Abnormal Psychology Exam Two Study Guide

Question 1

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Answer 1

Diagnosed when a person has a significant focus on physical symptoms such as pain, weakness, or shortness of breath to a level that results in major distress and/or problems functioning. The individual has excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors relating to the physical symptoms.

Question 2

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Answer 2

(previously called hypochondriac) is a psychiatric disorder defined by excessive worry about having or developing a undiagnosed medical condition.

Question 3

De personalization

Answer 3

someone experiencing de personalization feels disconnected from themselves(their bodies, thoughts, feelings, and sensations).

Question 4

De realization

Answer 4

someone experiencing de realization feels disconnected from the outside world(other people, objects, time, or location).

Question 5

Dissociative Fugue

Answer 5

a temporary state where a person has memory loss(amnesia) and ends up in an unexpected place. People with this symptom can’t remember who they are or details about their past.

Question 6

Anhedonia

Answer 6

the lack of interest, enjoyment, or pleasure from life’s experiences. You may not want to spend time with others or do activities that previously made you happy. Anhedonia is a common symptom of many mental health conditions. It’s normal when your interests change throughout your life.

Question 7

Manic Episode

Answer 7

describe a state of mind characterized by high energy, excitement, and euphoria over a sustained period of time. It’s an extreme change in mood and cognition that can interfere with school, work, or home life. Mania is also a feature of bipolar disorder.

Question 8

Hypomanic Episode

Answer 8

A milder form of mania that typically lasts for a shorter period. This is usually about 4 days, although the length of time can vary. Mania is a more severe form.

Question 9

Depressive Episode

Answer 9

During a depressive episode, a person experiences a depressed mood(feeling sad, irritable, empty). They may feel a loss of pleasure or interest in activities. A depressive episode is a different from regular mood fluctuations. They last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

Question 10

Mixed Features

Answer 10

refers to the presence of high and low symptoms occurring at the same time, or a part of a single episode, in people experiencing an episode if mania or depression. In most forms of bipolar disorder moods alternate between elevated and depressed over time.

Question 11

Biofeedback Therapy

Answer 11

Biofeedback is the technique of gaining greater awareness of many physiological functions of one’s own body by using electronic or other instruments, and with a goal of being able to manipulate the body’s systems at will.

Question 12

Anorexia Nervosa

Answer 12

an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight.

There are two sub types of anorexia nervosa: a “restrictive” sub type and a “binge-purge” subtype. In the restrictive sub type, people severely limit the amount and type of food they consume.

Question 13

Bulimia Nervosa

Answer 13

an eating disorder characterized by secretive bouts of overeating followed by self-induced vomiting or purging, strict dieting, or extreme exercise associated with persistent and excessive concern with body weight.

Question 14

Pica

Answer 14

a mental health condition where a person compulsively swallows non-food items. It is especially common in children with certain conditions. While it’s often harmless, swallowing certain items can make pica very hazardous. Fortunately, it’s often treatable with therapy and modification to lifestyle and circumstances.

Question 15

What is the most common trigger of dissociation?

Answer 15

For many people, dissociation is a natural response to trauma they cannot control. It could be response to a one-off traumatic event or ongoing trauma and abuse. Dissociation might be a way to cope with very stressful experiences.

Question 16

When conducting a suicide assessment, what are some areas you need to make sure to assess?

Answer 16

-Warning signs- signs that they are considering an attempt

-Protective factors- something that might prevent user from attempting

-Risk factors- makes them more likely to attempt

Intention factors, planning elements,

Question 17

What are common physical illnesses that occur as a result of unhealthy and/or risky behaviors?

Answer 17

Heart Disease, Cancer, AIDS, and Hypertension

Question 18

What are common psychosocial treatments we have developed for physical disorders?

Answer 18

CBT, mindfulness, hypnosis

Question 19

What is a common intervention related to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for individuals with bulimia nervosa?

Answer 19

In CBT, the therapist works collaboratively with the patient to disrupt the factors maintaining the binge-purge cycle with the goal to achieve abstinence from these behaviors. This treatment is typically administered individually, but it can be delivered in group format.

Question 20

Which types of episodes(depressive, manic, hypomanic) are required for which types of mood disorders?

Answer 20

Bipolar 1 disorder is diagnosed with manic and depressive episodes

Bipolar 2 disorder is diagnosed with hypomanic and depressive disorders.

Major Depressive disorder is diagnosed with major depression episodes

Question 21

Bipolar 1 disorder

Answer 21

Bipolar 1 disorder is diagnosed when a person experiences a manic episode. During a manic episode, people with bipolar1 disorder experience an extreme increase in energy and may feel on top of the world or uncomfortably irritable in mood. Some people with bipolar 1 disorder also experience depressive or hypomanic episodes, and most people with bipolar disorder depressive or hypomanic episodes and most people with bipolar disorder 1 also have periods of neutral mood.

Question 22

Hypomanic Episode

Answer 22

a hypomanic episode is characterized by less severe manic symptoms that need to last only four days in a row rather than a week. Hypomanic episodes do not lead to the major problems in daily functioning that manic symptoms commonly cause.

Question 23

Major Depressive Episode

Answer 23

a major depressive episode is a period of at least two weeks in which a person has at least five of the following symptoms(including at least one of the first two symptoms):
1. Intense sadness and despair
2. Anhedonia
3. Feelings of worthlessness/ guilt
4. Fatigue
5. Increased/ Decreased sleep
6. Increased/ Decreased appetite
7. Restlessness or slowed speech or movement
8. Difficulty concentrating
9. Frequent thoughts of death or suicide

Question 24

Bipolar 2 disorder

Answer 24

a diagnosis of bipolar 2 disorder requires someone to have at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode. People return to their usual functioning between episodes. People with bipolar 2 disorder often first seek treatment as a result of their first depressive episode, since hypomanic episodes often feel pleasurable and can even increase performance at work or school.

People with bipolar 2 disorder frequently have other mental illnesses such as an anxiety disorder or substance disorder, the latter of which can exacerbate symptoms of depression or hypomania.

Question 25

Cyclothymic Disorder

Answer 25

a milder form of bipolar disorder involving many “mood swings” with hypomania and depressive symptoms that occur frequently. People with cyclothymia experience emotional ups and downs, but with less severe symptoms than bipolar 1 and 2. For at least two years, many periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms, but the symptoms do not meet criteria for hypomania or depressive episode. During the two year period, the symptoms(mood swings) have lasted for at least half the time and never stopped for more than two months.

Question 26

Explain your understanding of how external stressors, mental health, and physical illness may work together to affect an individuals situation.

Answer 26

The associations between mental and physical health are: poor mental health is a risk factor for chronic physical conditions. People with serious mental health conditions are at high risk of experiencing chronic physical conditions are also at risk of developing poor mental health.

Question 27

Localized Amnesia Definition and Example

Answer 27

Loss of memory from a certain point of time
Example: Patients may forget the month and years of being abused as a child or the days spent in intense combat.

Question 28

Generalized Amnesia

Answer 28

Loss of memory that is generalized.
Example: patients forget their identity and life history(who they are and where they went)

Question 29

Selective Amnesia

Answer 29

loss of memory of specific parts of a certain experience/period of time
example: an abuse victim may recall only some parts of the series of events around the abuse

Question 30

Systemized Amnesia

Answer 30

loss of memory of a certain topic or subject
ex. patients forget information in a specific category, such as all information about a particular person or about their family.

Question 31

Continuous Amnesia

Answer 31

loss of memory stemming from a certain event that continues from that point. Example: 50 first dates

Question 32

Bipolar 1 disorder

Answer 32

Bipolar 1 disorder is defined by manic episodes that last for at least 7 days(nearly everyday for most of the day) or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate medical care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks. Episodes of depression with mixed features(having depressive symptoms and manic symptoms at the same time) are also possible. Experiencing 4 or more episodes of mania or depression within 1 year is called “rapid cycling”. You usually develop bipolar disorder before you are twenty. It can develop later in life, but it rarely develops before the age of 40.

Bipolar 1 and 2 can look very similar, but there’s one key difference: people with bipolar 1 have at least one episode of mania in their lifetime, while people with bipolar 2 do not. During a manic episode, people with bipolar 1 also tend to have more severe symptoms that disrupt them in daily life.

Causes: Bipolar disorder often runs in families, and research and research suggests that this is mostly explained by heredity–people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder than others. Many genes are involved, and no one gene causes the disorder. However, genes are not the only factor.

Factors that may increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder or act as a trigger for the first episode include: Having a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, with bipolar disorder. Periods of high stress, such as the death of a loved one or other traumatic event. Drug or alcohol abuse.