Chapter 14- psychological disorders Flashcards
medical model
the conceptualization of psychological disorders as diseases that, like physical diseases, have biological causes, defined symptoms, and possible cures
DSM-IV-TR(diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders)
a classification system that describes the features used to diagnose each recognized mental disorder and indicates how the disorder can be distinguished from other, similar problems.
comorbidity
the co-occurence of two or more disorders in a single individual
diathesis-stress model
suggests that a person may be predisposed for a mental disorder that remains unexpressed until triggered by stress
anxiety disorder
the class of mental disorder in which anxiety is the predominant feature
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
a disorder characterized by chronic excessive worry accompanied by three or more of the following symptoms: restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance
phobic disorders
disorders characterized by marked, persistent, and excessive fear and avoidance of specific objects, activities, or situations
specific phobia
a disorder that involves an irrational fear of a particular object or situation that markedly interferes with an individual’s ability to function
social phobia
a disorder that involves an irrational fear of being publicly humiliated or embarrassed
preparedness theory
the idea that people are instinctively predisposed toward certain fears
panic disorder
a disorder characterized by the sudden occurrence of multiple psychological and physiological symptoms that contribute to a feeling of stark terror
agoraphobia
an extreme fear of venturing into public places
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
a disorder in which repetitive, intrusive thoughts ( obsessions) and ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) designed to fend off those thoughts interfere significantly with an individual’s functioning
mood disorders
mental disorders that have mood disturbance as their predominant feautre
major depressive disorder
a disorder characterized by a severely depressed mood that lasts 2 weeks or more and is accompanied by feelings of worthlessness and lack of pleasure, lethargy, and sleep and appetite distubances
dysthymia
a disorder that involves the same symptoms as in depression only less severe, but the symptoms last longer, persisting for at least 2 years
double depression
a moderately depressed mood that persists for at least 2 years and is punctuated by periods of major depression
seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
depression that involves recurrent depressive episodes in a seasonal pattern
helplessness theory
the idea that individuals who are prone to depression automatically attribute negative experiences to causes that are internal (their own fault), stable (unlikely to change), and global (widespread)
bipolar disorder
an unstable emotional condition characterized by cycles of abnormal, persistent high mood (mania) and low mood (depression)
dissociative disorder
a condition in which normal cognitive processes are severely disjointed and fragmented, creating significant disruptions in memory, awareness, or personality that can vary in length from a matter of minutes to many years
dissociative identity disorder ( DID)
the presence within an individual of two or more distinct identities that at different times take control of the individual’s behavior
dissociative amnesia
the sudden loss of memory for significant personal information
dissociative fugue
the sudden loss of memory for one’s personal history, accompanied by an abrupt departure from home and the assumption of a new identity
