Abnormal Psychology Activity

Kathy took her 6-year-old daughter Jennifer to the hospital on 130 separate occassions over the course of a 2 year oerios. Jennifer underwent approximately 40 surgeries over that time, for such chronic illnesses as immune system deficiency and spesis, a rare blood disorder. However, whenever Kathy was not around, Jennifer showed marker improvement. In addition, after visits by Kathy to Jennifer in the hospital, medical equipment used to assist Jennifer often malfunctioned or was missing.

Munchausen Disorder by Proxy

Thomas complains that he is experiencing recurrent episodes of lightheadedness, rapid breathing, and dizziness, especially as he attempts to leave his house. The symptoms have become so severe that, in fact, he is leaving his house less and less frequently. He now only goes to the grocery store in the company of his sister. Once in the store, he checks immediately for the exits and windows.

agoraphobia

As a baby, Charlie resisted being held and showed no interest in human stimulation. Usually passive, he sometimes played with his wind-up toys, but did not respond to his name being called and showed outbursts of temper if someone moved even one of his little cars from where he had placed it.

autism

Shannon's moods seem to swing abruptly, and she often seems unable to control her impulses. She has had many sexual encounters, dropping potential boyfriends before they drop her. She often complains of boredom, although she is seldom alone. She often gets caught up in very intense, stormy relationships. Her friends are on edge around her because of her Jekyll-Hyde behavior, often bickering among themselves after spending time alone with Shannon.

borderline personality disorder

Although Elaine is a kind, considerate person, she has trouble making decisions by herself. She leans heavily on her friends and family for advice, even for seemingly trivial decisions.

dependent personality disorder

Although Jack is enjoying watching the football game, he feels oddly detached, as though he is watching himself and his actions from outside of his own body. Because this has happened several times recently, Jack is startled for fear that he will totally lose control of his thoughts and behavior.

depersonalization disorder

Sam's friends are starting to worry about him. Normally energetic and fun-loving, Sam has become withdrawn and sullen. He has lost weight, is constantly tired, and hasn't been showing up to lacrosse practice or to his fraternity meetings. In his conversations with others, he expresses his feelings of doubt and unworthiness, and seems to be entertaining suicidal thoughts.

depression

Frank awoke one morning and suddenly realized that he had another name and a family in another state. He had no idea how he came to be living his present life.

dissociative identity disorder

Monica is suffering from a form of amnesia. She has deliberately left her hometown, moved to another city 350 miles away, and has assumed a new identity, a new job, and even new personality characteristics.

dissociative identity disorder

Alexandra periodically suffers from extremely high levels of anxiety but she cannot pinpoint the source or otherwise say why she is so anxious. She is terrified at times, her heart often races, she feels wobbly, and has difficulty concentrating.

generalized anxiety disorder

Joan has seen several specialists and undergone numersou diagnostic tests to determine the cause of her recurring headaches and episodes of dizziness. The doctors are perplexed and can seem to find no physiological cause for Joan's symptoms.

generalized anxiety disorder

Karen worries excessively about developing a rare disease. When she meets friends or writes letters to her relatives, she is constantly discussing how she feels and expresses concern that evem the most minor irregularities in the functioning of her body are symptoms of underlying diseases. She spends a good deal of time consulting doctors fora second opinion.

hypochondria

As a college student, Art would often take hundreds of dollars to the horse track> In order to get money for betting, he would borrow money from friends and then repay them with bad checks. In order to pay debts, he stole his father's credit card and used it to obtain $42,000.

impulse control

Because Amy feels "dirty" a lot of the time, she spends much of her day at the sink, washing and rewashing her hands hundreds of times until they are red and raw.

obsessive compulsive disorder

Leila takes forever to dress and get to work, often arriving late. She must shower twice, brush her hair 400 strokes, dress from her feet upward, eat an apple, put on her makeup following an exact sequence. If she misses a step, or is interrupted, she must begin again.

obsessive compulsive disorder

Zelda is extremely concerned with cleanliness. In fact, before she retires at night, she goes through a cleaning ritual of ehr clothes and body that sometimes lasts for up to 2 hours. If she misses a step in the ritual or performs part of it imperfectly, she staryts the ritual all over again.

obsessive compulsive disorder

While teaching her class one day, Theresa suddenly begins having difficulty breathing. Her heart starts pounding wildly, and she feels weak and dizzy. She feels as if she's having a heart attack and is honestly afraid she's going to die in the next minute ir two. (Assume that Theresa is not actually having a heart attack)

panic disorder

Emmit, who has just suffered a serious knee injury, cannot undergo an MRI because he has an irrational fear of narrow, enclosed places.

phobia

Although Karina was not personally injured in the earthquake, the experience was a terrifying one and her house was badly damaged. She has frequent nightmares about earthquakes and even when awake she sometimes gets flashes as if she's reliving the experience. The slightest noise or movement around her causes her heart to pound rapidly.

post traumatic stress disorder

If you interacted with Scott briefly, you might think that he is normal. However, once he told you about the government's plot against him and how he was going to be rescued by some alien friends, you would start to suspect that he is disordered.

schizophrenia