Abnormal Psychology Flashcards
DSM-IV-TR
contains symptoms of psychological disorders but does not say any of the causes or treatments of disorders
phobia
intense unwarranted fear of situation or object
generalized anxiety disorder
constant, low-level anxiety where person constantly feels nervous and out of sorts
panic disorder
suffers from acute episodes of intense anxiety without any apparent reason
obsessive-compulsive disorder
when persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause someone to feel the need (compulsion) to engage in a particular action
post-traumatic stress disorder
flashbacks or nightmares follows a person’s involvement or observation of extremely troubling event
somatoform disorder
when a person experiences a physical problem in the absence of any physical cause
hypochondrasis
has frequent physical complaints for which medical doctors are unable to locate the cause
conversion disorder
report the existence of a severe physical problem (ex. blindness, paralysis) but have no biological reason for problems
psychogenic amnesia
when a person cannot remember things and no physiological basis for disruption of memory
organic amnesia
biologically induced amnesia
fugue
experience psychogenic amnesia but also find themselves in unfamiliar environments
dissociative identity disorder (DID)
also known as multiple personality disorder; when a person has several personalities rather than one integrated personalities
major depressive disorder
most common mood disorder; when one feels unhappy for more than two weeks without a clear reason
seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
when people experience depression only at certain times of the year, usually in winter where there is not a lot of sunlight
bipolar disorder
involves both depressed and manic episodes in severe degrees
dysthymic disorder
similar to major depressive disorder but are generally less intense
cognitive triad theory
proposed by Aaron Beck, who believed that depression results from unreasonably negative ideas that people have about themselves, their world and their futures.
learned helplessness
our lack of ability controls fate; we accept failure.
schizophrenia
disordered, distorted thinking involving delusions/hallucinations.
delusions
beliefs that have no basis in reality
delusions of persecution
the belief that people are out to get you
delusions of grandeur
the belief that you enjoy greater power and influence than you actually do, ex. you think you are the president of the USA
hallucinations
perceptions in absence of any sensory stimulation
disorganized schizophrenia
odd uses of language; they may make up their own words or string together a series of nonsense words. They may also have the inappropriate effect, and laugh in response to serious events
paranoid schizophrenia
involved in delusions of persecution
catatonic schizophrenia
engage in odd movements
undifferentiated schizophrenia
exhibit disordered thinking but no symptoms of the other types of schizophrenia
dopamine hypothesis
high levels of dopamine are associated with schizophrenia
double bind
a person is given contradictory messages, which may allow them to develop distorted thinking and schizophrenia
diathesis-stress model
environmental stressors provide circumstances under which a biological predisposition for illness can express itself
antisocial disorder
little regard for other people’s feelings; they view world as hostile place
dependent disorder
rely too much on attention and help of others
narcissism
seeing oneself as the center of the universe
histrionic personality disorder
overly dramatic behavior
Axis I
clinical disorders–major disorders such as depression, GAD, paranoid schizophrenia
Axis II
personality and developmental disorders, such as autism, antisocial, paranoia
Axis III
medical conditions–physical ailments such as cancer or diabetes can impact person’s psychological well-being
Axis IV
psychosocial conditions–environmental factors affect a person’s mental health
Axis V
global assessment of functioning, which classifies overall level of functioning. Yields from 1-100
