Psychological Disorders

Info Book

 
Emily Carroll  
Psychology  
1st Hour  
 
 Autism  
What is autism? 
Autism refers to a variety of characteristics that relate to challenges with one’s social skills, 
repetitive behavior, and speech and nonverbal communication. 
 
What causes autism?  
There is no one specific cause for autism; however, it has been depicted that abnormality in the 
brain and it’s structure may be the cause. Also, researchers are further examining to determine if 
heretics, genetics, and environmental factors play a role in the development of the disease.  
 
Symptoms/Diagnosis  
Symptoms of autism can be seen in infancy; however, most of 
the time, the symptoms become more apparent in he/she’s early childhood.  
 
Symptoms include…  
● Appear to be unaware when people talk but become aware to 
other sounds 
● Avoid eye contact 
● Have difficulty understanding other people’s feelings and 
talking about their own  
● Have unusual reactions to the way things smell, act, sound, 
and look  
● Have trouble expressing their needs through typical words 
and emotions  
● Have trouble adapting to new situations  
According to the DSM-5, children affected by the disorder are born with it. 
One’s symptoms may appear as early as 18 months or take longer, like 2 to 3 
years old.  
The DSM-5 considers one to have autism if he/she…  
1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity   
2. Deficits in nonverbal communication behaviors 
3. Deficits in developing relationships 
 
Demographics on autism 
1. Autism affects an estimated 1 in 59 children  
2. More than 3.5 million americans live with autism  
3. Autism services cost americans $232-$262 billion annually  

Specific Treatment Options  

● Turning to a medical professional, educator, or psychologist 
● Early diagnosis can provide the platform for a appropriate educational and behavior program  
● There are no medications to stop ASD; however, there are medications that can help them better 
function (Ex. may help managing high energy levels, the inability to focus, depression, etc.)  
 
Anorexia Nervosa
What is anorexia nervosa?  
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss; difficulty maintaining 
an appropriate body weight for height, age, and stature; and, in many individuals, distorted body image.  
 
 
What causes anorexia nervosa?  
Anorexia nervosa may be caused by genetics, but more commonly, the disorder is stimulated by 
environmental factors. Examples of these environmental factors may include pressure to be ‘thin’ 
demonstrated in media, professionals and careers that promote 
weight loss, family and childhood trauma, and peer pressure from 
their peers to be ‘thin.’   
 
Symptoms/Signs  
Symptoms include…  
● Dramatic weight loss  
○ Dress in layers to cover up the weight loss  
● Is preoccupied with calories, weight, food, and 
dieting 
● Makes frequent comments about feeling ‘fat’  
● Denies feeling hungry  
● Develops food rituals (Ex. eating foods in certain 
orders)  
● Feeling cold all of the time  
● Sleeping problems  
● Muscle weakness 
● Dry skin  
According to the DSM-5, to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, the following criteria must be met…  
1. Restriction of energy intake relative to requirements leading to a significantly low body weight in 
the content of age, sex, trajectory, and physical health 
2. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight  
3. Disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of 
body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low weight 
Even if you do not fit all of these characteristics, the eating disorder may still be present within you.  
 
Demographics on anorexia nervosa  
1. Anorexia is the third most common chronic disease, behind asthma and diabetes.  
2. Between 0.3-0.4% of young women and around 0.1% of young men will experience some form 
of an eating disorder  
 
Specific Treatment Options 
● Intensive outpatient/outpatient- patient is moderately stable and does not need daily monitoring  
● Inpatient care- patient is medically unstable  
○ Vital signs of the disorder, rapidly worsening symptoms, suicidal thoughts  
● Psychotherapy  
○ Acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive and remediation therapy, cognitive 
behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, etc.  
  
Case Studies
Autism- Karen’s Story: Being an autistic parent  
Growing up, Karen had many obsessions that from an 
outsider's perspective, were quite weird. One of which was 
buses. These were her first signs of any disorder at all. 
Through her years of elementary school, she continued to be 
bullied by her fellow classmates due to her many obsessive 
behavioral actions. At age 11, Karen began to feel like an 
outsider and realized that she was different than other kids 
her age. Because of this, she acted out; one day she even ran 
away from home. Due to this lashing behavior, Karen was 
placed into a children’s home at 14 years old. Here, she 
began to dislike herself and started having suicidal thoughts. 
Soon after, in this rough phase, Karen found out she was 
pregnant at 16 years old. Flashing forward a few years, 
Karen was not going to let her disorder get in the way of 
parenting her kid (soon to be kids after having a few more). Today, she and her husband 
have been together for twenty five years and have five kids in total. Now after taking action 
and seeking for help with treatment, Karen does not see her disorder as something that 
defines her; she views her case of autism in a positive manner as it has led her to a life she 
loves living today.  
 
Anorexia Nervosa- Lady Gaga 
Well known, popstar, Lady Gaga, admits that 
she has struggled with anorexia and bulimia ever since 
fifteen years old. For her, she had common cycles of 
weight loss and gain, and recently, she posted them to 
the public. Through her time of fame and glory, she 
became extremely focused on her body image since 
she was always either in front of a camera or a large 
audience. Due to her hangups with her weight, Lady 
Gaga became depressed after being exhausted of 
always worrying about her body image. Now, Gaga 
has her own ‘Born This Way Foundation’ that provides 
resources to young people for help, mainly with body 
image but also drug and alcohol abuse. The 
organization works to help teenagers in realizing that they are not alone and to help 
encourage compassion in our world. She hopes to get the message across to all that they 
should reach out and talk to someone if they are having any issue with any form of an 
eating disorder.  
 

 
 Works Cited
https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

http://www.autism-society.org/what-is/symptoms/

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html

https://www.autismspeaks.org/dsm-5-criteria

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/anorexia

https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/anorexia

https://www.autism.org.uk/about/adult-life/stories/karensstory.aspx

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/lady-gaga-reveals-past-eating-disorder-depression/story
?id=22394704