Chapter 10 Mental Health Flashcards
Mental conditions characterized by excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, or fear that is out of proportion to the real danger in a situation.
anxiety disorder [Without treatment, an anxiety disorder can become chronic.]
A mental condition characterized by chronic, excessive worrying. Physical symptoms associated with this condition include muscle tension, sleep disturbances, irritability, trouble concentrating and restlessness.
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
A mental condition characterized by obsessions and /or compulsions.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
A condition characterized by having more than one panic attack, resulting in persistent fear of attacks. This can cause people to develop agoraphobia or other phobias.
panic disorder
An unexpected, sudden experience of fear in the absence of danger, accompanied by physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain/tightness, dizziness, sweating, nausea, feelings of unreality, choking sensations, or a combination of these. It is simply unneeded activation of the body’s fight-or-flight response.
panic attack
The development of characteristic symptoms after a major traumatic event. Symptoms include emotional numbing, hyperarousal, anxiety, sleep disorders & persistent reliving of the event.
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A persistent irrational fear of a specific thing or situation strong enough to cause significant distress, interfere with functioning, and lead to avoidance of the thing or situation that causes this reaction.
phobia
Excessive fear of heights.
acrophobia
An excessive fear of environments where the person fears a panic attack might occur.
agoraphobia
Abnormal fear of being in small or enclosed spaces.
claustrophobia
Excessive fear of social situations where the person fears negative evaluation by others or embarrassing himself in front of others.
social phobia
A condition characterized by a short attention span and impulsive behavior inappropriate for the child’s developmental age.
attention deficit /hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
A learning disability characterized by substandard reading achievement due to the inability of the brain to process symbols.
dyslexia
Disorders found in children of normal intelligence who have difficulties in learning specific skills such as processing language or grasping mathematical concepts.
learning disabilities
Significant below-average intellectual & adaptive functioning present from birth or early infancy.
mental retardation/intellectual disability (intellectual disability is gradually replacing the use of the term mental retardation)
A group of conditions in which a young child has difficulty developing normal social relationships and communication skills, may compulsively follow repetitive routines, and has narrowly focused, intense interests that are sometimes unusual.
autistic spectrum disorders
A subgroup of autistic spectrum disorders. Children with this disorder have significant developmental delays, including speech and language. Most have very minimal verbal skills and lack normal social relationships.
autism
A subgroup of the autism disorders spectrum. Individuals with this disorder usually have normal or above-average intelligence but are impaired in social interactions and nonverbal communication.
Asperger’s syndrome
Conditions that occur when normal thought is separated from consciousness.
dissociative disorders
A mental illness characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personalities, each with its own characteristics, which appear to exist within the same individual.
dissociative identity disorder
A condition in which a person acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when he or she is not really sick.
factitious disorder
A form of child abuse in which the mentally ill parent will falsify an illness in a child by making up or inducing symptoms and then seeking medical treatment, even surgery, for the child.
factitious disorder by proxy
A group of psychiatric disorders characterized by failure to resist an impulse despite potential negative consequences. Examples include compulsive shopping and gambling.
impulse control disorders
A disorder characterized by repeatedly stealing objects neither for personal use nor for their monetary value.
kleptomania [type of impulse control disorder]
A disorder characterized by repeated, deliberate fire setting.
pyromania [type of impulse control disorder]
A disorder characterized by the repeated pulling out of one’s own hair.
trichotillomania [type of impulse control disorder]
A mental condition characterized by cycles of severe mood changes shifting from highs and severe lows.
bipolar disorder
An abnormally elevated mood state, including inappropriate elation, increased irritability, severe insomnia, poor judgement, and inappropriate social behavior.
manic behavior
A common mood disorder characterized by lethargy and sadness, as well as loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities.
depression
A low-grade chronic depression present on a majority of days for more than two years.
dysthymia, aka dysthymic disorder
A seasonal bout of depression associated with decrease in hours of daylight during winter months.
seasonal affective disorder
A chronic pattern of inner experience and behavior that causes serious problems with relationships and work This pattern is pervasive and inflexible, has an onset in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable over time, and leads to distress or impairment.
personality disorder
A type of personality disorder with a pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. This pattern brings the individual into continuous conflict with society.
antisocial personality disorder
A type of personality disorder that is characterized by impulse actions, often with the potential for self-harm, as well as mood instability and chaotic relationships.
borderline personality disorder
A type of personality disorder with a pattern of extreme preoccupation with the self and complete lack of empathy for others.
narcissistic personality disorder
A condition characterized by the loss of contact with reality and deterioration of normal social functioning.
psychotic disorder
Marked by a lack of responsiveness, stupor, and a tendency to remain in a fixed posture.
catatonic behavior
A psychotic disorder characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, hallucinations and may include catatonic behavior.
schizophrenia
A false personal belief that is maintained despite obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.
delusion
A sensory perception experienced in the absence of an external stimulation.
hallucination
Conditions that are characterized by physical complaints or concerns about one’s body that are out of proportion to any physical findings or disease.
somatoform disorder
A condition characterized by a serious temporary or ongoing change in function, such as paralysis or blindness, triggered by psychological factors rather than any physical cause.
conversion disorder
A condition characterized by fearing that one has a serious illness despite appropriate medical evaluation and reassurance.
hypochondriasis (hypochondriac)
A condition characterized by the in intentional creation of false or grossly exaggerated physical or psychological symptoms. This condition is motivated by incentives such as avoiding work.
malingering
The addictive use of tobacco, alcohol, medications, or illegal drugs. This abuse leads to significant impairment in functioning, danger to one’s self or others, and recurrent legal and/or interpersonal problems.
substance abuse
Chronic alcohol dependence with specific signs and symptoms upon withdrawal. Withdrawal is a psychological or physical syndrome (or both) caused by the abrupt cessation (stopping) of the use of alcohol or a drug in an addicted individual.
alcoholism
A disorder involving sudden and severe mental changes or seizures caused by abruptly stopping the use of alcohol.
delirium tremens (DT)
The excessive use of illegal drugs or the misuse of prescription drugs. A recreational drugs is one normally used for personal pleasure or satisfaction rather than medical purposes.
drug abuse
The accidental or intentional use of an illegal drug or prescription medicine in an amount higher than what is safe or normal.
drug overdose
A drug that acts primarily on the central nervous system, where it produces temporary changes affecting the mind, emotions, and behavior. These drugs are used as medications to control pain, and to treat narcolepsy and attention disorders.
psychotropic drug
Medications administered to prevent or relieve depression. Some of these medications are also used to treat obsessive-compulsive and generalized anxiety disorders and to help relieve chronic pain.
antidepressant
Administered to treat symptoms of severe disorders of thinking and mood that are associated with neurological and psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia, mania, and delusional disorders.
antipsychotic drug
Medication administered to temporarily relieve anxiety and reduce tension.
anxiolytic drug, aka antianxiety or tranquilizer
Used to treat mood instability and bipolar disorders.
mood-stabilizing drugs (such as lithium)
A substance that works by increasing activity in certain areas of the brain to increase concentration and wakefulness.
stimulant
Treatment based on the idea that mental disorders have underlying causes stemming from childhood and can only be overcome by gaining insight into one’s feeling and patterns of behavior.
psychoanalysis
Therapy that focuses on changing behavior by identifying problem behaviors, replacing them with appropriate behaviors and using rewards or other consequences to make the changes.
behavioral therapy
Treatment that focuses on changing cognitions or thoughts that are affecting a person’s emotions and actions.
cognitive therapy
The use of hypnosis to produce an altered state of focused attention in which the patient may be more willing to believe and act on suggestions. It is used pain relief, anxiety reduction and behavioral modification.
hypnotherapy
