
possible thoughts of suicide.
Learning explanations: MDD occurs when a person experiences a reduction in positive
reinforcement or an increase in negative outcomes. MDD can results from learned
helplessness which is a state in which experiencing random or uncontrolled consequences
leads to feelings of helplessness and possibly depression.
Cognitive explanations: MDD is the result of a combination of negative thoughts about the
self, the world, and the future
