chapter 15 - psychological disorders Flashcards
what is the medical model in terms of psychology?
searches symptoms to determine a syndrome, searches for causes and viable treatments
what are the four D’s when defining a psychological abnormality?
- deviance (behaviour differs from proper functioning)
- distress
- dysfunction (behaviour interferes with daily functioning)
- danger (danger to self or others)
a behaviour can be viewed as abnormal if it meets one of the following criteria:
- deviant
- maladaptive
- personal distress
define maladaptive
not providing appropriate adjustment to the situation (e.g. drinking as a coping style)
a behaviour can be classified as a disorder if it meets ALL of these criteria:
- clinically significant detriment (gets in the way of life)
- involuntary manifestation
- internal source
what is the ICD?
international classification of diseases
what is the DSM?
the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition)
define diagnosis
a clinicians determination that a person’s cluster of symptoms represent a disorder
define comorbidity
a person’s symptoms qualify them for two or more disorders
what does the neuroscience model say about abnormalities?
that abnormal behaviour is seen as an illness brought on by a malfunctioning brain
what 5 factors contribute to biological dysfunction?
- genetic inheritance
- too few/too many neurotransmitters
- viral infection
- hormones
- brain structures
what is the biopsychosocial perspective?
recognizes interactions among biological, social, cultural, and psychological variables
what is the diathesis-stress model?
recognizes interaction between internal predisposition and external triggers
what is the RDoC project?
use current knowledge about brain organization to learn more about normal vs abnormal functioning
what does the cognitive-behavioural model say about psychological abnormalities?
disorders result from interactions between:
1. problematic learned behaviours
2. dysfunctional cognitive processes
3. emotions and biological events
how does the behavioural perspective think disorders are acquired?
abnormal behaviour is learned in the same way adaptive behaviours are (classical/operant conditioning and modelling)
what is the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?
classical: forming associations
operant: learning via rewards and punishments
what does the cognitive perspective think about why disorders are acquired?
results from maladaptive beliefs and illogical thinking processes
define selective perception
seeing only the negative features of an event and ignoring the positives
define magnification
exaggerating the importance of undesirable events
define overgeneralization
drawing broad, negative conclusions based on a single insignificant event
what does the psychodynamic model think about why disorders are acquired?
behaviour largely determined by unconscious, due to internal conflict/attempts to resolve these conflicts
what did Freud think was problematic for a child to do?
fixate on a single stage of development (id, ego, and superego not maturing properly)
what is the belief of object relations theorists?
that problems in early relationships can contribute to psychological problems (we need to connect to others)
what is the family systems theory?
each family has its own implicit rules, structure, and communication patterns that influence individual members
define developmental psychopathology
studies how problem behaviours result as a function of genes and early experiences
equifinality vs multifinality
equifinality: children start at diff points and end up at the same outcome
multifinality: children start at same points and end up at diff outcomes
define resilience
ability to recover from/avoid severe effects of traumatic events
define moods
temporary, non-specific emotional states
what is a mood disorder?
pervasive and disturbed mood as the dominant feature
define depression
persistent, sad state in which life seems dark and challenges are overwhelming
describe major depressive disorder
depressed mood that is significantly disabling and not caused by drugs/medical condition
what is dysthymic disorder?
a less disabling but chronic form of depression
describe mania
persistent state of euphoria or frenzied energy
describe bipolar disorder
when periods of mania alternate with periods of depression
what is cyclothymic disorder?
a less severe form of BPD (in terms of mania) but chronic
what are some characteristics of depression?
emotional: depressed mood
motivational: lack of desire to perform usual activities
behavioural: slow speech, slow movement, less active
cognitive: thoughts of suicide, pessimism, guilt, self-hatred
physical: pain, headaches, sleep/eating problems, fatigue
what hormones/neurotransmitters may be affected in depression cases?
low serotonin and norepinephrine
high cortisol
define learned helplessness
a person feels they are unable to control a situation so they stop trying to get out of it
what is the attribution-helplessness theory?
see negative events as beyond our control, and attribute this to causes that are internal, global and stable
describe the cognitive triad
people interpret their experiences, themselves, and their futures in negative ways
define automatic thoughts
upsetting thoughts that arise unbidden
how do sociocultural theorists explain depression?
- lack of social support
- external stressors
what are some characteristics of mania?
emotional: powerful highs/lows
motivational: seek excitement/companionship
behavioural: move and speak quickly
cognitive: poor judgement and planning, optimism, grandiosity
physical: energetic, require little sleep
describe generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
excessive worry and anxiety under most circumstances
what are some characteristics of generalized anxiety disorder?
restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, sleep problems, concentration difficulties
how did Beck and Ellis explain GAD?
people hold dysfunctional or irrational assumptions (e.g. everyone needs to like me)
what is the intolerance of uncertainty theory?
people can’t accept that negative events may occur, even when probability is low
what are neuroscientific explanations for GAD?
malfunction in the feedback system to calm the brain, and malfunctioning in the circuit responsible for anxiety reactions
describe social anxiety disorder
severe, persistent, and irrational fears of social or performance situations in which embarrassment may occur
define phobias
persistent and unreasonable fear of an activity, object, or situation
what are the 5 main categories of phobias?
- animals
- situations
- environment
- blood and injections
- other
how are phobias formed and reinforced?
formed through classical conditioning, reinforced through operant conditioning, and modelling
describe panic disorder
recurrent and unpredictable panic attacks that occur without apparent provocation
what is agoraphobia?
people avoid public spaces in which escape may be difficult incase of panic
what are possible cognitive explanations for panic disorder?
hypersensitive to changes in arousal, misinterpreting bodily cues, hypervigilance can make things worse
what are possible neuroscientific explanations for panic disorder?
problem with amygdala, hypothalamus and locus ceruleus
(excess norepinephrine)
what are obsessions?
persistent thoughts, ideas, images, or impulses that invade a person’s consciousness
what are compulsions?
irrational repetitive/rigid behaviours or mental acts that people are compelled to perform to reduce anxiety
describe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
repeated, abnormal, anxiety-provoking thoughts and behaviours
what are the 4 forms of obsessions?
- wishes
- images
- doubts
- impulses
what are cognitive-behavioural explanations for OCD?
learned via classical conditioning
what are possible neuroscience explanations for OCD?
low serotonin activity
what is acute stress disorder vs posttraumatic stress disorder?
fear and related symptoms are experienced soon after an event and are short-term
symptoms continue long after traumatic event
what is posttraumatic growth?
positive psychological change after a life crisis or traumatic event
describe schizophrenia
disorganized thoughts, loss of contact with reality, hallucinations
define psychosis
loss of contact with reality
what are positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
pathological excesses in behaviour (not seen in normal people)
e.g. hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thoughts
define delusions
blatantly false beliefs held firmly despite evidence to the contrary
what are loose associations or derailment?
rapid shifts from one topic to another
what are negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
pathological deficits (present in typical people but missing with schizophrenics)
e.g. poverty of speech, flat affect, social withdrawal, loss of volition
define avolition
apathy, drained of energy, unable to follow through on tasks
what 5 cognitive functions are affected by schizophrenia?
memory, executive function, intelligence, working memory, attention
what are the three subtypes of catatonia?
stupor: unresponsive to environment
rigidity: rigid posture for hours
posturing: bizarre positioning
what are the abnormal brain structures in people with schizophrenia?
enlarged ventricles, small temporal and frontal lobes
describe somatic symptom and related disorders
excessive thought, feelings, and behaviours related to somatic symptoms
what are the 3 criteria for somatic symptom disorders?
- excessive health-related anxiety
- lasts 6 months
- has one or more somatic symptoms
describe illness anxiety disorder
person is preoccupied with having a serious disease despite the lack of symptoms
describe factitious disorder
deliberately assuming symptoms to adopt the patient role (yourself or another person)
describe dissociative disorders
loss of memory without a clear physical cause
describe dissociative amnesia
inability to recall important upsetting information
what is a dissociative fugue?
extensive memory loss involving loss of identity and details of life
describe derealization/depersonalization disorder
intact memory but person feels as though they are observing themselves from the outside, feels detached from body
describe dissociative identity disorder
two or more distinct personalities each with unique memories, thoughts, behaviours, and emotions
what is a personality disorder?
inflexible pattern of inner experience and outward behaviour that affects daily functioning
what are the 3 clusters of personality disorders?
- odd/eccentric (strange, not harmful behaviour)
- dramatic/erratic (disregard for other’s rights)
- anxious/inhibited (avoidant or dependent)
describe antisocial personality disorder
extreme callous disregard for feelings and rights of others
what are characteristics of antisocial personality disorder?
impulsive, dishonest, lack empathy, reckless, self-centered, willing to cause harm for their benefit
describe borderline personality disorder
severe instability in emotions and self-concept, high volatility levels
what are some characteristics of borderline personality disorder?
impulsive, unstable relationships, mood swings, self-harm
