Abnormal Psychology Test 1 Flashcards
What is Abnormal Psychology?
Branch of Psychology that deals with unusual patterns of behavior, emotions and thought
What is Clinical Psychology?
Seeks to assess, understand and treat psychological condtions
Axis I
Clinical Disorders that focus on Clinical Attention
EXCLUDING MENTAL RETARDATION
Axis II
Personality Disorders and Mental Retardation
Axis III
General Medical Conditions
Axis IV
These are Psychosocial and Environmental Problems
Axis V
Global Assessment of Functioning
Report of overall functioning using the GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning)
Define Mental Retardation
This is significant sub-average intellectual functioning (IQ of 70 or below) with the onset before 18 years of age
Define Learning Disorders
Academic functioning that is substantially below that expected given person’s age.
Includes: Reading disorders, Mathematics disorder, Disorder of written expression, and learning disorder not otherwise specified
Define Motor Skills Disorder
Development coordination disorder, which is characterized by motor coordination
Define Communication Disorder
Difficulties in speech or language
Include: expressive language disorder, mixed receptive expressive language disorder, phonological disorder and stuttering
Define Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Impairment in reciprocal social interaction, impairment in communication and the presence of stereotyped behavior
Include: autistic disorder, rett’s disorder, asperger’s disorder
Define Attention-Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorder
Inattention and or hyperactivity-impulsivity
Also includes: Disruptive behavior disorders: conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder
Define Feeding and Eating Disorders of Infancy or Early Childhood`
Persistent disturbances in feeding and eating.
Includes: Pica, Rumination Disorder, Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood
Define Tic Disorders
Characterized by vocal and or motor tics
Include: Tourette’s, Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder and Transiet Tic Disorder
Define Elimination Disorders
Includes Encopresis (feces in inappropriate places) and Enuresis (urinating in inappropriate places)
What are the Other Disorders of Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence?
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Selective Mutism
- Reactive Attachment Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood
- Stereotypic Movement Disorder
- Disorders of Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence Not otherwise Specified
Mental Retardation
Axis II
Sub-average intellectual functioning
Limitations in the following areas: communication, self-care, home living, social/interpersonal skills, use of community resources, self direction, functional academic skills, work, leisure, health and safety
Mild Mental Retardation
IQ 50/55-70
Educable
Most people fall here 85%
Moderate Mental Retardation
IQ 35/40-50/55
Trainable
Don’t benefit from educational programs
10%
Severe Mental Retardation
IQ 20/25-35/40
Survival words
3-4%
Profound Mental Retardation
IQ below 20/25
Neurological impairment present 1-2%
Predisposing Factors of Mental Retardation
Primarily biological or psychosocial
6 factors
Predisposing Factors of Mental Retardation
Heredity
Inborn errors of metabolism
Single gene abnormality
Chromosomal aberrations
Advances in genetics will likely increase the identification of heritable forms of mental retardation
Predisposing Factors of Mental Retardation
Early Alteration of Embryonic Development
Chromosomal changes
Prenatal damage due to toxins
Predisposing Factors of Mental Retardation
Environmental Influences
Deprivation of nurturance, social, linguistic and other stimulation
Predisposing Factors of Mental Retardation
Mental Disorders
Includes:
Autistic Disorder
Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Predisposing Factors of Mental Retardation
Pregnancy and Perinatal Problems
Fetal Malnutrition Prematurity Hypoxia Viral and other infections Trauma
Predisposing Factors of Mental Retardation
General Medical Conditions Acquired in Infancy or Childhood
Traumas
Infections
Poisoning
Learning Disorders
Formerly known as Academic Skills Disorder
Individuals achievement is substantially below that for age, schooling or level of intelligence
Demoralization
Low Self-Esteem
Reading Disorder
AKA Dyslexia Reading accuracy, speed or comprehension Oral Reading characterized by: Distortions Substitutions Omissions Slowness Errors in Comprehension
60-80% males
Mathematical Disorder
Obviously… Difficulty recognizing numerical symbols or arithmetic signs
Disorder of Written Expression
Poor writing Skills
Poor handwriting
Developmental Coordination Disorder
Poor Motor Coordination
Expressive Language Disorder
Recognized by age 3
Due to brain lesions, head trauma, stroke
Onset is sudden
Includes:
Limited amount of speech
Limited vocabulary
Difficulty acquiring new words
Mixed Receptive- Expressive Language Disorder
Impairment in both receptive and expressive language development
Limited vocabulary
Detected by age 4
Occurs after period of normal development- result of neurological or medical condition
Phonological Disorder
Formerly Developmental Articulation Disorder
Failure to use speech sounds
Errors in sound production
Substitution of one sound for another
Stuttering
Disturbance of normal fluency and time patterning of speech Eye blinking Tics Tremors of lip/face Jerking of head Breathing moments or fist clenching
What are the Characteristics of Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Children will have impaired social, communication and stereotype behavior
Autistic Disorder
Impaired Development in social interaction and communication
Repertoire
Delay in developing spoken language
Diagnostic Features of Autistic Disorder
Abnormalities in Forebrain, limbic structures and cerebellar circuits and growth patterns of the brain
Alteration in brain size is the most consistent replicated finding
Typically have small heads at birth followed by excessive increase in head size between 1-2 mo and 6-24 mo
Treatment of Autistic Disorder
SRI’s
Atypical Antipsychotic
Anticonvulsants
Natural Products and Dietary Restrictions
Secretin and Dimethylglycine have failed to demonstrate any benefit in this population
Rett’s Disorder
Only diagnosed in Females
Between 5-48 months head growth decelerates
Loss of previously acquired skills
Replaced with stereotype hand movements
Expressive and receptive language with psychomotor retardation
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Loss of previously acquired skills in the first 2 years of birth
Asperger’s Disorder
Occurs more frequently in Males
Impairment in use of nonverbal behaviors: eye to eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, gestures
NO delay in language and cognitive development or age appropriate skills- distinguished from autism
ADHD
Persistent inattention or impulsivity Fail to give close attention to details Make careless mistakes Work is messy Impatience Blurt out answers Difficulty awaiting ones turn Interrupting Intruding
Conduct Disorder
Rights of others or age-appropriate norms/rules are violated
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Negative
Defiant
Hostile Behavior toward authority figures
Pica
Eating of one or more nonnutritive substances
Rumination Disorder
Repeated regurgitation and chewing of food occurring after feeding
Lasts at least 1 month
Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood
Persistent failure to eat adequately
Tic Disorders
Sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic, stereotyped motor movement or vocalization
2 Groups:
1. Simple Vocal Tic
2. Complex Vocal Tic: sudden, spontaneous expression of single words/phrases; speech blocking; sudden and meaningless changes in pitch/emphasis; palilalia (repeating one’s own sounds or words) and echolalia (repeating last word heard)
Treatment of Tics
Alpha-Adrenergic Drugs- reduce norepinephrine turnover Neuroleptic drugs Keep stress levels low Psychotherapy TMS: sill experimental
What are the 4 disorders included under Tic Disorders?
- Tourette’s Disorder
- Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder
- Transient Tic Disorder
- Tic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
Tourette’s Disorder
Multiple tics
More vocal tics
Obsessions and Compulsions
Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder
Either motor or vocal NOT BOTH
Transient Tic Disorder
Single or multiple motor and/or vocal tics
Tic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
Doesn’t meet criteria for a specific tic
What are the 2 Elimination Disorders?
- Encopresis
2. Enuresis
Encopresis
Passage of feces into inappropriate places
Usually involuntary
Enuresis
Voiding of urine during the day or night
Involuntary
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Excessive anxiety concerning separation from home or those attached to
Selective Mutism
Formerly Elective Mutism
Persistent failure to speak in specific social situations where speaking is expected, despite speaking in other situations
What are the 10 Anxiety Disorders
- Panic Attack
- Agoraphobia
- Specific Phobia
- Social Phobia
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition
- Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder
Panic Attack
Sudden onset of intense apprehension, fearfulness or terror
Discrete period of intense fear or discomfort
Symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes
Agoraphobia
Anxiety about, avoidance of, places or situations from which escape might be difficult
Presence of companion
Specific Phobia
Provoked by exposure to a specific feared object or situation
AKA Simple Phobia
Persistent fear of clearly discernible, circumscribed objects or situations (Criterion A)
Ratio of 2:1 for Women to men
First symptoms occur in childhood/ early adolescence
Predisposing factors: Traumatic event, unexpected panic attacks, observation of others going through trauma, informational transmission (repeated threatening warnings)
Social Phobia- Diagnostic Features
Exposure to certain types of social or performance situations
Marked and Persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others
Interferes significantly with persons normal routine, occupational functioning, or social activities or relationships, or remarked distress
If fears include most social situations (dating, conversation) = GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessions or Compulsions
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Experiencing an extremely traumatic event
Increased Arousal
Avoidance of Stimuli
Acute Stress Disorder
Occurs immediately in the aftermath of an extremely traumatic even
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Persistent and excessive anxiety/worry
At least 6 months
Anxiety Disorder due to a General Medical Condition
Direct Physiological consequences of a general medical condition
Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder
Direct physiological consequence of an abused drug, medication or toxin exposure
Panic Disorder
Presence of recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by at least 1 month of persistent concern
Not due to direct physiological effects of a substance or general medical condition
Constant feelings of anxiety not focused on specific situation or event
No Lab findings
10-30% have Vestibular/Respiratory problems
60% Neurological and cardiology clinics
Strong genetic distribution
5 Subtypes of Specific Phobia
- Animal Type
- Natural Environment Type
- Blood Injection Type: Vasovagal Reaction- Bradycardia
- Situational Type
- Other Type
Descriptive Features/ Assoc. Mental disorders of Social Phobia
Hypersensitivity to criticism, negative evaluation, or rejection; difficulty being assertive; low self esteem or feelings of inferiority
Differential Diagnosis of Social Phobia
Potential evaluation by others is the key to the anxiety
Obsessions are defined by:
Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress
Recognized that reaction is product of their own mind
Compulsions are defined by:
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
Hand washing
Counting
Prevalence of OCD
Equal evidence in males and females
Onset typically adolescence can be childhood
Males 6-15 yo
Females 20-29 yo
3 Treatments of OCD
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): 2 electrodes, generator in L chest wall
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): 4 electrodes, generators in subclavicular region
- Transcrainal Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): No implant/surgery
4 Diagnostic Criteria of PTSD
- Exposure to a traumatic event- life threatening or serious injury to self or other, response involved intense fear, helplessness and horror
- Traumatic event was persistently re-experienced
- Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness
- Persistent symptoms of increased arousal
3 Types of PTSD
- Acute
- Chronic
- Delayed Onset
Acute PTSD
Duration of symptoms is less than 3 months
Chronic PTSD
Duration of symptoms is 3 months or more
Delayed Onset PTSD
Onset of symptoms is at least 6 months after the stressor
Associated Descriptive features and Mental disorders of PTSD
Painful Guilt Avoidance Hallucinations Self destruction Increased rates of Major Depressive Disorder
3 Diagnostic Features of Acute Stress Disorder
- Exposure to a traumatic event
- While experiencing or after experiencing the distressing event, the individual has 3+ of the dissociative symptoms
- Traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in at least one of the following ways
What differentiates Acute Stress Disorder from PTSD?
- Intensity
2. Duration: Acute- 2 day minimum and 4 week maximum
Associated descriptive features and mental disorders of Acute Stress Disorder
Despair and Hopelessness
Guilt
Prevalence of Acute Stress Disorder
When symptoms persist beyond 1 month a diagnosis of PTSD may be appropriate
Diagnostic Features of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Excessive Anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not for at least 6 months about a number of activities
