Chapter 93. Risks and Rates of Disorders

Learning Objectives

antisocial personality disorder
a disorder involving a long-term pattern of aggressively disregarding the rights and well-being of others, and a lack of remorse for wrongdoing; much more common among males
personality disorders
group of psychological disorders involving persistent, inflexible patterns of thinking and behavior that disrupt a person’s social relationships
anxiety disorders
group of psychological disorders involving persistent anxiety and fearfulness, often accompanied by maladaptive behaviors that attempt to reduce the anxiety
psychological disorder
a disturbance in a person’s thinking, behavior, or emotions serious enough to cause distress
dissociative disorders
group of psychological disorders involving a splitting (dissociation) of current conscious awareness from past memories and emotions
schizophrenia
a psychological disorder characterized by disturbed, irrational thinking and inappropriate emotional behavior
mood disorders
group of psychological disorders in which the main symptom is a dramatic and persistent shift in a person’s mood and energy level; includes both major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder
substance use disorder
maladaptive use of alcohol or other drugs, leading to health problems or disruptions in daily life
Risks and Rates of Disorders
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Learning Objectives:

Identify the most common psychological disorders and rank them in order of likelihood.

Describe some gender differences in rates of psychological disorders.

Describe some factors that increase the risk of psychological disorders.

Review

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1. Measuring the prevalence of psychological disorders is not an easy task. Reported rates vary significantly from country to country, with countries having strong mental health services and better recordkeeping generally reporting higher prevalence of disorders. However, as this map shows, rates of some disorders (such as mood disorders) are generally higher in regions with high conflict and/or low economic opportunities.

Review

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2. The rates for many disorders also vary by sex. Females are more likely to experience mood disorders and anxiety disorders, while males are more likely to experience substance use disorder and one of the personality disorders called antisocial personality disorder. The likelihood of developing schizophrenia and dissociative disorders appears to be similar for males and females.

Review

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3. Researchers estimate the risk of developing a psychological disorder in two different ways. The rate per year for a disorder refers to the estimated percentage of adults who will experience that disorder in any given year (that is, at some point during the next 12 months). This annual risk may hold steady or even drop with age, as is the case with mood disorders. The rate over a lifetime for a disorder refers to the estimated percentage of adults who will experience that disorder at some point in their lives. As the graph shows, this lifetime risk goes up with age.

Review

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4. Although every person is potentially vulnerable to a psychological disorder at some point in life, researchers have identified a set of risk factors that make a disorder more likely. Any type of physical or mental impairment increases the risk, as does growing up in a dysfunctional or abusive family, especially if the family is very poor. However, the experience of significant, sustained traumatic events seems to be the single largest risk factor for psychological disorders.

Practice 1: Rates of the Major Disorders

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Practice 1: Rates of the Major Disorders

Roll over each category of psychological disorders to see its prevalence in a given year and over a lifetime.

Category of psychological disorders:

Anxiety disorders Rate per year: 11.8% Rate over a lifetime: 28.8%

Mood disorders Rate per year: 5.1% Rate over a lifetime: 20.8%

Personality disorders Rate per year: 9.0% Rate over a lifetime: 11.5%

Dissociative disorders Rate per year: 1.5% Rate over a lifetime: 7.0%

Schizophrenia Rate per year: 1.0% Rate over a lifetime: 2.0%

Substance use disorder Rate per year: 6.0% Rate over a lifetime: 14.6%

Any disorder Rate per year: 18.5% Rate over a lifetime: 46.4%

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Practice 2: Gender Differences in Rates of Disorders

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Practice 2: Gender Differences in Rates of Disorders

Roll over each set of bars on the graph to see the name of the disorder.

Some psychological disorders occur more frequently in males, while others are more common in females. Can you predict which disorders show a gender difference?

Major depressive disorder

Anxiety disorder

Substance use disorder

Antisocial personality disorder

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Practice 3: Risk Factors for Psychological Disorders

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Practice 3: Risk Factors for Psychological Disorders

Roll over each label to see the associated factors that lead to higher risk of developing a disorder.

Given that more than a quarter of the world's population will experience a psychological disorder at some point in their lives, what factors increase the likelihood of developing a disorder?

Childhood issues

Family issues

Life events

Personal Issues

Current Situation

Factors that increase risk:

birth complications; low birth weight; child abuse or neglect

low socioeconomic status; family disorganization or conflict; parental substance abuse or mental illness

traumatic experiences; stressful life events; medical illness; personal loss or bereavement

substance abuse; academic failure; poor work skills; social incompetence

chronic pain; chronic insomnia; physical disabilities; reading disability

Quiz 1

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Quiz 1

Drag each type of disorder to one of the gray areas in order to arrange the disorders from most common to least common in the general population. When all the disorders have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Most common
Lifetime prevalence in the U.S. population
Least common
28.8%
20.8%
14.6%
11.5%
7.0%
2.0%
Select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 2.
Perhaps you should go back to review the most common psychological disorders.
Dissociative disorders
Personality disorders
Substance use disorder
Anxiety disorders
Mood disorders
Schizophrenic disorders

Quiz 2

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Quiz 2

Select the best answer to complete these statements. Then, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

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These gender differences may reflect different life experiences for men and women. Select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 3.
Try to answer the question again.
Antisocial personality disorder and substance use disorder are more common in ________. Anxiety disorders and mood disorders are more common in ________.
males; males
males; females
females; males

Quiz 3

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Quiz 3

Mark all of the factors that are associated with increased risk of psychological disorders. Then, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Select the NEXT button and move to the Conclusion.
Try to complete the statements again.
Birth complications
Parental mental illness
Feelings of security
Chronic pain
Regular exercise
Poor work skills
Good stress management
Academic failure
Low socioeconomic status
Social support
Substance abuse
Chronic insomnia
Good parenting
Traumatic experiences
Child abuse or neglect
Good social skills
Dysfunctional family
High self-esteem
Death of family member
Participation in sports

Conclusion

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