12 Key Terms Flashcards
Psychological disorder
Deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional patterns of thoughts feelings or behaviors
ADHD
A psychological disorder marked by the appearance by age 7 of one or more of the three key symptoms: extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
Medical model
The concept that diseases (psychological disorders) have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, age even cured through treatment in a hospital
DSM-IV-TR
A widely used system for classifying psychological disorders
Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual the of Mental Disorders
Anxiety disorders
Psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety
Generalized anxiety disorder
An anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal
Panic disorder
An anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable minutes long episodes of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations
Phobia
An anxiety disorder marked by a persistent irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation
OCD
An anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and or actions (compulsions)
PTSD
An anxiety disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, and or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience
Post traumatic growth
Positive psychological changes as a result of struggling with extremely challenging circumstances and life crises
Somatoform disorder
Psychological disorder in which the symptoms take a somatic (bodily) form without apparent physical cause
Conversion disorder
A rare somatoform disorder in which a person experiences very specific genuine physical symptoms for which no physiological basis can be found
Hypochondriasis
A somatoform disorder in which a person interprets normal physical sensations as symptoms of a disease
Dissociative disorders
Disorders in which conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts and feelings
Dissociative identity disorder
A rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities
Previously called multiple personality disorder
Mood disorders
Psychological disorders characterized by emotional extremes
Major depressive disorder
A mood disorder in which a person experiences two or more weeks of significantly depresses moods, feelings of worthlessness and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities
Mania
A mood disorder marked by a hyperactive widely optimistic state
Bipolar disorder
A mood disorder in which the person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and overexcited state of mania
(Manic depressive disorder)
Schizophrenia
A group of severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions
Delusions
False beliefs, often persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders
Personality disorders
Psychological disorders characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning
Antisocial personality disorder
A personality disorder in which the person (mostly men) exhibits a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members. May be aggressive, ruthless or clever con artists
