Chapter 7: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

Biomedical Approach

Answer 1

Takes into account only the physical and medical causes of a psychological disorder. Thus, treatments in this approach are of a biomedical nature.

Question 2

Biopsychosocial Approach

Answer 2

Considers the relative contributions of biological, psychological, and social components to an individual’s disorder. Treatments also fall into these three arenas.

Question 3

What is the most common psychological disorder in women?

Answer 3

Anxiety Disorder

Question 4

What is the most common psychological disorder in men?

Answer 4

Substance Abuse

Question 5

Schizophrenia

Answer 5

Schizophrenia is the prototypical disorder with psychosis as a feature. It contains positive and negative symptoms.

Positive symptoms add something to behavior, cognition, or affect, and include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and disorganized behavior.

Negative symptoms are the loss or absence of normal and desired behaviors.

Question 6

Delusions

Answer 6

Delusions are false beliefs discordant with reality and not shared by others in the individual’s culture that are maintained in spite of strong evidence to the contrary.

Question 7

Delusions of Reference

Answer 7

Involve the belief that common elements in the environment are directed toward the individual.

For example, a person with a delusion of reference may believe that characters in a TV show are talking to him directly.

Question 8

Delusions of Persecution

Answer 8

Involve the belief that the person is being deliberately interfered with, discriminated against, plotted against, or threatened.

Question 9

Delusions of Grandeur

Answer 9

Also common in bipolar I disorder, involve the belief that the person is remarkable in some significant way, such as being an inventor, historical figure, or religious icon.

Question 10

Thought Broadcasting

Answer 10

The belief that one’s thoughts are broadcast directly from one’s head to the external world.

Question 11

Thought Insertion

Answer 11

The belief that thoughts are being placed in one’s head.

Question 12

Hallucinations

Answer 12

Perceptions that are not due to external stimuli but have a compelling sense of reality.

The most common form of hallucination is auditory, involving voices that the individual perceives as coming from inside or outside his or her head.

Question 13

Catatonia

Answer 13

Refers to certain motor behaviors characteristic of some people with schizophrenia. The patient’s spontaneous movement and activity may be greatly reduced or the patient may maintain a rigid posture, refusing to be moved.

At the other extreme, catatonic behavior may include useless and bizarre movements not caused by any external stimuli, echolalia (repeating another’s words), or echopraxia (imitating another’s actions).

Question 14

Downward Drift Hypothesis

Answer 14

States that schizophrenia causes a decline in socioeconomic status, leading to worsening symptoms, which sets up a negative spiral for the patient toward poverty and psychosis. This is why rates of schizophrenia are much, much higher among the homeless and indigent poor.

Question 15

Prodromal Phase

Answer 15

Phase that is characterized by poor adjustment. The prodromal phase is exemplified by clear evidence of deterioration, social withdrawal, role functioning impairment, peculiar behavior, inappropriate affect, and unusual experiences.

Question 16

Depressive Disorders

Answer 16

Major depressive disorder contains at least one major depressive episode.

Pervasive depressive disorder is depressed for at least two years that does not meet criteria for major depressive disorder.

Seasonal affective disorder is the colloquial name for major depressive disorder with seasonal onset, with depression occurring during winter months. (often treated with bright light therapy)

Question 17

Bipolar and Related Disorders

Answer 17

Bipolar I disorder contains at least one manic episode.

Bipolar II disorder contains at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode.

Cyclothymic disorder contains hypomanic (typically does not significantly impair functioning, nor are there psychotic feature) episodes with dysthymia(mild depression).

Question 18

Anxiety Disorders

Answer 18

Generalized anxiety disorder is a disproportionate and persistent worry about many different things for at least six months.

Specific phobias are irrational fears of specific objects or situations.

Social anxiety disorder is anxiety due to social or performance situations.

Agoraphobia is a fear of places or situations where it is hard for an individual to escape.

Panic disorder is marked by recurrent panic attacks: intense, overwhelming fear and sympathetic nervous system activity with no clear stimulus. It may lead to agoraphobia.

Question 19

Obsessive–compulsive Disorder

Answer 19

Characterized by obsessions (persistent, intrusive thoughts and impulses) and compulsions (repetitive tasks that relieve tension but cause significant impairment in a person’s life).

Question 20

Body dysmorphic disorder

Answer 20

Characterized by an unrealistic negative evaluation of one’s appearance or a specific body part. The individual often takes extreme measures to correct the perceived imperfection.

Question 21

Dissociative Disorders

Answer 21

Dissociative amnesia is an inability to recall past experience without an underlying neurological disorder. In severe forms, it may involve dissociative fugue, a sudden change in location that may involve the assumption of a new identity.

Dissociative identity disorder is the occurrence of two or more personalities that take control of a person’s behavior.

Depersonalization/derealization disorder involves feelings of detachment from the mind and body, or from the environment.

Question 22

Somatic symptom and related disorders

Answer 22

Somatic symptom disorder involves at least one somatic symptom, which may or may not be linked to an underlying medical condition, that causes disproportionate concern.

Illness anxiety disorder is a preoccupation with thoughts about having, or coming down with, a serious medical condition.

Conversion disorder involves unexplained symptoms affecting motor or sensory function and is associated with prior trauma.

Question 23

Personality disorders (PD)

Answer 23

Personality disorders (PD) are patterns of inflexible, maladaptive behavior that cause distress or impaired functioning in at least two of the following: cognition, emotions, interpersonal functioning, or impulse control.

They occur in three clusters: A (odd, eccentric, “weird”), B (dramatic, emotional, erratic, “wild”), and C (anxious, fearful, “worried”).

Question 24

“Paranoid PD

Answer 24

Involves a pervasive mistrust and suspicion of others.

Question 25

Schizotypal PD

Answer 25

Involves ideas of reference, magical thinking, and eccentricity.

Question 26

Schizoid PD

Answer 26

Involves detachment from social relationships and limited emotion.

Question 27

Antisocial PD

Answer 27

Involves a disregard for the rights of others.

Question 28

Borderline PD

Answer 28

Involves instability in relationships, mood, and self-image. Splitting is characteristic, as are recurrent suicide attempts.

Question 29

Histrionic PD

Answer 29

Involves constant attention-seeking behavior.

Question 30

Narcissistic PD

Answer 30

Involves a grandiose sense of self-importance and need for admiration.

Question 31

Avoidant PD

Answer 31

Involves extreme shyness and fear of rejection.

Question 32

Dependent PD

Answer 32

Involves a continuous need for reassurance.

Question 33

Obsessive–compulsive PD

Answer 33

Involves perfectionism, inflexibility, and preoccupation with rules.

Question 34

What are some factors that may be associated with schizophrenia?

Answer 34

Schizophrenia may be associated with genetic factors, birth trauma, adolescent marijuana use, and family history. There are high levels of dopaminergic transmission.

Question 35

Depression is often accompanied with what biological factors?

Answer 35

Depression is accompanied by high levels of glucocorticoids and low levels of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine.

Question 36

Bipolar disorders are often accompanied with what biological factors?

Answer 36

Bipolar disorders are accompanied by high levels of norepinephrine and serotonin. They are also highly heritable.

Question 37

Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 37

Decreased acetylcholine and brain atrophy.

Question 38

Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 38

Decreased production of dopamine. Associated with resting tremor, pill-rolling tremor, masklike facies, cogwheel rigidity, and a shuffling gait.

Question 39

Monoamine or Catecholamine Theory of Depression

Answer 39

This theory holds that too much norepinephrine and serotonin in the synapse leads to mania, while too little leads to depression.