:) Flashcards
What are the three general approaches to understanding psychological disorders?
sociocultural approach, biological approach, and psychological approach.
sociological approach
disorders are the result of the environmental conditions or cultural norms
biological approach
disorders as the result of abnormal genes or neurobiological dysfunction
psychological approach
disorders as the result of thinking processes, personality styles, emotions, and conditioning
Continuum perspective on abnormality
seeing disorders as collections of deficits in fundamental neurobiological processes (biological approach)
Theory
set of ideas that provide a framework for asking questions about a phenomenon and for gathering and interpreting information about that phenomenon.
Therapy
a treatment, usually based on a theory of a phenomenon, that addresses those factors the theory says cause the phenomenon.
biopsychological approach
the development of psychological symptoms often results from a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
transdiagnostic risk factors
factors that increase the risk of developing a wide range of psychopathologies.
diathesis
risk factor
diathesis-stress model
when a risk factor and the trigger/stress come together, causing the emergence of a disorder.
what are the three causes of abnormality on which biological approaches often focus?
brain dysfunction, biochemical imbalances and genetic abnormalities
cerebral cortex
involved in most of human advanced thinking processes
thalamus
directs incoming information from sense receptors (such as vision and hearing) to the cerebrum
hypothalamus
regulates eating, drinking, sexual behavior and is involved in processing basic emotions
limbic system
regulate many instinctive behaviors (ex: reactions to stressful events and eating and sexual behavior
amygdala
structure of the limbic system & critical in emotions such as fear
hippocampus
part of limbic system & plays role in memory
what are possible causes of brain dysfunction?
head injury & diseases that cause brain deterioration (ex: Alzheimer’s)
behavioral genetics
study of genetics of personality and abnormality. concerned with extent to which behaviors inherited and identifying the processes by which genes affect behavior.
dopamine
norepinephrine
epigenetics
antipsychotic drugs
antidepressant drugs
antianxiety drugs
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT
psychosurgery
neurosurgical treatment of psychiatric disorders
classical conditioning
operant conditioning
modeling
observational learning
systematic desensitization therapy
cognitive-behavioral therapy
humanistic theories
humanistic therapy
psychoanalysis
catharsis
repression
ego psychology
psychodynamic therapies
interpersonal therapy (IPT)
client centered therapy (CCT)
family systems theories
dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
mindfulness
assessment
the process of evaluating psychological, social, and emotional functioning through a variety of clinical methods
presenting problem
a psychological disorder present in an individual- must determine in order to provide treatment
what type of information is collected during an assessment?
-current symptoms and current ways of coping with stress
-recent events and physical conditions
-drug and alcohol use
-personal and family history of psychological disorders
-cognitive functioning
-sociocultural background
syndrome
symptoms that cluster together
diagnosis
identifies the characteristics of a specific disorder
content validity for a questionnaire or test
test assesses all important aspects of a phenomenon
face validity for a questionnaire or test
test appears to measure what it is supposed to measure
concurrent validity for a questionnaire or test
test yields the same results as other measures of the same behavior, thoughts, or feelings
construct validity for a questionnaire or test
test measures what it is supposed to measure, not something else
productive validity for a questionnaire or test
test predicts the behavior it is supposed to measure
validity
the accuracy of a test in assessing what it is supposed to measure
reliability
indicates the consistency of a test in measuring what it is supposed to measure
test-retest reliability
test produces similar results when given at two points in time
internal reliability
different parts of the same test produce similar results
alternate form reliability
two versions of the same test produce similar results
intertester/interjudge reliability
two or more raters or judges who administer and score a test come to similar conclusions
clinical interview
face-to-face conversation between a mental health professional and a client where information is gathered about the client’s behavior, attitudes, emotions, life history, and personality.
mental status exam
used to organize the information collected during the interview and systematically evaluate the client through a series of questions
what are the steps of a mental status exam?
-clinician assesses client’s appearance and behaviors
-clinician takes note of individual’s thought processes
-clinician evaluates the individual’s mood and affect
-clinician observes the individual’s intellectual functioning
-clinician assesses general awareness to their surrounding and their orientation to time, person, and place
sensorium
awareness of surrounding and orientating to time, person and place
structured interview
clinicians ask individual a series of standardized questions about symptoms and use concrete criteria to score responses
unstructured interview
open-ended questions are asked and directed by the clinician based on the client’s responses
semi-structured interview
combine standardized with open-ended questions that allow clinicians to follow up with specific questions in order to gather more personalized information
symptom questionairres
self-report measure used to quickly determine a person’s symptoms
BDI-ll
one of the most widely used self-report symptom measurements in both research and clinical practice for assessing depression (21 items each with 4 levels rated on a scale from 0-3)
personality inventories
questionnaires designed to assess people’s typical ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
most widely used personality inventory that assessed 1o major characteristics or problems (ex: paranoia, anxiety, social introversion, substance abuse, etc.)
what is behavioral observation used for?
used to assess deficits in their skills or their ways of handling situations- doesn’t rely on individuals reporting and interpretation of their own behaviors
intelligence tests
used to determine an individual’s level of cognitive functioning and consists of a series of tasks that involve both verbal and nonverbal skills
IQ
Intelligence Quotient- used to describe a method of comparing an individuals’ score on an intelligence test with the performance of individuals in the same age group
neuropsychological tests
used to detect specific cognitive deficits associated with a neurological impairment
CT scan and its uses?
computerized tomography- enhanced x-ray procedures; can reveal brain injury, tumors, and structural abnormalities
PET scan and its uses?
positron-emission tomography- can provide a picture activity in the brain by injecting a harmless radioactive isotope; can be used to show differences in the activity level of specific areas of the brain between people with & without a psychological disorder
SPECT scan and its uses/limitations?
single photon emission computerized tomography- similar to PET scan but different tracer substance is injected; less accurate but less expensive than PET
MRI scan and its uses?
Magnetic resonance imaging- creates magnetic field around the patient that causes realignment of hydrogen atoms in the brain; can be used to assess CHANGES in brain activity
psychophysiological tests & EEG
used to detect changes in the brain and nervous system that reflect emotional and psychological changes; electroencephalogram- measures electrical activity along scalp produced by firing of neurons in the brain
diagnosis
a set of symptoms that tend to occur together
classification system
a set of syndromes and the rules for determining whether an individual’s symptoms are part of these syndromes
what is the DSM?
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- classification system most commonly used in the US
what does it mean to “reify” a diagnosis?
seeing the diagnosis as real and true rather than as the product of a set of judgements about how symptoms tend to occur together
comorbidity and why does it often occur?
many ppl who are diagnosed with one disorder also meet the criteria for at least one other disorder- often occurs because certain symptoms show up in the criteria for several different disorders
What is the disorder specific to Japan in which individuals are extremely afraid that their body displeases, embarrasses, or is offensive to their people?
Taijin kyofusho
How do we consider culture in therapy according to the multicultural model?
All parts of culture should be considered in the treatment plan.
What was so notable about the result of Phineas Gage’s accident?
He held the same level of intelligence and was able-bodied; however, his personality had changed entirely
modeling
people learn new behaviors from imitating the behaviors modeled by important people in their lives
Ivan Pavlov conducted experiments on the salivary glands of dogs. In his experiments, Pavlov paired a previously neutral stimulus with a stimulus until the neutral stimulus was able to illicit a response in the dog on its own. This learning process is known as…
Classical Conditioning
Where is the Wernicke’s area located?
left temporal lobe
What are the four D’s?
deviance, distress, dysfunction, danger
behavioral contracting
behavioral therapy technique that provides rewards for reaching goals in increments of severity
Which approach views disorders as not vastly different from normal functioning?
sociocultural approach
what kind of medication is often prescribed for anxiety disorders?
SSRIs
transference
A client with parental problems believing the therapist is just like those parents.
what emotion is the amygdala critical in?
fear
anxiety
future-oriented apprehension, tension, or sense of dread
what distinguishes anxiety from fear?
anxiety is future oriented, while fear is an immediate emotional response to danger/perceived threat in the environment
which part of the brain initiates the body’s flight-or-fight response and what two systems are affected in this response?
hypothalamus; autonomic nervous system and the adrenal-cortical system
what are 4 characteristic responses to threat?
somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral
panic disorder
when panic attacks become a common occurrence, when they are not usually provoked by any particular situation/are unexpected, and when person begins to worry about having them and changes behavior as result of worry
panic attacks
short, but intense periods during which one experiences symptoms of anxiety (ex: heart palpitations, dizziness, intense dread, etc.)
what are some biological theories of panic disorder?
fight-or-flight response is poorly regulated, dysregulation of norepinephrine in locus ceruleus (area of brain stem), increased anxiety symptoms premenstrual periods and postpartum
cognitive theories of panic disorder?
anxiety sensitivity, interoceptive awareness, interoceptive conditioning
interoceptive conditioning
bodily cues at beginning of attacks have become conditioned stimuli signaling new attacks
interoceptive awareness
heightened awareness of bodily cues
anxiety sensitivity
belief that bodily symptoms have harmful consequences
conditioned avoidance response
association of certain situations with symptoms of panic and may begin o feel them again if they return to the situations
biological treatment of panic disorder?
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
cognitive-behavioral therapy
clients confront the situations/thoughts that arouse anxiety
separation anxiety disorder
developmentally inappropriate and excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached- associated with childhood onset
biological theories of separation anxiety disorder
behavioral inhibition- children who are shy, fearful, and irritable as toddlers and cautious, quiet, and introverted as school-age children
treatments for separation anxiety disorder
pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy- recieved the most empirical support
selective mutism (SM)
the failure to speak in specific social situations- anxiety disorder
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
experience of excessive anxiety about ordinary, everyday situations and is intrusive/causes distress or functional impairment
social anxiety disorder
anxiety surrounding social situations caused by fear of being rejected, judged, or humiliated and leads individuals to avoid social interactions and situations associated with potential social scrutiny.
what do twin studies show us about anxiety disorders?
suggest that there is a genetic basis of anxiety disorders
specific phobias
unreasonable or irrational fears of specific objects or situations
what are the 5 DSM-5 categories of specific phobias?
animal type, natural environment type, situational type, blood injection-injury type, and other
animal-type phobia
fear of specific animals or insects (e.g., dogs, cats, snakes, etc)
natural environment type phobias
situations in the natural environment (e.g., storms, heights)
situational type phobias examples
public transportation, tunnels``, flying, enclosed spaces, etc.
blood-injection-injury type phobias
people diagnosed with fear of seeing blood or an injury- tends to run in families more than other phobias
agoraphobia
fear of places where it might be hard to escape or to get help if one becomes anxious; often includes public transportation, open spaces, shops/theaters, crowded places, etc.
obsessive compulsive disorder
anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions (persistent thoughts) and compulsions (rituals)
obsessions (OCD)
thoughts images, ideas, or urges that are persistent, repetitive, intrusive, unwanted and that usually cause significant anxiety or distress
compulsions (OCD)
repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels he or she must perform in an effort to reduce anxiety and distress
hoarding
psychological disorder that involves uncontrollable urges to keep items that have no utility or instrumental value (form of OCD)
trichotillomania
OCD type disorder characterized by repetitive pulling out of hair
excoriation
OCD type disorder characterized by picking at one’s own skin resulting in skin lesions, scars, and or/ infections that causes disruption in daily function
body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
an OCD disorder characterized by excessive concern about physical appearance which results in significant distress and the impairment of interpersonal situations
what is exposure and response prevention and what disorder is it commonly used to treat?
repeated exposures to the focus of client’s obsession and prevents compulsive responses to the resulting anxiety; OCD
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder (ASD)
psychological and physiological consequences of exposure to traumatic events
flashbacks (PTSD)
uncontrollable, intense, and repeated episodes that force the individual to relive the traumatic experience
Acute stress disorder (ASD)
occurs in response to traumatic events but is diagnosed when symptoms arise within 1 moth of exposure to the stressor but last no longer than 4 weeks
adjustment disorder
consists of emotional/behavioral symptoms that arise within 3 mo of the stressor
reactive attachment disorder (RAD)
occurs as a result of of severe neglect, abuse, and maltreatment that typically occurs btwn 9 mo-5 yrs causing affected children have difficulty forming emotional attachments to others
OCD is a multifactorial disorder with (minimal/strong) genetic predispositions
strong
people prone to panic attacks have (heightened/minimized interoceptive awareness?
heightened (interoceptive awareness: awareness of bodily cues)
psychopathology
another name for AP- focuses on behaviors that are atypical or unexpected
cultural relativism
the view that there ar eno universal standards or rules for labeling a behavior abnormal; behaviors can be labeled abnormal only relative to cultural norms
cultural universality
the view that values, concepts, and behaviors characteristic of diverse cultures ca be viewed, understood, and judges according to universal standards
cultural relativism vs. cultural universality
normal/abnormal vary from culture to culture v. normal/abnormal is same across cultures
Szasz’s critiques of abnormal psychology
mental health is a myth & created to control and change people
Rosenhan’s critiques of AP
ppl are admitted into hospitals even though they are completely sane
prevalence
proportion of total pop w/ a disorder in a specific period of time
lifetime prevalence
proportion of pop who have ever had a disorder
incidence
rate at which new cases arise over a period of time (ex: COVID-19 rates of new cases)
