Feeding and Eating, Substance and Addictive, and Personality Disorders
Noah Carter
8 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This AP Psychology study guide covers substance use and addictive disorders (neurotransmitter impact), eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder), and personality disorders (Clusters A, B, and C). It emphasizes diagnostic criteria, potential causes, and treatment considerations. The guide also includes practice multiple-choice and free-response questions.
#AP Psychology Study Guide: Psychological Disorders
Hey there, future AP Psych master! Let's get you prepped for the exam with a super-focused review of psychological disorders. We'll break down the key concepts, make connections, and get you feeling confident. Let's dive in!
#Substance Use and Addictive Disorders
Any substance that creates a chemical dependency can lead to a substance use disorder. These disorders mess with the brain's natural neurotransmitter production and reception. The body becomes dependent due to chemical imbalances. 💡
Key Point: Drugs mimic neurotransmitters, particularly endorphins. This tricks the brain into reducing its own production, leading to withdrawal symptoms when substance use stops.
Think of it like this: Your brain is a factory that makes happiness chemicals (endorphins). Drugs are like fake workers who do the job for it. If the fake workers are always there, the factory gets lazy and stops making its own. When the fake workers leave (withdrawal), the factory isn't ready to work again.
#Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are characterized by disordered eating patterns, often stemming from body image issues, hunger regulation problems, or other underlying conditions. For the AP exam, focus on Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder.
High-Value Topic: Eating disorders are a frequent topic on the AP exam. Pay close attention to diagnostic criteria and differences between disorders.
#Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa involves:
- Distorted body image
- Severe food restriction/starvation
- Obsessive behaviors related to weight
- Malnutrition
Quick Fact: People with anorexia maintain a starvation diet even when underweight, still perceiving themselves as overweight.
Image Courtesy of Verywell Mind.
#Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa involves:
- Body image issues
- Cycles of binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise)
- Fluctuating weight
Common Mistake: Don't confuse anorexia and bulimia. Anorexia involves severe restriction leading to being underweight, while bulimia involves binge-purge cycles and can occur at a normal weight.
Quick Fact: Bulimia can be hard to detect because weight can fluctuate. Yellowed teeth are a common physical sign due to stomach acid exposure from repeated vomiting.
Image Courtesy of Verywell Mind.
#Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder involves:
- Lack of hunger regulation (often linked to the hypothalamus)
- Binge-eating episodes without compensatory behaviors (like purging)
- Feelings of guilt or disgust after bingeing
Memory Aid: Think of the hypothalamus as the brain's hunger control center. In binge eating disorder, this center isn't working correctly, leading to uncontrolled eating.
#Possible Causes of Eating Disorders
- Environmental Factors: Negative comments about weight, competitive family environments, and societal pressures can contribute to eating disorders.
- Genetic Predisposition: Having a family history of eating disorders slightly increases risk.
- Sociocultural Influences: Media portrayals of ideal body images can lead to body dissatisfaction.
Image Courtesy of Verywell Mind.
#Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are inflexible, maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior that impair personal growth and relationships. They're often rooted in deep-seated trauma and are challenging to treat.
Key Point: Personality disorders are characterized by inflexible and enduring patterns of behavior that deviate from cultural norms and cause distress or impairment.
#Personality Disorder Clusters
- Cluster A: Eccentric behaviors, emotional disengagement
- Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD): Irrational fear, distrust
- Schizoid Personality Disorder: Detachment from emotions and relationships
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric thoughts, behaviors, and speech
- Cluster B: Dramatic, impulsive, and erratic behaviors, attention-seeking
- Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD): Lack of empathy, manipulative behavior
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Extreme emotional swings, impulsive behavior
- Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD): Dramatic, attention-seeking behavior
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD): Grandiose delusions, perfectionism, defensive
- Cluster C: Anxious and fearful behaviors, fear of rejection
- Avoidant Personality Disorder (AVPD): Low self-esteem, avoidance of social interactions
- Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD): Abandonment issues, anxiety when alone
- Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD): Perfectionism, compulsions (Note: different from OCD)
Memory Aid: Remember the clusters with the acronym "A-B-C": Accentric, Bramatic, Canxious. This will help you categorize the different personality disorders.
Image Courtesy of Medium.
#Final Exam Focus
Okay, you're almost there! Here's what to focus on for the exam:
- Substance Use Disorders: Understand the neurobiological impact of addiction and withdrawal.
- Eating Disorders: Know the diagnostic criteria and differences between anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Pay attention to the causes and risk factors.
- Personality Disorders: Be able to categorize disorders by cluster (A, B, C) and understand the core traits of each disorder. Focus on the most common ones (e.g. ASPD, BPD, NPD).
Exam Tip: When answering questions, always link symptoms to specific disorders. Don't just describe a behavior; explain why it fits a particular diagnosis. Also, look for connections between different units. For example, how might biological factors (like neurotransmitters) contribute to both substance abuse and mood disorders?
#Last-Minute Tips
- Time Management: Quickly scan questions and tackle the easiest ones first. Don't get bogged down on a single question.
- Common Pitfalls: Avoid vague answers. Be specific and use psychological terms accurately.
- FRQs: Outline your answers before you start writing. Make sure you address all parts of the prompt.
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Practice Question
#Multiple Choice Questions
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A person who experiences cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as excessive exercise or self-induced vomiting is most likely experiencing: (A) Anorexia Nervosa (B) Binge Eating Disorder (C) Bulimia Nervosa (D) Avoidant Personality Disorder (E) Schizoid Personality Disorder
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Which of the following best describes the primary characteristic of Cluster B personality disorders? (A) Eccentric behaviors (B) Anxious and fearful behaviors (C) Dramatic and impulsive behaviors (D) Detachment from emotions (E) Perfectionistic tendencies
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A key feature of substance use disorders is that: (A) They are always caused by genetic factors. (B) They only occur in individuals with a history of trauma. (C) They disrupt the brain's natural neurotransmitter production. (D) They are easily treated with medication alone. (E) They are only characterized by physical dependence.
#Free Response Question
Sarah is a 17-year-old who has recently been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Her parents are concerned and want to understand more about her condition.
(a) Define anorexia nervosa, including its key diagnostic criteria. (b) Explain two potential psychological factors that may contribute to the development of anorexia nervosa. (c) Describe one potential long-term physical consequence of anorexia nervosa. (d) Briefly explain how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) might be used to treat anorexia nervosa.
Scoring Guidelines
(a) Definition of Anorexia Nervosa (2 points) * 1 point for defining anorexia nervosa as an eating disorder characterized by a restriction of food intake leading to significantly low body weight. * 1 point for mentioning key diagnostic criteria such as distorted body image and intense fear of gaining weight.
(b) Psychological Factors (2 points) * 1 point for each explained factor (e.g., body image issues, perfectionism, need for control, low self-esteem).
(c) Physical Consequence (1 point) * 1 point for identifying a long-term physical consequence (e.g., heart problems, bone loss, organ damage).
(d) CBT Treatment (1 point) * 1 point for explaining how CBT addresses maladaptive thoughts and behaviors related to food and body image.
You've got this! Remember to stay calm, think clearly, and use everything you've learned. Go ace that exam! 💪
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