Chapter 15 - Psychological Disorders Flashcards
psychological disorder
- a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition or behavior
- reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes
psychopathology
the study of psychological disorders, including their symptoms
etiology
the causes of psychological disorders
atypical
deviate from the norm, and could signify the presence of a psychological disorder
harmful dysfunction
- dysfunction occurs when internal mechanism breaks down and can no longer perform normally
- is only part of a disorder if it harms others or individual
significant disturbances in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- must experience inner states and exhibit behaviors that are clearly disturbed
- troubling to those around individual and individual
- part of the harmful dysfunction model made by the APA
disturbances reflect some kind of biological, psychological, or developmental dysfunction
- patterns of behavior reflect some flaw (dysfunction) in the internal biological, psychological, and developmental mechanisms
- part of the harmful dysfunction model made by the APA
disturbances lead to significant distress or disability in one’s life
- if they cause the person considerable distress, or greatly impair their ability to function as a normal individual
- part of the harmful dysfunction model made by the APA
disturbances do not reflect expected or culturally approved responses to certain events
- must be socially unacceptable responses to certain events that often happen in life
- part of the harmful dysfunction model made by the APA
diagnosis
appropriately identifying and labeling a set of defined symptoms
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
- classifies psychological disorders, written by American Psychiatric Association
- Each disorder is described in detail, overview of the disorder specific symptoms required for diagnosis, prevalence information
comorbidity
the co-occurrence of two disorders (having multiple disorders)
International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
- classification system for diagnosis, published by WHO
- used for clinical purposes
- also used to examine the general health of populations and to monitor the prevalence of diseases and other health problems internationally
- ICD is used for clinical diagnosis, DSM is for research
supernatural
- attributed to a force beyond scientific understanding
- mental illness was explained by devilish forces
diathesis-stress model
- integrates biological and psychosocial factors (environment) to predict the likelihood of a disorder
- suggests that people with an underlying predisposition for a disorder (i.e., a diathesis) are more likely to develop a disorder when faced with adverse environmental or psychological events
anxiety disorders
- characterized by excessive and persistent fear and anxiety, and by related disturbances in behavior
specific phobia
- experiences excessive, distressing, and persistent fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation
- people realize their level of fear and anxiety is irrational, some people with a specific phobia may go to great lengths to avoid the stimulus
agoraphobia
- a separate anxiety disorder
- characterized by intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance of situations in which it might be difficult to escape or receive help if one experiences symptoms of a panic attack (eg. crowds, public spaces)
social anxiety
characterized by extreme and persistent fear or anxiety and avoidance of social situations in which the person could potentially be evaluated negatively by others
safety behaviors
- mental or behavioral acts that reduce anxiety in social situations by reducing the chance of negative social outcomes
- e.g. avoiding drawing attention to yourself
panic disorder
- experience recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, with at least one month of persistent concern about additional panic attacks
- worry over the consequences of the attacks, or self-defeating changes in behavior related to attacks
locus coeruleus
- Activation of the locus coeruleus is associated with anxiety and fear
- brains major source of norepinephrine
- theory that it helps cause panic disorder
generalized anxiety disorder
- a relatively continuous state of excessive, uncontrollable, and pointless worry and apprehension
- symptoms: restlessness, difficulty concentrating, being easily fatigued, muscle tension, irritability, and sleep difficulties
Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
a group of overlapping disorders that generally involve intrusive, unpleasant thoughts and repetitive behaviors
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- experience thoughts that are intrusive and unwanted (obsessions) and need to engage in repetitive behaviors (compulsions)
- person knows that such thoughts are irrational, but hard to suppress
- acts that are carried out as means to minimize distress
body dysmorphic disorder
- preoccupied with a perceived flaw in physical appearance that is either nonexistent or barely noticeable to other people
- drives the person to engage in repetitive and ritualistic behavioral and mental acts
hoarding disorder
- cannot bear to part with personal possessions, regardless of how valueless or useless these possessions are
- accumulate excessive amounts of usually worthless items that clutter their living areas
orbitofrontal cortex
- brain region that is believed to play a critical role in OCD
- area of the frontal lobe involved in learning and decision-making
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- must be exposed to, witness, or experience the details of a traumatic experience
- PTSD include intrusive and distressing memories of the event, flashbacks, avoidance of stimuli connected to the event
flashbacks
states that can last from a few seconds to several days, during which the individual relives the event and behaves as if the event were occurring at that moment
mood disorders
- characterized by severe disturbances in mood and emotion most often depression, but also mania and elation
- fluctuations are extreme, distort their outlook on life, and impair their ability to function
depressive disorders
- a group of disorders in which depression is the main feature
- broad spectrum of disorders, lose interest in activities, feel sad, hopeless, discouraged
bipolar and related disorders
a group of disorders in which mania is the defining feature
mania
- is a state of extreme elation and agitation
- may become extremely talkative, behave recklessly, or attempt to take on many tasks simultaneously.
major depressive disorder
- feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or appearing tearful to others
- no longer show interest or enjoyment in activities that previously were gratifying, such as hobbies
- depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
suicidal ideation
when you think about, consider or feel preoccupied with the idea of death and suicide
seasonal pattern
situations in which a person experiences the symptoms of major depressive disorder only during a particular time of year
peripartum onset (postpartum depression)
childbearers who experience major depression during pregnancy or in the four weeks following the birth of their child
persistent depressive disorder
experience depressed moods most of the day nearly every day for at least two years, as well as at least two of the other symptoms of major depressive disorder
bipolar disorder
- experiences mood states that vacillate between depression and mania
- person’s mood is said to alternate from one emotional extreme to the other
manic episode
characterized as a “distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and abnormally
flight of ideas
abruptly switching from one topic to another
hopelessness theory
- that a particular style of negative thinking leads to a sense of hopelessness, which then leads to depression
- cognitive look/theory of depression
rumination
- repetitive focus on the fact that one is depressed and dwelling on symptoms, rather than attempting to address them in an active manner
- cognitive theory on origin of depression
suicide
- death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with any intent to die as the result of the behavior
- almost always diagnosed w/disorder, especially a mood disorder
schizophrenia
- a psychological disorder that is characterized by major disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior
- the person’s thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors are impaired to the point where they are not able to function normally in life
hallucinations
- a perceptual experience that occurs in the absence of external stimulation
- e.g. hearing voices
delusions
- beliefs that are contrary to reality and are firmly held even in the face of contradictory evidence
- e.g. an assassin is after you
paranoid delusions
- involve the (false) belief that other people or agencies are plotting to harm the person
- can happen with someone that has schizophrenia
grandiose delusions
- beliefs that one holds special power, unique knowledge, or is extremely important
- e.g. believing you’re god
- can happen with someone that has schizophrenia
somatic delusion
- the belief that something highly abnormal is happening to one’s body
- can happen with someone that has schizophrenia
disorganized thinking
- disjointed and incoherent thought processes, usually detected by what a person says
- common symptom of schizophrenia
disorganized or abnormal motor behavior
- unusual behaviors and movements: becoming unusually active, exhibiting silly child-like behaviors engaging in repeated movements
- common symptom of schizophrenia
catatonic behaviors
- show decreased reactivity to the environment
- common symptom of schizophrenia
negative symptoms
- those that reflect noticeable decreases and absences in certain behaviors, emotions, or drives
- ex. showing less emotion, withdrawing from society
- common symptom of schizophrenia
hypothesis for schizophrenia
proposed that an overabundance of dopamine or too many dopamine receptors are responsible for the onset and maintenance of schizophrenia
ventricles
- cavities within the brain that contain cerebral spinal fluid
- people w/schizophrenia have enlarged ventricles, means brain tissue is lost, harder to function cognitively
prodromal symptoms
- identifying people who show minor symptoms of psychosis, such as unusual thought content, delusions etc.
- new development, hope to help reduce/cure schizophrenia w/this approach
behavioral inhibition
- characterized by a consistent tendency to show fear and restraint when presented with unfamiliar people or situations
- makes people more likely to develop anxieties/phobias
panic attack
- defined as a period of extreme fear or discomfort that develops abruptly and reaches a peak within 10 minutes
- symptoms include accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling, choking sensations, hot flashes or chills, dizziness or lightheadedness, fears of losing control or going crazy, and fears of dying
learning and then developing disorders
idea that disorders can be developed through learning, either through personal experience or by seeing others fear something
Biological Basis of Mood and Bipolar Disorders
- depressed people are more likely to react to negative stimuli, and can’t control it as well
- amygdala reacts more, greater cortisol levels
genetic backing for schizophrenia
- studies show schizophrenia is likely genetic, but still is influenced by environmental factors
- ex. ppl with schizo genetics and raised in poor environment most likely to develop it
dissociative disorders
characterized by an individual becoming split off, or dissociated, from their core sense of self
dissociative amnesia
- to the partial or total forgetting of some experience or event
- unable to recall important personal information, usually following an extremely stressful or traumatic experience
- validity of this disorder is questioned, possibly underdiagnosed
dissociative fugue
- when someone wanders away from their home, experience confusion about their identity, and sometimes even adopt a new identity
- usually only happens for a few hours/days
depersonalization/derealization disorder
- characterized by recurring episodes of depersonalization, derealization, or both
- may feel feelings aren’t own, have out of body experience, feel like in a dream
dissociative identity disorder / multiple personality disorder
- exhibit two or more separate personality states, each distinct from one another in behavior
- may start as a coping mechanism from childhood trauma
- controversial disorder, thought to be over diagnosed by therapists
neurodevelopmental disorders
- conditions that, when present, are diagnosed early in childhood
- they involve developmental problems in personal, social, academic, and intellectual functioning
attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- shows a constant pattern of inattention and/or hyperactive and impulsive behavior that interferes with normal functioning
- can’t sit still, disorganization, avoidance of tasks w/sustained attention, etc.
autism spectrum disorder
characterized mainly by an inability to form close emotional ties with others, speech and language abnormalities, repetitive behaviors, and an intolerance of minor changes in the environment
personality disorders
exhibit a personality style that differs markedly from the expectations of their culture, is pervasive and inflexible, and causes distress or impairment
borderline personality disorder
- characterized chiefly by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood, as well as marked impulsivity
- relationships are intense and unstable, cannot tolerate the thought of being alone
antisocial personality disorder
- shows no regard at all for other people’s rights or feelings
- think that they should use whatever means necessary to get by in life
causes of autism spectrum disorder
- thought to be genetic
- not related to vaccinations in any way (idea came from study who falsified data)
defining abnormal
- can be explained biologically, socioculturally, or cognitive
- its inextricably attached to cultural norms, expectations and laws
Thomas Szazs, MD
- Wrote the Myth of Mental Illness
- Argued that the mental disorder classification system is an attempt by society to control those who are different
- Vehemently criticized the system of involuntary commitment
- Criticized medical model as turning people into passive “patients” instead of active controllers of their own lives
adv/disadvantages of DSM-5
adv: can be a useful tool for diagnosis and treatment, provides structure for research/insurance
dis: number of disorder increases w/each edition, gives illusion of objectivity, people may live up to labels
obsessions
- repetitive, persistent thoughts
- part of OCD
compulsions
- repetitive, ritualized behaviors designed to decrease anxiety
- part of OCD
Theories of where depression comes from
- biological (genetics and brain chem)
- social (people’s circumstances)
- attachment (problems w/close relationships)
- cognitive (ways of interpreting events/thinking)
narcissistic personality disorder
A disorder characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-importance and self-absorption
paranoid personality disorder
A disorder characterized by habitually unreasonable and excessive suspiciousness and jealousy
Sociocogntive explanation of dissociative personality disorder
Disorder is not an actual fragmenting of the identity or multiple personalities, but is simply an extreme manifestation of the different roles we all hold
positive symptoms
- part of schizophrenia
- something abnormal is present
- ex. delusions, hallucinations, incoherent speech, inappropriate behavior
synaptic pruning
- a natural process that occurs in the brain to remove unnecessary connections between neurons and maintain efficient brain function
- can trigger early schizophrenia episodes in adolescence
glutamate
- major excitatory neurotransmitter
- may be tied to theory of schizophrenia
biological treatment
-involve use of drugs, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), brian surgery or other models that affect brain or body chemistry
-can be effective, because most disorders have a biological basis
off-label prescription
- drug not approved by FDA
-Side effects may be feel worse than the disorder symptoms
-especially bad with Lithium and antipsychotics, leading to high relapse and dropout rates
tardive dyskinesia
- can be long term effect of off-label prescription
- a chronic condition that causes involuntary, repetitive movements in the body
concerns of biological treatment
- Some effects overstated due to publication bias
- Is there a placebo effect?
