This image contains a summary of psychological disorders as categorized in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM), which is a guide widely used by healthcare professionals to diagnose psychological disorders. Here's a detailed breakdown of the categories and disorders presented:

Types of Psychological Disorders

Schizophrenia:

• Defined as a psychotic disorder characterized by distortions of reality and disturbances in thought and language, perception, and sense of self.

• Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thought and behavior. Negative symptoms may include a flat affect and avolition (lack of motivation).

Depressive Disorders:

• Major depressive disorder: Characterized by one or more major depressive episodes, where symptoms last for at least two weeks and can include a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, and other symptoms that impair daily functioning.

• Pervasive depressive disorder: Previously known as dysthymia, it's a depressed mood that occurs for most of the day, more days than not, for at least two years.

• Seasonal affective disorder: Refers to major depressive episodes occurring with seasonal onset, typically during winter months.

Bipolar and Related Disorders:

• Bipolar I disorder: Includes at least one manic episode, which is a period of abnormally elevated mood and energy levels that can impair functioning.

• Bipolar II disorder: Involves at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode (less severe than a manic episode).

• Cyclothymic disorder: Characterized by chronic, fluctuating mood disturbances involving numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms.

Anxiety Disorders

• Generalized anxiety disorder: Persistent, excessive worry that is difficult to control.

• Specific phobias: Irrational fears of specific objects or situations.

• Social anxiety disorder: Intense anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social or performance situation.

• Agoraphobia: Fear of places or situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available in the event of panic symptoms.

• Panic disorder: Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and ongoing fear of future attacks.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Characterized by obsessions (persistent, unwanted thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform).

• Body dysmorphic disorder: Involves preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance, which are not observable or appear slight to others.

Dissociative Disorders

• Dissociative amnesia: Inability to recall important personal information, typically of a traumatic or stressful nature.

• Dissociative identity disorder: Previously known as multiple personality disorder, characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states.

• Depersonalization/derealization disorder: Persistent feelings of detachment from one’s thoughts, feelings, or body (depersonalization), or from one’s surroundings (derealization).

Understanding these disorders is crucial for the Behavioral Sciences section of the MCAT, as it tests knowledge on how behavior interacts with the individual's experience and the external environment, including mental health. Recognizing the symptoms and characteristics of these disorders allows future physicians to better diagnose, empathize with, and treat patients who may be affected by such conditions.

________

Let's organize the information into a more structured framework that may be beneficial for studying for the MCAT Behavioral Sciences section:

DSM Psychological Disorders Framework

1. Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

• Schizophrenia:

  • Core Features: Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking (speech), grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior, negative symptoms (e.g., diminished emotional expression).

  • Duration: Persistent symptoms for at least 6 months.

2. Depressive Disorders

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):

  • Criteria: Five or more symptoms during a 2-week period; one of the symptoms must be either depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure.

  • Key Symptoms: Depressed mood, diminished interest or pleasure, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, diminished ability to think or concentrate, recurrent thoughts of death.

• Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia):

  • Criteria: Depressed mood for most of the day, more days than not, for at least two years.

  • Key Features: Appetite changes, sleep disturbances, low energy, low self-esteem, poor concentration or difficulty making decisions, feelings of hopelessness.

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):

  • Pattern: Temporal relationship between the onset of episodes and a particular time of year.

  • Treatment Note: Light therapy often beneficial.

3. Bipolar and Related Disorders

• Bipolar I Disorder:

  • Defining Feature: At least one manic episode.

  • Manic Episode Criteria: Elevated, expansive, or irritable mood with abnormally increased activity or energy, lasting at least one week.

• Bipolar II Disorder:

  • Criteria: Presence of one or more major depressive episodes and at least one hypomanic episode.

  • Note: No manic episode history.

• Cyclothymic Disorder:

  • Criteria: Chronic, fluctuating mood disturbance with numerous hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms lasting for at least 2 years.

  • Key Feature: Symptoms do not meet the criteria for a hypomanic episode and a major depressive episode.

4. Anxiety Disorders

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):

  • Criteria: Excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least six months.

  • Key Symptoms: Restlessness, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance.

• Specific Phobias:

  • Criteria: Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation; the phobic object or situation almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety.

• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia):

  • Criteria: Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others.

• Agoraphobia:

  • Criteria: Marked fear or anxiety about two (or more) of the following five situations: using public transportation, being in open spaces, being in enclosed spaces, standing in line or being in a crowd, being outside of the home alone.

• Panic Disorder:

  • Criteria: Recurrent unexpected panic attacks and persistent concern or worry about additional panic attacks or their consequences.

5. Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

  • Obsessions: Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive and cause distress.

  • Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder:

  • Criteria: Preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others.

6. Dissociative Disorders

• Dissociative Amnesia:

  • Criteria: Inability to recall autobiographical information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature, that is inconsistent with ordinary forgetting.

• Dissociative Identity Disorder:

  • Criteria: Disruption of identity characterized by two or more distinct personality states or an experience of possession.

• Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder:

  • Criteria: Persistent or recurrent experiences of depersonalization, derealization, or both.

This framework is designed to encapsulate the essential criteria and features of each disorder as listed in the DSM for the purpose of review and study for the MCAT. Remember, the DSM is revised periodically, and it is important to consult the latest version when preparing for exams or clinical practice.

________

Below is a set of practice questions (P-set) that resemble those you might find on the MCAT, focusing on the Behavioral Sciences section, particularly on Psychological Disorders. These questions are conceptual and require an understanding of the disorders as described in the DSM. Note that the solutions provided include explanations as to why the correct answer is chosen.

Question 1: A 25-year-old individual has been experiencing significant mood swings over the past few years. They report periods of extremely high energy, during which they feel on top of the world and engage in impulsive activities like excessive shopping. These periods last about a week and are followed by episodes of deep sadness and hopelessness that make it difficult for them to get out of bed. These depressive episodes also last about a week. What diagnosis does this pattern of symptoms most closely align with?

A) Major Depressive Disorder
B) Bipolar I Disorder
C) Bipolar II Disorder
D) Cyclothymic Disorder

Solution 1: The correct answer is B) Bipolar I Disorder. The individual exhibits periods of extremely high energy and euphoria characteristic of manic episodes, as well as periods of deep sadness indicative of depressive episodes. The presence of at least one manic episode is indicative of Bipolar I Disorder.

Question 2: An individual reports an overwhelming fear of embarrassment in social situations. They avoid speaking in public and eating in front of others. They are very concerned about being judged negatively and this fear has been present for over six months, significantly impairing their social and occupational functioning. Which disorder best fits this description?

A) Agoraphobia
B) Social Anxiety Disorder
C) Panic Disorder
D) Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Solution 2: The correct answer is B) Social Anxiety Disorder. This disorder is characterized by an intense fear of social situations in which the individual may be scrutinized by others. The chronicity and impairment in functioning align with the diagnosis criteria.

Question 3: A patient has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. They describe experiencing repeated, unexpected panic attacks that occur without a clear trigger. Following these attacks, they persistently worry about having another attack and the implications it might have for their health. This worry has led to significant changes in their behavior to avoid potential triggers. What is the most appropriate diagnosis for this patient?

A) Generalized Anxiety Disorder
B) Social Anxiety Disorder
C) Panic Disorder
D) Specific Phobia

Solution 3: The correct answer is C) Panic Disorder. The key features of this disorder are recurrent panic attacks and ongoing concern about having additional attacks, as well as behavioral changes to avoid triggers.

Question 4: Which of the following symptoms is NOT typically associated with Major Depressive Disorder?

A) Increased appetite and weight gain
B) Insomnia or hypersomnia
C) Elevated self-esteem
D) Fatigue or loss of energy

Solution 4: The correct answer is C) Elevated self-esteem. Increased appetite and weight gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, and fatigue or loss of energy are all potential symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder. Elevated self-esteem is more commonly associated with manic episodes of Bipolar Disorder, not Major Depressive Disorder.

Question 5: A patient is suspected of having a dissociative disorder after reporting frequent periods in which they feel detached from their body and surroundings, as if they are watching their life as a movie. They say these experiences are distressing and affect their ability to function at work. Which disorder do these symptoms most closely describe?

A) Dissociative Amnesia
B) Dissociative Identity Disorder
C) Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
D) Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Solution 5: The correct answer is C) Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder. The key symptom described is a feeling of being detached from one's body and reality, which is characteristic of this disorder.

These questions and solutions are crafted to illustrate the application of DSM-based knowledge in a multiple-choice question format typical of the MCAT. In an actual MCAT scenario, questions may also be based on passages and require the integration of information from the passage with external knowledge of psychological disorders.

________

Here's another set of practice questions similar to what might be seen on the MCAT regarding psychological disorders. Please note that while I can create questions that are representative of the style and content of the MCAT, actual past MCAT questions are proprietary and not publicly released.

Question 1: A researcher studying mood disorders is particularly interested in a condition characterized by at least two years of fluctuating mild depressive symptoms and hypomanic episodes. The symptoms are not severe enough to meet the criteria for bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder. Which condition is the researcher most likely studying?

A) Major Depressive Disorder
B) Bipolar I Disorder
C) Bipolar II Disorder
D) Cyclothymic Disorder

Solution 1: The correct answer is D) Cyclothymic Disorder. This condition is defined by periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a full hypomanic or major depressive episode, lasting for at least two years.

Question 2: During a clinical psychology class, a professor explains that a specific anxiety disorder is often misunderstood as just shyness. However, it can significantly impair one's ability to perform daily activities and fulfill occupational roles due to intense fear and anxiety in social interactions. The disorder is best treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy. Which disorder is the professor discussing?

A) Agoraphobia
B) Social Anxiety Disorder
C) Panic Disorder
D) Specific Phobia

Solution 2: The correct answer is B) Social Anxiety Disorder. The description fits the diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder, which involves intense fear and anxiety in social interactions that go beyond mere shyness and can lead to avoidance of social situations.

Question 3: A 32-year-old presents to the clinic with a persistent belief that they will contract a deadly disease from touching doorknobs. Despite understanding that this fear is irrational, the patient washes their hands exactly 30 times after touching any doorknob. The most likely diagnosis is:

A) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
B) Generalized Anxiety Disorder
C) Body Dysmorphic Disorder
D) Illness Anxiety Disorder

Solution 3: The correct answer is A) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The patient exhibits both obsessions (irrational fear of contamination) and compulsions (excessive hand-washing).

Question 4: A patient reports experiencing numerous episodes where they suddenly feel unreal or detached from themselves, often triggered by stress. They have been medically cleared of any neurological conditions. Which of the following is a possible psychological diagnosis?

A) Bipolar Disorder
B) Dissociative Identity Disorder
C) Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
D) Schizophrenia

Solution 4: The correct answer is C) Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder. The symptoms of feeling unreal or detached from oneself, in the absence of a neurological condition, are indicative of this disorder.

Question 5: A patient has been experiencing episodes of intense fear that something bad will happen to her children, although there is no evidence to support this concern. The fear is so pervasive that it has begun to interfere with her ability to work and maintain social relationships. She often finds herself double-checking that she has locked all the doors and windows in her home. This behavior most closely aligns with which of the following disorders?

A) Panic Disorder
B) Generalized Anxiety Disorder
C) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
D) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Solution 5: The correct answer is C) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The patient's pervasive fear and her compulsive behavior of double-checking locks are characteristic of OCD.

These practice questions aim to test comprehension of psychological disorders and their diagnostic criteria, as well as applying that knowledge in a clinical scenario, which is a key aspect of the MCAT Behavioral Sciences section.

________

For effective long-term memory retention of the MCAT Behavioral Sciences section, particularly Psychological Disorders, students should engage with a variety of questions that challenge them to recall, apply, and integrate knowledge in different contexts. Here’s a list of questions that can help students to consolidate their understanding:

1. Comprehension Questions:

   • What are the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, and how do they differ from Persistent Depressive Disorder?

   • Describe the differences between the symptoms of a manic episode and a hypomanic episode.

2. Application Questions:

   • Given a case study of a patient exhibiting specific symptoms, diagnose the patient with a psychological disorder, justifying your choice based on DSM criteria.

   • Explain how cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) might be used to treat a patient with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

3. Integration Questions:

   • How might a clinician differentiate between symptoms of Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder, considering they both can involve mood swings?

   • Discuss how the biopsychosocial model can be applied to understanding the development of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

4. Analysis Questions:

   • Evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks of pharmacological versus psychotherapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders.

   • Analyze a case where a patient presents with both depressive and psychotic symptoms, determining the most likely diagnosis and its implications for treatment.

5. Synthesis Questions:

   • Propose a treatment plan for a patient with Schizophrenia, integrating pharmacological, psychological, and social support strategies.

   • Design a research study to investigate the efficacy of exposure therapy in the treatment of Specific Phobias.

6. Evaluation Questions:

   • Critique the use of the DSM for diagnosing psychological disorders, considering cultural and contextual factors.

   • Assess the challenges faced by individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and societal perception.

7. Memory Consolidation Exercises:

   • Create mnemonics or memory aids to remember the criteria for different anxiety disorders.

   • Regularly self-test on the symptomatology and treatment options for various disorders.

8. Higher-Order Thinking Questions:

   • How might the presentation of mood disorders differ across the lifespan, and what factors could contribute to these differences?

   • Debate the ethical considerations involved in involuntary treatment for patients with severe psychological disorders.

By engaging with these types of questions, students can deepen their understanding and enhance their recall of psychological disorders. Active learning techniques such as self-quizzing, teaching the material to someone else, and regular review sessions are also effective strategies for long-term retention.