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PSYCH > DISORDERS & TREATMENT > Flashcards

DISORDERS & TREATMENT Flashcards

1
Q

What are different ways to define ‘disorder’?

A

Statistical abnormality
Deviation from ‘ideal’ behavior
Abnormal behavior as distressing & harmful to self & others

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2
Q

What are the two main systems used for diagnosing disorders?

A

DSM & ICD

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3
Q

Why are personality disorders not diagnosed in children?

A

Because their personalities are not fully developed until they are adults

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4
Q

What are the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? Why is it considered a ‘wide spectrum’ disorder?

A

Impairment in: social ability & interpretation of social situations, communication skills & language delays, sometimes cognitive impairments, theory of mind

Repetitive behavior & stimming

Sensitivity to environmental stimuli

Desire for routine

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5
Q

What is savantism?

A

Remarkable abilities in a narrow area - art, memory, arithmetic, music, spatial skills

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6
Q

What are causal factors for ASD?

A

Primarily biological, parental age, differences in brain structure

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7
Q

What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and how is it used in the treatment of autism?

A

Based on operant conditioning
Behavior continuously & immediately reinforced
Intensive therapy - min of 40 hours per week

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8
Q

What are the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

A

Restless, impulsive, inattentive

Difficulty in following instructions, maintaining attention on tasks, maintaining friendships

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9
Q

What are causal factors for ADHD?

A

Biological

Impairment in the connection between frontal lobes & the limbic system

Lead contamination, low birth rate, parental exposure to alcohol & tobacco

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10
Q

Why are stimulant medications used to treat ADHD?

A

Underactivity in frontal lobes controlling impulsivity

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11
Q

What are some behavioral therapies for ADHD?

A

Treatment using operant conditioning
Parent training
Classroom management

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12
Q

What are the main components of the diathesis-stress model? How can this model help us to understand causal factors for many disorders?

A

General framework for understanding causes of disorders

Diathesis - predisposing factors (genetics, personality traits, environment, early & prolonged stressors)

Stress - precipitating or triggering factors (stressful major life events associated w/ the onset of psychopathological symptoms in adulthood

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13
Q

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A

Excessive anxiety & worry more days than not for 6 months

restlessness/feeling keyed up or on edge, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance

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14
Q

Panic Disorder

A

Sudden occurrence of multiple physiological symptoms that contribute to a feeling of stark terror → panic attacks

Agoraphobia - an extreme fear of venturing into public or open spaces

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15
Q

Phobic Disorders

A

Excessive fear of an object or situation

Social anxiety - fear of being scrutinized & criticized by others, meeting new people, public speaking

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16
Q

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A

Obsessions - repetitive, intrusive thoughts

Compulsions - ritualistic behaviors designed to fend off obsessions

Obsessions → anxiety → compulsions → relief → obsessions

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17
Q

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A

Occurs after traumatic event
Hypervigilance
Avoidance of stimuli associated w/ the trauma
Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, nightmares

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18
Q

What are causal factors for OCD?

A

Dysfunctions in caudate nucleus of basal ganglia; involved in impulse suppression

Low serotonin

Strep infection as a young child

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19
Q

What is cognitive therapy? Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?

A

Cognitive therapy - helping a client identify & correct distorted thinking about self, others, or the world

Cognitive-behavioral therapy - a blend of cognitive & behavioral; therapeutic strategies

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20
Q

What is systematic desensitization, and how is it used to treat anxiety disorders such as phobias?

A

Change conditioned response to anxiety-producing stimulus using classical counterconditioning

21
Q

What are some effective medications for anxiety disorders?

A

Increase GABA (agonists), SSRIs help w/ social phobia

22
Q

What is most effective for treatment of anxiety disorders: medication, psychotherapy, or both?

A

Cognitive & behavioral methods are treatments of choice

23
Q

What are the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD)?

A

Diminished interest or pleasure
Significant weight gain or loss
Sleeping a lot or not at all
Diminished ability to think & make decisions

24
Q

What is dysthymia, and how is it different from MDD?

A

‘Low grade’ depression for 2+ years
Low self esteem
Poor concentration

25
Q

What are the differences between Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorders?

A

Bipolar I - history of manic & depressive episodes

Bipolar II - history of hypomanic & major depressive episodes

26
Q

What occurs during a manic episode? A hypomanic episode?

A

Manic episode - distinct period of abnormally & persistently elevated, expansive, &/or irritable mood

Hypomanic - restless & energized, not as prone to the gloom following mania

27
Q

What is cyclothymic disorder?

A

Chronic symptoms of hypomania & depression that aren’t as severe as the symptoms required for a diagnosis of major depression or bipolar disorder

28
Q

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

A

Type of depression that is related to changes in seasons and begins and ends at about the same times every year

29
Q

What are causal factors for mood disorders?

A

Heritability 33-45%, depression related to diminished activity in left prefrontal cortex & increased activity in right prefrontal cortex

Negative reactions to depressed persons can produce rejection & isolation

Helplessness theory - automatically attribute negative experiences to causes that are
Internal - dispositional
Stable - persistent & consistent problem
Global - applies to all areas of life

30
Q

What are the differences between the psychoanalytic, humanistic, and behavioral approaches in the treatment of mood disorders?

A

Psychoanalysis - make unconscious conscious, expand ego’s control, more therapist driven

Humanistic - person centered therapy, reflection (unconditional positive regard)

Behavioral - change depressive thought patterns
Learned optimism

31
Q

What are the main components of Seligman’s ABCDE treatment model?

A

Adversity - what was a negative event?
Beliefs - what did you think?
Consequences - what did those beliefs cause?
Dispute distorted beliefs & argue w/ yourself
Evaluate - what happens if you dispute, change your thoughts?

32
Q

What are the primary medications used to treat mood disorders? How do they affect neurotransmitters?

A

Antidepressants, SSRIs, MAOIs

33
Q

How effective is psychotherapy for mood disorder treatment?

A

CBT shows far greater efficacy in reducing relapse than medications alone

34
Q

What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and what is it used for?

A

Used in extreme cases of depression when person not responding to other treatment

Increase in responsiveness to dopamine & norepinephrine

35
Q

What are the five defining characteristics of personality disorders?

A

Deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture
Is pervasive & inflexible
Has an onset in adolescence or early adulthood
Is stable over time
Leads to either significant personal distress or impairment in social-occupational role functioning

36
Q

What are the primary symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

A

Pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, & lack of empathy

37
Q

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)

A

Pervasive pattern of disregard for & violation of rights of others
Law violations, deceit, impulsive & aggressive, lack of remorse

38
Q

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

A

Unstable moods & anger outbursts, unstable sense of self, suicide threats to get attention & manipulate

39
Q

What is the difference between ASPD and psychopathy? What are the defining characteristics of psychopathy?

A

Psychopathy viewed as more severe & violent

Charming & manipulative, narcissistic, pathological liar, no remorse or empathy

40
Q

How effective is treatment for personality disorders?

A

Medications do not specifically target personality disorder but can help related symptoms

Difficult to treat because person often thinks there’s nothing wrong

41
Q

What is psychosis? Why is schizophrenia different from other disorders?

A

Losing touch w/ reality

Other disorders non-psychotic

42
Q

What is the difference between a delusion and a hallucination?

A

Delusion - a patently false belief system, often bizarre & grandiose, that is maintained in spite of its irrationality

Hallucinations - a false perceptual experience that has a compelling sense of being real despite the absence of external stimulation

43
Q

What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

A

Delusions, hallucinations, loose associations, disorganized & inappropriate behavior
Isolation, withdrawal, apathy, blunted emotional expression

44
Q

What is the difference between positive and negative symptoms?

A

Positive - excess in functioning
Negative - deficits in functioning

45
Q

What are some examples of specific types of delusions?

A

Formal thought disorder - incoherent speech
Disorder of thought content - delusions, may not be incoherent

46
Q

What are the different subtypes of schizophrenia?

A

Paranoid - 1 or more delusions or frequent auditory hallucinations

Catatonic - alternating periods of extreme excitement & withdrawal

Disorganized - speech & behavior, inappropriate affect

Undifferentiated - everything else, may be delusional but not paranoid, organized delusion, may hallucinate

Residual - not prominent delusions, hallucinations, formal thought disorder, or catatonic behaviors

47
Q

What are causal factors for schizophrenia?

A

Excess dopamine, stress, damage to hippocampus due to childhood viral infection (?)

48
Q

How do medications for schizophrenia affect neurotransmitters?

A

Antipsychotics are dopamine antagonists

49
Q

How effective are medications for treatment of schizophrenia? Psychotherapy?

A

May manage well but usually does not fully eradicate delusional thinking, psychotherapy improves functioning vs. medication alone

PSYCH (13 decks)

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