Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Psychology > 9. Psychological disorders > Flashcards

9. Psychological disorders Flashcards

1
Q

What important aspect should be taken into account in psychological disorder diagnosis?

A

Culture
e.g. autism: Eye contact is a part of dx, but Asian cultures is not the same as here and it is lot always “confident” or “show interest” to look in eyes. –> could be misdiagnosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the cause of abnormal behaviours based on the biological perspective?

A

Disorders involve structural or biochemical abnormalities in the brain. The diathesis-stress model states that schizophrenia develops when there is both a genetic predisposition and more stress than a person can handle. Imbalances in neurotransmitters may cause mood disorders (norepinephrine and serotonin), obsessive-compulsive disorders (serotonin) and schizophrenia (dopamine)

Symptom of underlying physical disorder (give drugs)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the cause of abnormal behaviours based on the psychodynamic perspective?

A

Stem from early childhood education. Disorders are caused by unconscious sexual or aggressive conflicts that are unresolved. Many pedophiles and people with dissociative identity disorders report having been sexually abused in the past
Psychoanalysis “talk therapy”, go through past etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the cause of abnormal behaviours based on the learning perspective?

A

Abnormal thoughts/feelings learned like other behaviors. Inappropriate learning.

Most phobias result from learning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the cause of abnormal behaviours based on the cognitive perspective?

A

Faulty and negative thinking patterns.

People may be depressed because they view themselves, their world, and their future negatively

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the cause of abnormal behaviours based on the humanistic perspective?

A

Blocking one’s natural tendency towards self-actualization

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the DSM-IV and what is it used for?

A

DSM-5: diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
Enables professionals to speak the same language when diagnosing, treating, researching, conversing about variety of psychological disorders
Describes 300 mental disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is neurosis?

A 
Personal distress, impairment in functioning, no loss of contact with reality or violation of social norms (e.g. schizophrenia)
Obsolete term (not used anymore)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is psychosis?

A

Loss of contact with reality, delusions, hallucinations, impaired ability to function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is anxiety?

A

vague, general uneasiness, feeling something bad about to happen.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the most common categories of mental disorders in Canada?

A

Anxiety disorders + obsessive-compulsive + related disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What proportion of canadians suffer from a mental disorder?

A

12%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a generalized anxiety disorder?

A

Diagnosis if excessive anxiety and worry that one finds difficult to control
Impairs daily living

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the symptoms of a generalized anxiety disorder?

A

Trembling, palpitations, sweating, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, frequent urination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Which gender is most affected by generalized anxiety disorder?

A

Many more women affected than men

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is a panic attack?

A

Attacks of overwhelming anxiety, fear, terror

Feels like a heart attack

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a panic disorder?

A

Diagnosed with recurring panic attacks of overwhelming anxiety, fear or terror

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Which factor plays a big role in panic disorders?

A

Genetics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Which area of the brain has an increased activity in panic disorders? When is there an increased activity in this area?

A

Individuals with this disorder have increased activity in “emotion control” area of the brain, even when not under a current panic attack

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is a phobia?

A 
Persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of object, situation, activity. 
3 classes:
- Agoraphobia
- Social anxiety disorder
- Specific phobias
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Do people with phobias realize their fear is irrational?

A

Yes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is agoraphobia?

A

Intense fear in situations where immediate escape is not possible or no help

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is social anxiety disorder?

A

Irrational fear of social or performance situations if might embarrass, humiliate self in front of others

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is one third of people with social anxiety disorder fearing?

A

Speaking in public

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Do people with social anxiety disorder have a higher incidence of drug abuse?
Yes
26
What are specific phobias?
Phobias other than agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder
27
How does fear become a phobia?
Fear is not a phobia unless great distress or interferes with life in a major way If can handle the situation = not a phobia
28
Name 3 causes of phobias
o Genetic predisposition o Conditioning o Observational learning
29
What is an obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Persistent, recurring, involuntary thoughts (obsessions), or behaviours (compulsions) or both.
30
Differentiate an obsession from a compulsion.
Obsession: persistent, recurring, involuntary thoughts, images, impulses, cause great distress Compulsion: compelled to repeat certain acts over an over or perform specific rituals repeatedly
31
Name 3 causes of OCD.
o Early autoimmune system diseases, strep infections, changes in brain from infections o Twin studies suggest genetics o Genes affecting serotonin functioning suspected
32
What is a somatic symptoms disorder?
Bodily symptoms not explained by known medical conditions. Unwarranted physical symptoms.
33
Name 2 somatic symptom disorders
1. Illness anxiety disorder | 2. Conversion disorder
34
What is an illness anxiety disorder?
A type of somatic symptom disorder where one is... • Overly concerned about health • Fear that bodily symptoms are sign of serious disease despite reassurances from doctors to the contrary
35
What is a conversion disorder?
A type of somatic symptom disorder where one has... • Loss of motor or sensory functioning in some part of the body • No apparent physical cause • Solves a psychological problem • La belle indifference
36
What are dissociative disorders?
Dissociated from identity and memories of important personal events Mental escape from intolerable circumstances "loss of personal identity due to a non-organic cause"
37
What are the 2 types of dissociative disorders?
1. Dissociative amnesia | 2. Dissociative identity disorder (“multiple personality”)
38
What is dissociative amnesia?
A type of dissociative disorder • Something traumatic happened and they “decided” to forget about it • Complete or partial loss of ability to recall personal information or identify past experiences • Not about substance use or forgetfulness • Psychological cause "loss of memory for limited periods of one's life or for one's entire personal identity"
39
What is Dissociative identity disorder (DID) ?
A type of dissociative disorder • 2 or + distinct and unique personalities within same individual • Host personality has executive control of body most times • Alter personalities may differ radically even in gender, age, sexual orientation • Usually way to cope with traumatic events (cause = trauma)
40
Which is the most serious of the psychological disorders?
Schizophrenia
41
What is the prevalence of schizophrenia?
1/100
42
When is schizophrenia usually diagnosed?
Adolescence or early adulthood
43
What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
• Hallucinations: imaginary sensations. • Delusions: false beliefs not shared by others in the culture. • Delusions of grandeur: believe they are a famous person. • Delusions of persecution: false belief that others will cause harm. • Thought disturbances. • Grossly disorganized behaviour. • Inappropriate affect: facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures not reflecting emotion expected. Positive symptoms (present) - e.g. hallucinations, delusions, thought disturbances, grossly disorganized behavior, inappropriate effect – voices, black and white images…
44
Name negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
* Loss or deficiency in normal thoughts and behaviours. * Flat affect/apathy: no usual emotional response; robotic. * Social withdrawal; loss of motivation; slow speech; poor hygiene; limited speech; lack of goal-directed activity; poor problem-solving skills (absent e.g. flat affect/apathy, social withdrawals, poor hygiene… etc.)
45
Which schizophrenics have the worst outcomes?
Those with negative symptoms have poorest outcomes. | Prognosis is usually poorer than positive symptoms because of all those things (lack of hygiene etc.)
46
Name the brain abnormalities in schizophrenia
* Low activity levels in frontal lobes. * Defects in neural circuitry. * Reduced volume in hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, front lobe grey matter. * Abnormal lateralization of brain functions.
47
Name the 4 subtypes of schizophrenia
1. Catatonic Schizophrenia. 2. Disorganized Schizophrenia. 3. Paranoid Schizophrenia. 4. Undifferentiated Schizophrenia. (but not used anymore)
48
Name the 3 causes/risk factors for schizophrenia
- Genetic inheritance plus highly stressful environmental conditions (Diathesis-stress model) - Excessive dopamine activity and/or other neurotransmitters (glutamate, GABA). - Gender: more men than women have schizophrenia.
49
What are the chances for you to developing schizophrenia if someone else is in your family... - Identical twin - Both parents - One parent - Sibling - Fraternal twin
- Identical twin: 48% - Both parents: 46% - One parent: 13% - Sibling: 10% - Fraternal twin: 17%
50
What are depressive or bipolar disorders?
 Moods or emotions that are extreme or unwarranted  Depressive episodes  Manic episodes  Or both depressive and manic episodes
51
What is a major depressive disorder?
Overwhelming sadness, despair, hopelessness, no pleasure. In extreme cases, suicidal intentions Psychotic depression, delusions, hallucinations
52
What is a persistent depressive disorder?
(dysthymia): milder but chronic | Dysthymia = lower scale of depression than major depressive disorder but lasts longer (2 years or +)
53
What is a seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
Depression triggered by seasons, light deficiency
54
What is a bipolar disorder?
Manic episodes and depression, with normal periods in between Alternative episodes of depression and mania, usually with normal periods in between
55
What is a manic episode?
Excessive euphoria, inflated self-esteem, wild optimism, hyperactivity
56
What are the biological causes of bipolar disorders?
* Genetic inheritance, brain chemistry | * Norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine
57
What are the cognitive causes of bipolar disorders?
Depression from distortion in thinking
58
What are personality disorders?
- Enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior deviating from cultural expectations - Inflexible;, stable - Leads to distress or impairment
59
When is the onset of personality disorders, usually?
onset in adolescence or early adulthood
60
Are personality disorders easy to treat?
No, most difficult to treat because personality is hard to change
61
What are the 3 clusters of personality disorders?
Cluster A: Odd behaviours Cluster B: Erratic, overly dramatic behaviour Cluster C: Anxious, fearful behaviours
62
What disorders are included in the cluster A of personality disorders?
Paranoid Schizoid Schizotypal
63
What disorders are included in the cluster B of personality disorders?
Narcissistic Histrionic Borderline Antisosial
64
What symptoms are included in the cluster C of personality disorders?
Obsessive-compulsive Avoidant Dependant
65
What is a narcissistic personality disorder?
Individual has exaggerated sense of self-importance and entitlement; is self-centred, arrogant, demanding, exploitive, envious; craves admiration and attention; lacks empathy.
66
What is a paranoid personality disorder?
Individual is highly suspicious, untrusting, guarded, hypersensitive, easily slighted, lacking in emotion; holds grudges.
67
What is a schizoid personality disorder?
Individual isolates self from others; appears unable to form emotional attachments; behaviour may resemble that of autistic children.
68
What is a schizotypal personality disorder?
Individual dresses in extremely unusual ways; lacks social skills; may have odd ideas resembling the delusions of schizophrenia.
69
What is a histrionic personality disorder?
Individual seeks attention and approval; is overly dramatic, self-centered, shallow, demanding, manipulative, easily bored, suggestible; craves excitement; is often attractive and sexually seductive. Overly dramatic.
70
What is a borderline personality disorder?
Individual is unstable in mood, behaviour, self-image, and social relationships; has intense fear of abandonment; exhibits impulsive and reckless behaviour and inappropriate anger; makes suicidal gestures and performs self-mutilating acts.
71
What is a antisocial personality disorder?
Individual disregards rights and feelings of others; is manipulative, impulsive, selfish, aggressive, irresponsible, and reckless; is willing to break the law, lie, cheat, and exploit others for personal gain, without remorse; fails to hold jobs.
72
What is an obsessive compulsive personality disorder?
Individual is concerned with doing things the “right” way and is generally a perfectionist; relationships are emotionally shallow.
73
What is an avoidant personality disorder?
Individual fears criticism and rejection; avoids social situations in order to prevent being judged by others.
74
What is a dependant personality disorder?
Person is overly dependent on others for advice and approval; may cling to lovers and friends, fearing abandonment.
75
What is a sexual dysfunction disorder? Which 2 disorders does it include?
A type of sexual disorder o Persistent or recurrent problems causing marked distress and interpersonal difficulty o Male erectile disorder: inability to have or sustain erection for coitus. o Female orgasmic disorder: persistent inability to reach orgasm (disruptions of any part of the normal sexual response cycle.
76
What is paraphilia?
A type of sexual disorder Recurrent sexual urges, fantasies, behaviours involving children, other non-consenting partners, nonhuman objects, suffering, humiliation.
77
What is gender dysphoria? What influences this?
A type of sexual disorder Difficulties accepting one’s identity as male or female Genetic influence
78
What is fetishism?
A type of sexual disorder A disorder in which sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviour involve an inanimate object, such as women’s undergarments or shoes.
79
What is transvestism?
A type of sexual disorder | A disorder in which sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviour involve cross-dressing.
80
What is pedophilia?
A type of sexual disorder A disorder in which sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviour involve sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children.
81
What is exhibitionism?
A type of sexual disorder | A disorder in which sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviour involve exposing one’s genitals to an unsuspecting stranger.
82
What is voyeurism?
A type of sexual disorder A disorder in which sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviour involve watching unsuspecting people naked, undressing, or engaging in sexual activity.
83
What is sexual masochism?
A type of sexual disorder A disorder in which sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviour involve being beaten, humiliated, bound, or otherwise made to suffer.
84
What is sexual sadism?
A type of sexual disorder A disorder in which sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviour involve inflicting physical or psychological pain and suffering on another.
85
What is frotteurism?
A type of sexual disorder A disorder in which sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviour involve touching or rubbing against a non-consenting person, usually in a crowded place.
86
What are other paraphilias?
A type of sexual disorder Disorders in which sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviour involve, among other things, animals, feces, urine, corpses, filth, or enemas.
87
What are the 2 types of delusion? explain them.
Delusion of grandeur: falsely believing one is famous or has great knowledge, ability or authority Delusion of persecution: falsely believing that others are trying to harm one
88
What is catatonic schizophrenia?
Periods of extreme stillness and/or periods of great agitation and excitement
89
What is disorganized schizophrenia?
Extreme social withdrawal, hallucinations, delusions, and bizarre behaviour
90
What is paranoid schizophrenia?
Delusions of grandeur or persecution
91
What is undifferentiated schizophrenia?
General category for those who have symptoms but do not conform to other types or conform to more than one type

Psychology (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions