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Abnormal Psych > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

According to Thomas Szasz, a person who is experiencing emotional and behavioral changes such as sadness, social withdrawal, and difficulty sleeping could be viewed as having a diagnosable condition only when…
A. the problem is caused by a physical disease process in the body
B. the problem causes impaired functioning in life
C. the problem deviates from norms
D. the problem is caused by psychological factors

A

A. the problem is caused by a physical disease process in the body

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2
Q

Antoine has become increasingly focused on an intense worry that he will become ill with Ebola virus after hearing about an outbreak in another country. He spends several hours per day showering and cleaning surfaces in his home and car. His lengthy cleaning routines also occur at work, and sometimes interfere with him meeting deadlines. Antoine frequently texts family members at any possible sign of illness to seek reassurance that he is not sick, and becomes panicked if he does not hear back from them quickly. The description provides evidence that Antoine’s case is consistent with:
Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, and/or Dangerousness

A

Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction

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3
Q

We learned about statistical analyses used to interpret research findings this week in class. Apply your knowledge to answer the following question: A researcher finds a relationship between severity of depression symptoms and daily cell phone screen time in teens, with a correlation coefficient of -.5. What does the coefficient indicate about the relationship between cell phone screen time and depression?
A. As teens use their phones more, depression worsened, and the relationship was moderately-strong.
B. As teens use their phones less, depression worsened and the relationship was moderately-strong.
C.
Increased screen time caused worsening of depression symptoms in teens and the relationship was moderately-strong.
D.
Increased screen time use caused worsening of depression symptoms in teens and the relationship was weak.

A

B. As teens use their phones less, depression worsened and the relationship was moderately-strong.

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4
Q

Dr. Taylor’s approach to the treatment of depression is focused on identifying errors in her clients’ thinking that make them feel sad and hopeless. Her method is most consistent with which theoretical approach discussed in Chapter 3?
A. Cognitive
B. Humanistic
C. Psychodynamic
D. Behavioral

A

Cognitive

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5
Q

What are the 4 components of psychopathology?

A

Deviance
Distress
Dysfunction (maladaptive behavior)
Dangerousness

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6
Q

What is deviance?

A

Vary from the norms/what is statistically common or typical

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7
Q

Potential problems with Deviance

A

Norms change over time
Norms differ between cultures
Norm violation is common among social reformers

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8
Q

What is Distress?

A

Subjective sense of significant psychological suffering caused by certain thoughts, feelings, or behaviors
Strong psychological discomfort/disorder

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9
Q

Potential problems with distress

A

Distress is not always disordered (grief, guilt)
Some abnormal behavior does not cause distress

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10
Q

What is dysfunction?

A

Interference with daily functioning
Behavior or thinking that is not adaptive

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11
Q

Problems with dysfunction

A

Does not always indicate psychological abnormality (social reformer)
Dysfunction is subjective

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12
Q

What is dangerousness?

A

Behavior that may cause harm to self or others (suicidal thoughts, self-harm, violent actions)

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13
Q

Problems with dangerousness

A

Is the exception, not the rule.
Is it always a symptom of mental illness?

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14
Q

What were Benjamin Rush and Dorothea Dix known for?

A

Establishment of mental hospitals in 19th century

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15
Q

What is research?

A

Systematic search for facts though the use of careful observations and investigations

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16
Q

What was facilitated communication?

A

Communication technique for Autistic people made popular in the U.S in the early 1990s by Douglas Bicklen

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17
Q

What was the issue with facilitated communication?

A

Autistic people were not freely communicating, therapists were found to be controlling what was said (purposely or not)

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18
Q

Why is research important?

A

Logic can fail us
One or two observations does not mean its a universal truth
Many variables could relate to the phenomena we are observing

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19
Q

3 research designs

A

Case Study
Correlational Method
Experiment

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20
Q

What is a Case study?

A

Investigation of a single individual or case

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21
Q

Advantages to case study

A

Source of new ideas about cause/treatment for symptoms
May offer support to a theory
A way of studying rare phenomena

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22
Q

Disadvantages to case study

A

Subjective observations and conclusions
Has low internal validity (Extent that all possible causes ruled out except hypothesis interest)
Has low external validity (Extent to which you can apply results to other people)

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23
Q

What is the correlational method?

A

Identifies the relationship between variables by designing a study that involves multiple participants, No manipulation involved

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24
Q

Correlation

A

Degree to which events/characteristics vary together (direction + strength)

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25
Correlation Coefficient
Statistical measure of relationship between 2 variables + means variables increase/decrease together - means as one variable increases, the other decreases
26
Advantages to correlational method
High external validitiy b/c of large population Easily replicated for confirmation
27
Disadvantages of correlational method
Correlation never proves causation Lacks internal validity (describes but doesn't explain relationship between variables)
28
Why does correlation not imply causation?
Correlational studies do not eliminate confounds, or variables other than the one of interest that might explain the findings
29
What is a experiment?
A research procedure in which a variable is manipulated and the effect on the other variable is observed/measured. Allow conclusion about cause and effect because they include manipulation, control, and random assignment.
30
Advantage of experiments
Good internal validity (can draw conclusions about cause and effect)
31
Disadvantages of experiments
Often lack external validity or "real world" applicability Can't always conduct experiments for ethical or practical reasons
32
What is a model?
Basic assumptions researchers and clinicians make regarding what causes psychopathology Usually focus on one aspect of the person
33
Biological model
Medical perspective Psychological abnormality is the result of physiological malfunction (brain abnormalities, Biochemical problems, genetics, endocrine abnormalities)
34
Diathesis-Stress Model
theory that explains how a combination of genetics and environmental factors can cause mental health conditions
35
Biological Perspective treatments
Drug therapy (antidepressant, mood stabilizers) Electroconvulsive Therapy (Depression) Psychosurgery
36
Psychodynamic Model
First psychological theory of abnormal behavior (Freud and psychoanalysis) Assumes that the motives for our behavior are determined by the interplay of unconscious, dynamic aspects of the personality
37
Freud's notion of dynamic personality
Id, Ego, Superego
38
What is the Id?
Pleasure principle
39
What is the Ego?
Reality Principle
40
What is the superego?
Morality Principle
41
Psychodynamic Defense Mechanisms
Ways in which the ego distorts reality to protect the self from anxiety
42
What is repression?
Motivated "not wanting to know" in which some ideas are pushed into the unconscious
43
Rationalization
Excuses to justify undesired behavior or feelings
44
Displacement
Divert feelings away from the real object
45
Projection
Attribute to someone else
46
Denial
Actively reject
47
Goal of Psychodynamic Model Treatment
Make the unconscious conscious Client understanding symptoms Reduces defenses against emotion (increase emotional tolerance)
48
Psychodynamic Model Treatment techniques
Free association Noticing themes in problematic aspects of the persons functioning (transference, dreams, fantasies)
49
Transference
When someone unconsciously projects old feelings onto someone else in the present
50
Modern Psychodynamic theory
Focus is broader than sexual and aggressive drives Greater focus on relationships Shorter duration/frequency
51
Behavioral Model
Views abnormal behavior as the result of our environment (learning history) Entirely focused on behavior or what can be objectively observed and measured
52
3 key principles of learning
How we learn abnormal behavior Association Consequences Observation
53
Classical conditioning
Learning by association Stimulus comes to produce a given response because it has become associated with another stimulus that already produced that response
54
Stimulus
Something in the environment
55
Response
Behavior of the organism
56
Operant conditioning
Learning through consequences Behavior leads to consequence that either increases or decreases that behavior
57
Reinforcements
Increase likelihood of behavior Give reward or take aware aversive stimulus
58
Punishment
Decrease likelihood of behavior Remove desired thing or add aversive stimulus
59
Modeling
Learning through observation Observe responses and their consequences for others, and then imitate those responses (more of a cognitive process)
60
Behavior Model Therapy
Therapy as a place for new learning Identify problematic behaviors and replace with more adaptive ones Therapist as "teacher" not "healer" ex. systematic desensitization for phobias
61
Cognitive Model
Understands abnormal behavior as resulting from faulty cognitive processes (thinking) Internal focus: thoughts, attitudes, assumptions, interpretations, perceptions Illogical thinking creates misery
62
Cognitive Model Therapy
Teaches logical thinking to reduce unnecessary emotional pain Therapists help clients identify and modify irrational beliefs
63
Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy focuses on cognitive distortions, what are these?
Types of errors in thinking about self, world, a future
64
All-or-nothing error
No gray area
65
Catastrophizing
unrealistically expecting the worst
66
Magnification/minimization
Making a mountain out of a mole hill
67
Personalization
Assume too much responsibility
68
Overgeneralization
Negative thoughts applied too broadly
69
Mental Filtering
Ignoring positive events and focusing only on negative events
70
Mind reading
Presuming to know what others think
71
Humanism - Carl Rogers
View people as inherently driven toward growth, constructive relationships, and self-actualization (reaching one’s unique potential) Mental health issues arise when one’s natural path toward personal growth is interrupted
72
Humanistic model
Unconditional positive regard Genuineness Conditions of Worth
73
Humanistic model therapy
Client directs therapy Goal: create a climate that promotes growth Unconditional positive regard, empathy, genuineness/congruence
74
Clinical assessment
Collection, organization, and interpretation of information about a person and his or her situation to draw conclusions Idiographic What and Why of symptoms
75
Tools of clinical assessment
Clinical interview Psychological tests Observations
76
2 Main purposes of a clinical assessment
Description: render an accurate portrait Prediction: Predict future behavior based on present functioning
77
Characteristics of assessments
Standardization Reliability Validity
78
Descriptive validity
Degree to which an assessment device provides significant information about the current behavior of the people being assessed
79
Predictive validity
Degree to which an assessment accurately answers questions about cause, future behavior, prognosis, and treatment
80
Clinical interview
Face to face conversation between client and clinician Most common tool Structured and unstructured
81
Observations
Behavior observations during interview Appearance, mood, thought process, orientation, speech, motor behavior, openness, motivation, social skills…
82
Naturalistic observations
Observe someone in their daily activities Often used with families and children
83
Psychological tests
A standard procedure in which a person is presented with stimuli and asked to respond
84
Wechsler Scales and Stanford-Binet Test
Verbal comprehension (vocabulary, similarities) Perceptual reading (block design) Working memory (Repeated series, arithmetic) Processing speed (Symbol search)
85
Neuropsychological testing
Detects brain impairment by measuring a person’s cognitive, perceptual, and motor performances
86
Bender-Gestalt test
Redraw shapes
87
Panic Disorder
Recurrent, uncredited panic attacks, followed by psychological or behavioral problems Symptoms: palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, fear of losing control, fear of dying
88
Agoraphobia
Fear of situations where they may feel trapped or unable to get help Ex. Public transportation, leaving the house alone, being in a crowded area, shopping centers
89
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Chronic state of diffuse anxiety Worry about several life areas Symptoms: poor sleep, irritability, difficulty concentration, muscle tension
90
Panic disorder DSM-5 Diagnostic criteria
1. Recurrent unexpected attacks 2. At least one panic attack must be followed by >1 month of persistent concern of additional panic attacks AND/OR a significant maladaptive change in behavior related to the attacks 3. Disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition 4. The disturbance is not better explained by another mental health disorder
91
Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder
Avoidance of certain actions in front of other people, for fear of embarrassment or humiliation
92
Obsessive-Compulsion and Related Disorders
Characterized by preoccupations and/or driven, repetitive, behaviors that are maladaptive
93
Obsession
Anxiety provoking thought or image that keeps intruding into a person’s consciousness Attempts to suppress intrusive thoughts or neutralize them with another thought or action
94
Compulsion
Voluntary behavior or mental act that a person feels compelled to repeat again and again in order to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared event Not connected to feared event in a realistic way or are excessive
95
Obsession: Symmetry/Sameness Common Compulsion: ?
Repetition, putting things in order
96
Obsession: Forbidden thoughts/actions (sex, aggression, religion) Compulsion: ?
Checking, Avoidance, Reassurance seeking
97
Obsession: Contamination Compulsion: ?
Excessive washing/cleaning or use of PPE Avoidance
98
Excoriation
Picking scabs
99
Body dysmorphic disorder
Preoccupation with an image or a grossly exaggerated defect in appearance Compulsive checking and attempts to remedy defect
100
Systematic Desensitization
Leads to habituation and extinction of the fear and avoidance responses
101
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for OCD
Medication (Prozac) Therapy (Exposure and Response Prevention)
102
ERP Procedure
Gradual exposure to situations that trigger obsessive thoughts Abstinence from compulsive responses or avoidance (confronting fears)

Abnormal Psych (3 decks)

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