Written Assignment – Disorders Worksheet

Posted: September 10th, 2024

Download the Disorders Worksheet (below) and complete the tables with information from your readings, additional research, and the course information. You may find it helpful to complete the worksheet as you do the readings for this Module. Be sure to list your references in APA format at the end of the worksheet.

Module 05 Written Assignment – Disorders Worksheet

Instructions: For each disorder in the tables below, identify the major symptoms and characteristics. Feel free to refer to your readings and course materials. Be sure to list your references in APA format.
Anxiety Disorders Major Symptoms/Characteristics
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Phobias
Specific Phobia
Social Phobia
Agoraphobia
Panic Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Mood Disorders Major Symptoms/Characteristics
Major Depression
Bipolar Disorder

Schizophrenia Major Symptoms/Characteristics
Schizophrenia

Personality Disorders Major Symptoms/Characteristics
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder

References

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Disorders Worksheet
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life, such as work, health, or social interactions. Individuals with GAD often find it difficult to control their anxiety and may experience symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances (American Psychiatric Association, 2020).

Phobias
Phobias are intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations. These fears can lead to avoidance behaviors and significant distress. Phobias are categorized into specific phobias, social phobia, and agoraphobia.

Specific Phobia
Specific phobias involve an intense fear of a particular object or situation, such as heights, animals, or flying. The fear is disproportionate to the actual danger posed and can lead to avoidance behaviors (Bandelow & Michaelis, 2015).

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)
Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, is characterized by a significant fear of social situations where one might be scrutinized or judged by others. This fear can lead to avoidance of social interactions and can impair daily functioning (Stein & Stein, 2008).

Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia involves a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, such as in crowds or open spaces. This fear can lead to avoidance of various environments and can severely limit one’s activities (Craske & Stein, 2016).

Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is marked by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—sudden periods of intense fear or discomfort. Symptoms include palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, and feelings of impending doom. Individuals often worry about future attacks and may change their behavior to avoid them (American Psychiatric Association, 2020).

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that an individual feels driven to perform. These behaviors are often aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing a feared event, but they are not connected in a realistic way to the event (Abramowitz et al., 2009).

Mood Disorders
Major Depression
Major depression is characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness or a lack of interest in external stimuli. Symptoms include changes in appetite or weight, sleep disturbances, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide (American Psychiatric Association, 2020).

Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs. Manic episodes include elevated mood, increased activity, reduced need for sleep, grandiosity, and impulsive behavior. Depressive episodes mirror those of major depression (Grande et al., 2016).

Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and impaired cognitive ability. Negative symptoms include reduced emotional expression and lack of motivation. Schizophrenia significantly impacts social and occupational functioning (Owen et al., 2016).

Personality Disorders
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Antisocial personality disorder is marked by a pervasive pattern of disregard for the rights of others. Individuals may exhibit deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, aggression, and a lack of remorse for their actions. This disorder often leads to difficulties in maintaining relationships and employment (American Psychiatric Association, 2020).

Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Dissociative Identity Disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities within a single individual. These identities may have their own names, ages, histories, and characteristics. DID often results from severe trauma during early childhood (Brand et al., 2016).

Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions. Individuals may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days. Impulsive behaviors and chronic feelings of emptiness are also common (American Psychiatric Association, 2020).

References
Abramowitz, J. S., Taylor, S., & McKay, D. (2009). Obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Lancet, 374(9688), 491-499.

American Psychiatric Association. (2020). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).

Bandelow, B., & Michaelis, S. (2015). Epidemiology of anxiety disorders in the 21st century. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 17(3), 327-335.

Brand, B. L., Loewenstein, R. J., & Spiegel, D. (2016). Dispelling myths about dissociative identity disorder treatment: An empirically based approach. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 79(4), 352-361.

Craske, M. G., & Stein, M. B. (2016). Anxiety. The Lancet, 388(10063), 3048-3059.

Grande, I., Berk, M., Birmaher, B., & Vieta, E. (2016). Bipolar disorder. The Lancet, 387(10027), 1561-1572.

Owen, M. J., Sawa, A., & Mortensen, P. B. (2016). Schizophrenia. The Lancet, 388(10039), 86-97.

Stein, M. B., & Stein, D. J. (2008). Social anxiety disorder. The Lancet, 371(9618), 1115-1125.