0VERVIEW: We will do only one RESEARCH activity this academic year. You may turn the PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (or if you prefer, the CASE STUDY) in the WEEK OF APRIL 17TH – APRIL 24, 2016, so please monitor the dates and any other activities you may have been assigned to include your other classes.

You will be required to submit a FLASHDRIVE of your video, or a YOUTUBE submission by providing the correct URL. NO COMPACT DISK please. I must be able to access and store your PSA. Please remember, I will not be sympathetic for incomplete, late or weak case studies as the DUE WEEK comes after our Spring Break 2017. That gives you LOTS OF TIME to complete the project.

The WEIGHT of the PROJECT is 100 PTS.
The PSAs immediately below are from 2015-16, and 2016-17......2018 PSAs are toward the bottom of the page...

Hypochondria

Hypochondriasis, also known as hypochondria, health anxiety or illness anxiety disorder, refers to worry about having a serious illness. This debilitating condition is the result of an inaccurate perception of the condition of body or mind despite the absence of an actual medical condition.

Fundamental Attribution Theory

The fundamental attribution error is our tendency to explain someone's behavior based on internal factors, such as personality or disposition, and to underestimate the influence that external factors, such as situational influences, have on another person's behavior.

Academic Year 2016-17 Research Project

There are numerous benefits for AP Psychology students who get involved in research. Research experience allows AP Psychology students to better understand published works, learn to balance collaborative and individual work, determine an area of interest, and jump start their understanding of psychology concepts and applications.  Through exposure to basic minor research as AP Psychology, many students discover their passion for psychology and continue on to college studies and disciplines.

ADHD:  PERIOD 3:  Grant & Tyler

ADHD is a disorder that makes it difficult for a person to pay attention and control impulsive behaviors. He or she may also be restless and almost constantly active.

ADHD is not just a childhood disorder. Although the symptoms of ADHD begin in childhood, ADHD can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Even though hyperactivity tends to improve as a child becomes a teen, problems with inattention, disorganization, and poor impulse control often continue through the teen years and into adulthood.

Schizophrenia:  Period 7:  Michael & Summer 

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:      Period 2:  Alexon & Brooke

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder where people feel the need to check things repeatedly, perform certain routines repeatedly (called "rituals"), or have certain thoughts repeatedly. People are unable to control either the thoughts or the activities for more than a short period of time. Common activities include hand washing, counting of things, and checking to see if a door is locked. Some may have difficulty throwing things out. These activities occur to such a degree that the person's daily life is negatively affected. Often they take up more than an hour a day.[2] Most adults realize that the behaviors do not make sense. The condition is associated with tics, anxiety disorder, and an increased risk of suicide.

DID:    PERIOD 2:  Gianni, Rachel & Jenna

Dissociative identity disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder (MPD), is a mental disorder characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring identities or dissociated personality states. These states alternately show in a person's behavior, accompanied by memory impairment for important information not explained by ordinary forgetfulness. These symptoms are not accounted for by substance abuse, seizures, other medical conditions, nor by imaginative play in children. Dissociative symptoms range from common lapses in attention, becoming distracted by something else, and daydreaming, to pathological dissociative disorders. Symptoms vary over time

Schizophrenia - PERIOD 2 [Gabriel, Dominick & Chloe]

Schizophrenia is a serious disorder which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. Someone with schizophrenia may have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imaginary; may be unresponsive or withdrawn; and may have difficulty expressing normal emotions in social situations.
Contrary to public perception, schizophrenia is not split personality or multiple personality. The vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent and do not pose a danger to others. Schizophrenia is not caused by childhood experiences, poor parenting or lack of willpower, nor are the symptoms identical for each person.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder -  PERIOD 2: Moses & Anne]

Generalized anxiety disorder (or GAD) is characterized by excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about everyday life events with no obvious reasons for worry. People with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder tend to always expect disaster and can't stop worrying about health, money, family, work, or school. In people with GAD, the worry is often unrealistic or out of proportion for the situation. Daily life becomes a constant state of worry, fear, and dread. Eventually, the anxiety so dominates the person's thinking that it interferes with daily functioning, including work, school, social activities, and relationships.

Bipolar:  PERIOD 3:  Lily, Fatima & Christine
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).  When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.  Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most people will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not experience any.  Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, you can manage your mood swings and other symptoms by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated with medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy).

Avoidant Personality Disorder:  PERIOD 2:  Jordan, Emily & Emma

People with avoidant personality disorder experience long-standing feelings of inadequacy and are extremely sensitive to what others think about them. These feelings of inadequacy leads to the person to be socially inhibited and feel socially inept. Because of these feelings of inadequacy and inhibition, the person with avoidant personality disorder will seek to avoid work, school and any activities that involve socializing or interacting with others.

ADHD:  PERIOD 3:  Joel, Kyle & Jacob

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.

  • Inattention means a person wanders off task, lacks persistence, has difficulty sustaining focus, and is disorganized; and these problems are not due to defiance or lack of comprehension.
  • Hyperactivity means a person seems to move about constantly, including in situations in which it is not appropriate; or excessively fidgets, taps, or talks. In adults, it may be extreme restlessness or wearing others out with constant activity.
  • Impulsivity means a person makes hasty actions that occur in the moment without first thinking about them and that may have high potential for harm; or a desire for immediate rewards or inability to delay gratification. An impulsive person may be socially intrusive and excessively interrupt others or make important decisions without considering the long-term consequences.

Major Depressive Disorder:  Period 2:  Danielle, Helen & Grace

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known simply as depression, is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of low mood that is present across most situations. It is often accompanied by low self-esteem, loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities, low energy, and pain without a clear cause. People may also occasionally have false beliefs or see or hear things that others cannot. Some people have periods of depression separated by years in which they are normal while others nearly always have symptoms present. Major depressive disorder can negatively affect a person's personal, work, or school life, as well as sleeping, eating habits, and general health. Between 2–7% of adults with major depression die by suicide, and up to 60% of people who die by suicide had depression or another mood disorder

Narcolepsy:  Period 7:  Dominique & Corinne

Narcolepsy is a long-term neurological disorder that involves a decreased ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles.  Symptoms include periods of excessive daytime sleepiness that usually last from seconds to minutes and may occur at any time. About 70% of people also experience episodes of sudden loss of muscle strength, known as cataplexy. These spells can be brought on by strong emotions. Less commonly there may be inability to move or vivid hallucinations while falling asleep or waking up. People with narcolepsy tend to sleep about the same number of hours per day as people without, but the quality of sleep tends to be worse

Sleep Deprivation:  Period 2:  Taylor

Sleep deprivation is the condition of not having enough sleep; it can be either chronic or acute. A chronic sleep-restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and weight loss or weight gain. It adversely affects the brain and cognitive function. However, in a subset of cases sleep deprivation can, paradoxically, lead to increased energy and alertness and enhanced mood; it has even been used as a treatment for depression

Schizophrenia:  Period 7:  Trey, Eric & Jonathan

Schizophrenia is a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

 Antisocial personality disorder is a disorder that is characterized by a long-standing pattern of disregard for other people’s rights, often crossing the line and violating those rights. A person with antisocial personality disorder (APD) often feels little or no empathy toward other people, and doesn’t see the problem in bending or breaking the law for their own needs or wants. The disorder usually begins in childhood or as a teen and continues into a person’s adult life.  Antisocial personality disorder is often referred to as psychopathy or sociopathy in popular culture. However, neither psychopathy nor sociopathy are recognized professional labels used for diagnosis.  Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder frequently lack empathy and tend to be callous, cynical, and contemptuous of the feelings, rights, and sufferings of others. They may have an inflated and arrogant self-appraisal (e.g., feel that ordinary work is beneath them or lack a realistic concern about their current problems or their future) and may be excessively opinionated, self-assured, or cocky. They may display a glib, superficial charm and can be quite voluble and verbally facile 

Cotard's Syndrome

Cotard’s Syndrome is a relatively rare condition that was first described by Dr. Jules Cotard in 1882. Cotard’s syndrome comprises any one of a series of delusions that range from a belief that one has lost organs, blood, or body parts to insisting that one has lost one’s soul or is dead.1
Cases have been reported in patients with mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and medical conditions. Most cases of Cotard’s are more responsive to electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) than to pharmacological treatment. 

Dissociative Identity Disorder

The signs and symptom of Dissociative identity Disorder (DID) vary depending on the individual. What drives them, however, is severe episodes of dissociation that manifest as multiple personalities brought about by severe, persistent periods of childhood trauma or neglect.
Even though there are many DID symptoms and signs, it is still very difficult to diagnose DID. It is estimated that people with dissociative disorders spend, on average, seven years in the mental health system before receiving an accurate diagnosis. This is because many of the DID symptoms people seek help for are similar to those seen in other mental health disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and anxiety. In fact, some of these disorders may co-occur with dissociative identity disorder.

Teens & Driving Using Cell Phones

​Cell Phone Use. Even though teens recognize that talking or texting on a cell phoneor using social media apps while driving is unsafe, they often engage in these behaviors while driving. In 2013, 10 percent of all drivers ages 15 to 19 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash.
ENJOY the PSA(s) from 2017-18......There are a wide array of different video productions [below] and each is unique in its own way... Who knows...We may have a future Megan Ellison or Steven Spielberg among our students...LAUGH...RELAX...JUST ENJOY trying to figure them out as PSAs...Some are more elaborate than others, but each, interesting enough in their own right...

2017-18 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

There are numerous benefits for AP Psychology students who get involved in research. Research experience allows AP Psychology students to better understand published works, learn to balance collaborative and individual work, determine an area of interest, and jump start their understanding of psychology concepts and applications.  Through exposure to basic minor research as AP Psychology, many students discover their passion for psychology and continue on to college studies and disciplines.

Agoraphobia 2018

Triggers for this anxiety may include wide-open spaces, crowds (social anxiety), or traveling (even short distances). Agoraphobia is often, but not always, compounded by a fear of social embarrassment, as the agoraphobic fears the onset of a panic attack and appearing distraught in public.

NARCISSISM / SOCIAL ANXIETY 2018

rcissists cut a wide, swashbuckling figure through the world. At one end of the self-loving spectrum is the charismatic leader with an excess of charm, whose only vice may be his or her inflated amour-propre. At the far end of the spectrum reside individuals with narcissistic personality disorder, whose grandiosity soars to such heights that they are manipulative and easily angered, especially when they don't receive the attention they consider their birthright. Here's how to figure out whether the big talker in your office really believes his or her own hype.

For people with social anxiety disorder, everyday social interactions cause irrational anxiety, fear, self-consciousness, and embarrassment.  Symptoms may include excess fear of situations in which one may be judged, worry about embarrassment or humiliation, or concern about offending someone.  Talk therapy and antidepressants can help increase confidence and improve ability to interact with others.

Gaming Disorder 2018

The World Health Organization, the public health division of the United Nations, has released its newest list of classified diseases--and "gaming disorder" is included. A draft of the WHO's International Classification of Diseases (ICD) describes this as being characterized by a "pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour" online or offline.
The description goes on to say that gaming disorders can include the following: "1) impaired control over gaming (e.g., onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context); 2) increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities; and 3) continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences."

Cotard's Syndrome 2018

Cotard’s Syndrome is a relatively rare condition that was first described by Dr. Jules Cotard in 1882. Cotard’s syndrome comprises any one of a series of delusions that range from a belief that one has lost organs, blood, or body parts to insisting that one has lost one’s soul or is dead.    Cases have been reported in patients with mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and medical conditions. Most cases of Cotard’s are more responsive to electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) than to pharmacological treatment. We present the case of a recent immigrant with Cotard’s syndrome, in the context of depression, to illustrate both how impairing the condition can be and how a course of effective, individualized therapy can improve outcome.

Dissociative Identity Disorder 2018

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a severe condition in which two or more distinct identities, or personality states, are present in—and alternately take control of—an individual. Some people describe this as an experience of possession. The person also experiences memory loss that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness.
DID is a disorder characterized by identity fragmentation rather than a proliferation of separate personalities. The disturbance is not due to the direct psychological effects of a substance or of a general medical condition. DID was called multiple personality disorder until 1994, when the name was changed to reflect a better understanding of the condition—namely, that it is characterized by a fragmentation, or splintering, of identity rather than by a proliferation, or growth, of separate identities. As this once rarely reported disorder has become more common, the diagnosis has become controversial.

Schizophrenia 2018

Schizophrenia is a disabling, chronic, and severe mental illness that affects more than 21 million people around the world. Symptoms include hearing internal voices, having false beliefs, disorganized thoughts and behavior, being emotionally flat, and having hallucinations. These symptoms may leave a person feeling fearful and withdrawn. Their disorganized behavior can be perceived as incomprehensible or frightening to others.

People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking, or may seem like they are talking to themselves. 
Families and society are affected by schizophrenia too. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or taking care of themselves, so they rely on others for help.

Schizophrenia affects both men and women similarly, although some research points to an earlier onset of symptoms in men. Schizophrenia is found in similar rates in all ethnic groups around the world. Symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions usually start between ages 16 and 30. It is not common for schizophrenia to be diagnosed in a person younger than 12 or older than 40. 

Panic Disorder 2018

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by reoccurring unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear that may include palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, numbness, or a feeling that something really bad is going to happen.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 2018

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder in which time people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). The repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing, checking on things or cleaning, can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions.
Many people have focused thoughts or repeated behaviors. But these do not disrupt daily life and may add structure or make tasks easier. For people with OCD, thoughts are persistent and unwanted routines and behaviors are rigid and not doing them causes great distress. Many people with OCD know or suspect their obsessions are not true; others may think they could be true (known as poor insight). Even if they know their obsessions are not true, people with OCD have a hard time keeping their focus off the obsessions or stopping the compulsive actions.

 ​Schizophrenia 2018 [Second PSA]

​Schizophrenia is a disabling, chronic, and severe mental illness that affects more than 21 million people around the world. Symptoms include hearing internal voices, having false beliefs, disorganized thoughts and behavior, being emotionally flat, and having hallucinations. These symptoms may leave a person feeling fearful and withdrawn. Their disorganized behavior can be perceived as incomprehensible or frightening to others.

People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking, or may seem like they are talking to themselves. 
Families and society are affected by schizophrenia too. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or taking care of themselves, so they rely on others for help.

Schizophrenia affects both men and women similarly, although some research points to an earlier onset of symptoms in men. Schizophrenia is found in similar rates in all ethnic groups around the world. Symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions usually start between ages 16 and 30. It is not common for schizophrenia to be diagnosed in a person younger than 12 or older than 40.

Avoidant Personality Disorder 2018

Personality disorders are long-lived patterns of behavior that cause problems with work and relationships. Avoidant personality disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by a lifelong pattern of extreme social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and sensitivity to rejection. People with avoidant personality disorder may avoid work activities or decline job offers because of fears of criticism or disappointment from others. They may be inhibited in social situations as a result of low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy.

Additionally, they may be preoccupied with their own shortcomings and form relationships with others only if they think they will not be rejected. Loss and rejection are so painful to these individuals that they will choose loneliness rather than risk trying to connect with others. About two percent of the population, equally divided between the sexes, have this disorder.

Sleep Deprivation 2018

Sleep deprivation is the condition of not having enough sleep; it can be either chronic or acute. A chronic sleep-restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and weight loss or weight gain. It adversely affects the brain and cognitive function.

Dementia 2018

Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a group of symptomsassociated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases. Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke, is the second most common dementia type. But there are many other conditions that can cause symptoms of dementia, including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies.
Dementia is often incorrectly referred to as "senility" or "senile dementia," which reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect belief that serious mental decline is a normal part of aging.

Schizophrenia 2018 [Third PSA]

​Schizophrenia is a disabling, chronic, and severe mental illness that affects more than 21 million people around the world. Symptoms include hearing internal voices, having false beliefs, disorganized thoughts and behavior, being emotionally flat, and having hallucinations. These symptoms may leave a person feeling fearful and withdrawn. Their disorganized behavior can be perceived as incomprehensible or frightening to others.

People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking, or may seem like they are talking to themselves. 
Families and society are affected by schizophrenia too. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or taking care of themselves, so they rely on others for help.

Schizophrenia affects both men and women similarly, although some research points to an earlier onset of symptoms in men. Schizophrenia is found in similar rates in all ethnic groups around the world. Symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions usually start between ages 16 and 30. It is not common for schizophrenia to be diagnosed in a person younger than 12 or older than 40.

Drug Addiction 2018


Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you're addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.
​
Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins with exposure to prescribed medications, or receiving medications from a friend or relative who has been prescribed the medication.  The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by drug. Some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others.  As time passes, one may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As the drug use increases, many may find that it's increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill (withdrawal symptoms).
​
One may need help from your doctor, family, friends, support groups or an organized treatment program to overcome one's drug addiction and stay drug-free.

Bipolar Disorder 2018

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
There are four basic types of bipolar disorder; all of them involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elated, and energized behavior (known as manic episodes) to very sad, “down,” or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes). Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes.

 2018 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder [Second PSA]

​Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder in which time people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). The repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing, checking on things or cleaning, can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions.
Many people have focused thoughts or repeated behaviors. But these do not disrupt daily life and may add structure or make tasks easier. For people with OCD, thoughts are persistent and unwanted routines and behaviors are rigid and not doing them causes great distress. Many people with OCD know or suspect their obsessions are not true; others may think they could be true (known as poor insight). Even if they know their obsessions are not true, people with OCD have a hard time keeping their focus off the obsessions or stopping the compulsive actions.

Schizophrenia 2018 [4th PSA]

​​Schizophrenia is a disabling, chronic, and severe mental illness that affects more than 21 million people around the world. Symptoms include hearing internal voices, having false beliefs, disorganized thoughts and behavior, being emotionally flat, and having hallucinations. These symptoms may leave a person feeling fearful and withdrawn. Their disorganized behavior can be perceived as incomprehensible or frightening to others.

People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking, or may seem like they are talking to themselves. 
Families and society are affected by schizophrenia too. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or taking care of themselves, so they rely on others for help.

Schizophrenia affects both men and women similarly, although some research points to an earlier onset of symptoms in men. Schizophrenia is found in similar rates in all ethnic groups around the world. Symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions usually start between ages 16 and 30. It is not common for schizophrenia to be diagnosed in a person younger than 12 or older than 40.

 Tourettes' Syndrome 2018

Tourette Syndrome is one type of Tic Disorder. Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations. They are the defining feature of a group of childhood-onset, neurodevelopmental conditions known collectively as Tic Disorders and individually as Tourette Syndrome, Chronic Tic Disorder (Motor or Vocal Type), and Provisional Tic Disorder. The three Tic Disorders are distinguished by the types of tics present (motor, vocal/ phonic, or both) and by the length of time that the tics have been present.
Individuals with Tourette Syndrome (TS) have had at least two motor tics and at least one vocal/ phonic tic in some combination over the course of more than a year. By contrast, individuals with Chronic Tic Disorder have either motor tics or vocal tics that have been present for more than a year, and individuals with Provisional Tic Disorder have tics that have been present for less than a year.

2018-19 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS [PSAs]

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

​A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

DEPRESSION

Being depressed often feels like carrying a very heavy burden, but you are not alone in this struggle. Millions of Americans suffer from some form of depression every year, making it one of the most common mental disorders in the country.  Gaining a deeper understanding of depression can help begin the journey to recovery. Taking some time to learn more about the causes and symptoms of depression will assist you greatly when it comes time to consider methods of treatment.  Depression is more than just feeling sad. Everyone feels upset or unmotivated from time to time, but depression is more serious. It is a mood disorder characterized by prolonged feelings of sadness and loss of interest in daily activities. If these symptoms persist for a period of at least two weeks, it is considered a depressive episode.

SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling.

NARCOLEPSY

​Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and in some cases episodes of cataplexy (partial or total loss of muscle control, often triggered by a strong emotion such as laughter).

BIPOLAR DISORDER

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.  Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most people will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not experience any.  Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, you can manage your mood swings and other symptoms by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated with medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy).

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

​Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

​Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.
More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness and you can't simply "snap out" of it. Depression may require long-term treatment. But don't get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both.

PARANOID PERSONALITY DISORDER

​Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is one of a group of conditions called "Cluster A" personality disorders which involve odd or eccentric ways of thinking. People with PPD also suffer from paranoia, an unrelenting mistrust and suspicion of others, even when there is no reason to be suspicious

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

When does cleaning become too much? When it starts to cause the cleaner or the family members problems. ... Those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) will have a great need or compulsion to clean or perform cleaning rituals so that they feel in control.    OCD stands for obsessive compulsive disorder. ... A person with OCD doesn't obsessively clean their kitchen just because they like it to be clean. A person with OCD is overwhelmed with anxiety and fear about what will happen if they don't clean their kitchen properly.

TEEN DRIVING

​Few social trends in the United States are as startling as the staggering rates of texting-while-driving (TWD), especially among teens. Car accidents are the number one cause of death for adolescents and 10 percent of these incidents involve distracted driving (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Dr. Despina Stavrinos, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Alabama (UAB), has dedicated her career to reducing the prevalence of these avoidable tragedies. As the director of Translational Research for Injury Prevention (TRIP) Laboratory at UAB, Stavrinos studies how distraction effects motorists and what can be done to prevent it. Her work with TRIP focuses largely on vulnerable populations, including teenage drivers.
In anticipation of May as Teen Driver Safety Month, Traffic Safety Store reached out to  Stavrinos to discuss the realities of this epidemic and get tips on how to protect young drivers. The big take away: Treat distracted driving like drunk driving. It’s a similar state of impairment and can be addressed with some of the same  proven strategies.

UNER TAN SYNDROME

Uner Tan syndrome, Unertan syndrome or UTS is asyndrome proposed by the Turkish evolutionary biologist Üner Tan. According to Tan, persons affected by this syndrome walk with a quadrupedal locomotion and are afflicted with "primitive" speech and severe mental retardation.

DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER

Dissociative disorders are characterized by an involuntary escape from reality characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness and memory. People from all age groups and racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds can experience a dissociative disorder. Its estimated that 2% of people experience dissociative disorders, with women being more likely than men to be diagnosed. Almost half of adults in the United States experience at least one depersonalization/derealization episode in their lives, with only 2% meeting the full criteria for chronic episodes. The symptoms of a dissociative disorder usually first develop as a response to a traumatic event, such as abuse or military combat, to keep those memories under control. Stressful situations can worsen symptoms and cause problems with functioning in everyday activities. However, the symptoms a person experiences will depend on the type of dissociative disorder that a person has.
Treatment for dissociative disorders often involves psychotherapy and medication. Though finding an effective treatment plan can be difficult, many people are able to live healthy and productive lives.

NARCOLEPSY

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The cause of narcolepsy isn't well understood but may involve genetic factors and abnormal signaling in the brain.
Narcolepsy causes sudden attacks of sleep. Sudden loss of muscle tone and hallucinations might occur.   Stimulants, antidepressants, and other medications can help. 

BIPOLAR DISORDER

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. People who have it go through unusual mood changes. They go from very happy, "up," and active to very sad and hopeless, "down," and inactive, and then back again. They often have normal moods in between. The up feeling is called mania. The down feeling is depression.  The causes of bipolar disorder aren't always clear. It runs in families. Abnormal brain structure and function may also play a role.  Bipolar disorder often starts in a person's late teen or early adult years. But children and adults can have bipolar disorder too. The illness usually lasts a lifetime.  If you think you may have it, tell your health care provider. A medical checkup can rule out other illnesses that might cause your mood changes.  If not treated, bipolar disorder can lead to damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. However, there are effective treatments to control symptoms: medicine and talk therapy. A combination usually works best.

DEPRESSION

Depression is a serious medical illness. It's more than just a feeling of being sad or "blue" for a few days. If you are one of the more than 19 million teens and adults in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Symptoms can include
  • Feeling sad or "empty"
  • Loss of interest in favorite activities
  • Overeating, or not wanting to eat at all
  • Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much
  • Feeling very tired
  • Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or guilty
  • Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
  • Thoughts of death or suicide
Depression is a disorder of the brain. There are a variety of causes, including genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Depression can happen at any age, but it often begins in teens and young adults. It is much more common in women. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder. There are effective treatments for depression, including antidepressants, talk therapy, or both.

SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia is a serious disorder which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. Someone with schizophrenia may have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imaginary; may be unresponsive or withdrawn; and may have difficulty expressing normal emotions in social situations.  Contrary to public perception, schizophrenia is not split personality or multiple personality. The vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent and do not pose a danger to others. Schizophrenia is not caused by childhood experiences, poor parenting or lack of willpower, nor are the symptoms identical for each person.

NARCOLEPSY

Narcolepsy is a chronic, neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. It causes fragmented night sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness.It also features abnormal rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and it can involve cataplexy, brief attacks of muscle weakness and tone that can lead to body collapse.  Narcolepsy can range in severity from mild to severe. In severe cases, it can negatively impact social activities, school, work, and overall health and well-being. A person with narcolepsy may fall asleep at any time, for example, while talking or driving. Symptoms tend to appear in the teenage years, or early twenties and thirties. Men and women are equally susceptible, and it is thought to affect 135,000 to 200,000 people in the United States at any one time.
Fast facts on narcolepsyHere are some key points about narcolepsy. More detail is in the main article.
  • Around 1 in 2,000 people in the United States have narcolepsy.
  • The main symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness and abnormal rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
  • Narcolepsy is the second leading cause of excessive daytime sleepiness after obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 10 and 30 years.
  • Narcolepsy can be treated with medications and lifestyle adjustments.

MANDELA EFFECT

The Mandela effect is the pseudoscientific belief that some differences between one's memories and the real world are caused by changes to past events in the timeline. Many Mandela effect believers believe it is caused by accidental travel between alternate universes, although some others propose that history has been deliberately altered after the fact by malicious extradimensional beings within the same timeline or by experiments at CERN.  It was named after Nelson Mandela, whom some people erroneously believed to have died in prison in the 1980s.  Another common false memory is thinking the title of the children's book series The Berenstain Bears is spelled as The Berenstein Bears. The Mandela effect has not been explored by mainstream, peer-reviewed publications, and the claim that some false memories are caused by parallel dimensions going berserk is, shall we say, difficult to falsify.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND SYNDROME

The perception a person can have due to micropsia, a potential symptom of dysmetropsia. From Lewis Carroll's 1865 novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AiWS), also known as Todd's Syndrome or Dysmetropsia, is a disorienting neuropsychological condition that affects perception.

ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER

Antisocial personality disorder is a mental condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others without any remorse. This behavior may cause problems in relationships or at work and is often criminal.  Antisocial personality disorder signs and symptoms may include:
  • Disregard for right and wrong.
  • Persistent lying or deceit to exploit others.
  • Being callous, cynical and disrespectful of others.
  • Using charm or wit to manipulate others for personal gain or personal pleasure.

DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER [DID]

​Dissociative identity disorder (DID) was formerly called multiple personality disorder. People with DID develop one or more alternate personalities that function with or without the awareness of the person’s usual personality.  DID is one of a group of conditions called dissociative disorders. Dissociative disorders are mental illnesses that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory, consciousness or awareness, identity and/or perception — mental functions that normally work smoothly.  When one or more of these functions is disrupted, dissociative symptoms can result. These symptoms can be mild, but they can also be severe to the point where they interfere with a person’s general functioning, both in personal life and at work.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND SYNDROME

​Alice in wonderland syndrome (AIWS) describes a set of symptoms with alteration of body image. An alteration of visual perception is found in that way that the sizes of body parts or sizes of external objects are perceived incorrectly. The most common perceptions are at night. The causes for AIWS are still not known exactly. Typical migraine, temporal lobe epilepsy, brain tumors, psychoactive drugs ot Epstein-barr-virus infections are causes of AIWS. AIWS has no proven, effective treatment. The treatment plan consists of migraine prophylaxis and migraine diet. Chronic cases of AIWS do exist.

DEPRESSION

A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.  Possible causes include a combination of biological, psychological, and social sources of distress. Increasingly, research suggests these factors may cause changes in brain function, including altered activity of certain neural circuits in the brain.  The persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest that characterizes major depression can lead to a range of behavioral and physical symptoms. These may include changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behavior, or self-esteem. Depression can also be associated with thoughts of suicide.  The mainstay of treatment is usually medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two. Increasingly, research suggests these treatments may normalize brain changes associated with depression.

SAMPLE CASE STUDIES


Case studies are in-depth investigations of a single person, group, event or community. Typically, data are gathered from a variety of sources and by using several different methods (e.g. observations & interviews).

A case study in psychology is a descriptive research approach used to obtain in-depth information about a person, group, or phenomenon. ... However, they cannot be generalized to the overall population, as can experimental research, and they cannot provide predictive power, as can correlational research.

​Advantages and Disadvantages of Case-Control Studies. Advantages: They areefficient for rare diseases or diseases with a long latency period between expsure and disease manifestation. They are less costly and less time-consuming; they are advantageous when exposure data is expensive or hard to obtain.

The following SAMPLES have the names removed, but reflect a "pool of possibilities."