Ch 13 - Psychological Disorders Flashcards
What is a psychological disorder
- anxiety disorder
- OCD
- PTSD
- Substance use disorders
- mood disorders
- schizophrenia
Definition of a psychological disorder
A syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in a persons cognitions, emotion regulation, or behavior
-thoughts, emotions, or behaviors are dysfunctional and maladaptive meaning they interfere with daily life
What does the medical model mean
Mental illnesses are diagnosed on the basis of SYMPTOMS and cured through therapy (TREATMENT)
The biopsychosocial approach to mental illness
- social: definiton can depend on culture
- bio and psycho: abnormal physical processes
Why do we classify disorders
- to provide name and description
- attempt to predict the future of a disorder
- suggest treatment
- prompts research into causes
What do we use to classify disorders
American Psychiatric Association’s 2013 Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
-diagnostic labels have changed (ex. autism and spergers is now autism spectrum disorder)
Anxiety disorders
- generalized anxiety disorder
- panic disorder
- phobias
Generalized anxiety disorder
Constantly tense and uneasy for no apparent reason
Panic disorder
Sudden episodes of intense dread and fearing when the next attack will happen
Phobia
- irrationally and intensely afraid of an object, activity, situation
OCD
-troubled by unwanted repetitive thoughts, compulsive behaviors as a response
PTSD
-lingering memories, nightmares fir weeks after a severely threatening uncontrollable event
Biopsychosocial approach to anxiety
- Bio: inherited termperament differences, different brain pathways, inherited survival responses
- psycho: conditioning (classical, stimulus generalization, reinforcement/ learned maladaptive behaviors), cognitions (hypervigilance)
- social: modeling (observing others behavior)
Substance use disorder
Continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption/physical risk
Tolerance
Repeated drug use requires larger doses
Addiction
Cracking of drugs or behaviors despite known harmful consequences
Withdrawal
Discomfort and distress that follow discontinuation of drug or behavior
Alcohol use disorder (depressants) consequences
- act on urges; slows activity in part of brain that controls judgement and inhibition
- memory disruption
- effect on our expectations
Biopsychosocial approach to substance use disorder
- bio: genetic traits
- psycho: vulnerabilities (stress, abuse, depression)
- social: peer influences, media models, more likely in urban areas
Mood disorders
- major depressive disorder
- bipolar disorder
- suicide and self harm
Depressed brain
- slower activity, especially left frontal lobe
- scarce norepinephrine and serotonin
Psychosocial approach to depression
Cycle of stress, negative explanatory style, depression, cognitive and behavioral changes
- makes person view self and world negatively and or adopt learned helplessness
Schizophrenia (definition, characteristics)
- psychological disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and or inappropriate emotional expression
- onset can suddenly appear or develop over time, men are struck earlier and more severely
- correlated to brain abnormalities (chemistry or activity or anatomy) and prenatal environment
