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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
Q

Correlation Coefficient

A

Statistical measure of relationship between 2 variables
+ means variables increase/decrease together
- means as one variable increases, the other decreases

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26
Q

Advantages to correlational method

A

High external validitiy b/c of large population
Easily replicated for confirmation

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27
Q

Disadvantages of correlational method

A

Correlation never proves causation
Lacks internal validity (describes but doesn’t explain relationship between variables)

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28
Q

Why does correlation not imply causation?

A

Correlational studies do not eliminate confounds, or variables other than the one of interest that might explain the findings

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29
Q

What is a experiment?

A

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.

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30
Q

Advantage of experiments

A

Good internal validity (can draw conclusions about cause and effect)

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31
Q

Disadvantages of experiments

A

Often lack external validity or “real world” applicability
Can’t always conduct experiments for ethical or practical reasons

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32
Q

What is a model?

A

Basic assumptions researchers and clinicians make regarding what causes psychopathology
Usually focus on one aspect of the person

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33
Q

Biological model

A

Medical perspective
Psychological abnormality is the result of physiological malfunction (brain abnormalities, Biochemical problems, genetics, endocrine abnormalities)

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34
Q

Diathesis-Stress Model

A

theory that explains how a combination of genetics and environmental factors can cause mental health conditions

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35
Q

Biological Perspective treatments

A

Drug therapy (antidepressant, mood stabilizers)
Electroconvulsive Therapy (Depression)
Psychosurgery

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36
Q

Psychodynamic Model

A

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

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37
Q

Freud’s notion of dynamic personality

A

Id, Ego, Superego

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38
Q

What is the Id?

A

Pleasure principle

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39
Q

What is the Ego?

A

Reality Principle

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40
Q

What is the superego?

A

Morality Principle

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41
Q

Psychodynamic Defense Mechanisms

A

Ways in which the ego distorts reality to protect the self from anxiety

42
Q

What is repression?

A

Motivated “not wanting to know” in which some ideas are pushed into the unconscious

43
Q

Rationalization

A

Excuses to justify undesired behavior or feelings

44
Q

Displacement

A

Divert feelings away from the real object

45
Q

Projection

A

Attribute to someone else

46
Q

Denial

A

Actively reject

47
Q

Goal of Psychodynamic Model Treatment

A

Make the unconscious conscious
Client understanding symptoms
Reduces defenses against emotion (increase emotional tolerance)

48
Q

Psychodynamic Model Treatment techniques

A

Free association
Noticing themes in problematic aspects of the persons functioning (transference, dreams, fantasies)

49
Q

Transference

A

When someone unconsciously projects old feelings onto someone else in the present

50
Q

Modern Psychodynamic theory

A

Focus is broader than sexual and aggressive drives
Greater focus on relationships
Shorter duration/frequency

51
Q

Behavioral Model

A

Views abnormal behavior as the result of our environment (learning history)
Entirely focused on behavior or what can be objectively observed and measured

52
Q

3 key principles of learning

A

How we learn abnormal behavior
Association
Consequences
Observation

53
Q

Classical conditioning

A

Learning by association
Stimulus comes to produce a given response because it has become associated with another stimulus that already produced that response

54
Q

Stimulus

A

Something in the environment

55
Q

Response

A

Behavior of the organism

56
Q

Operant conditioning

A

Learning through consequences
Behavior leads to consequence that either increases or decreases that behavior

57
Q

Reinforcements

A

Increase likelihood of behavior
Give reward or take aware aversive stimulus

58
Q

Punishment

A

Decrease likelihood of behavior
Remove desired thing or add aversive stimulus

59
Q

Modeling

A

Learning through observation
Observe responses and their consequences for others, and then imitate those responses
(more of a cognitive process)

60
Q

Behavior Model Therapy

A

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
Q

Cognitive Model

A

Understands abnormal behavior as resulting from faulty cognitive processes (thinking)
Internal focus: thoughts, attitudes, assumptions, interpretations, perceptions
Illogical thinking creates misery

62
Q

Cognitive Model Therapy

A

Teaches logical thinking to reduce unnecessary emotional pain
Therapists help clients identify and modify irrational beliefs

63
Q

Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy focuses on cognitive distortions, what are these?

A

Types of errors in thinking about self, world, a future

64
Q

All-or-nothing error

A

No gray area

65
Q

Catastrophizing

A

unrealistically expecting the worst

66
Q

Magnification/minimization

A

Making a mountain out of a mole hill

67
Q

Personalization

A

Assume too much responsibility

68
Q

Overgeneralization

A

Negative thoughts applied too broadly

69
Q

Mental Filtering

A

Ignoring positive events and focusing only on negative events

70
Q

Mind reading

A

Presuming to know what others think

71
Q

Humanism - Carl Rogers

A

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
Q

Humanistic model

A

Unconditional positive regard
Genuineness
Conditions of Worth

73
Q

Humanistic model therapy

A

Client directs therapy
Goal: create a climate that promotes growth
Unconditional positive regard, empathy, genuineness/congruence

74
Q

Clinical assessment

A

Collection, organization, and interpretation of information about a person and his or her situation to draw conclusions
Idiographic
What and Why of symptoms

75
Q

Tools of clinical assessment

A

Clinical interview
Psychological tests
Observations

76
Q

2 Main purposes of a clinical assessment

A

Description: render an accurate portrait
Prediction: Predict future behavior based on present functioning

77
Q

Characteristics of assessments

A

Standardization
Reliability
Validity

78
Q

Descriptive validity

A

Degree to which an assessment device provides significant information about the current behavior of the people being assessed

79
Q

Predictive validity

A

Degree to which an assessment accurately answers questions about cause, future behavior, prognosis, and treatment

80
Q

Clinical interview

A

Face to face conversation between client and clinician
Most common tool
Structured and unstructured

81
Q

Observations

A

Behavior observations during interview
Appearance, mood, thought process, orientation, speech, motor behavior, openness, motivation, social skills…

82
Q

Naturalistic observations

A

Observe someone in their daily activities
Often used with families and children

83
Q

Psychological tests

A

A standard procedure in which a person is presented with stimuli and asked to respond

84
Q

Wechsler Scales and Stanford-Binet Test

A

Verbal comprehension (vocabulary, similarities)
Perceptual reading (block design)
Working memory (Repeated series, arithmetic)
Processing speed (Symbol search)

85
Q

Neuropsychological testing

A

Detects brain impairment by measuring a person’s cognitive, perceptual, and motor performances

86
Q

Bender-Gestalt test

A

Redraw shapes

87
Q

Panic Disorder

A

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
Q

Agoraphobia

A

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
Q

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A

Chronic state of diffuse anxiety
Worry about several life areas
Symptoms: poor sleep, irritability, difficulty concentration, muscle tension

90
Q

Panic disorder DSM-5 Diagnostic criteria

A
  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
Q

Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder

A

Avoidance of certain actions in front of other people, for fear of embarrassment or humiliation

92
Q

Obsessive-Compulsion and Related Disorders

A

Characterized by preoccupations and/or driven, repetitive, behaviors that are maladaptive

93
Q

Obsession

A

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
Q

Compulsion

A

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
Q

Obsession: Symmetry/Sameness
Common Compulsion: ?

A

Repetition, putting things in order

96
Q

Obsession: Forbidden thoughts/actions (sex, aggression, religion)
Compulsion: ?

A

Checking, Avoidance, Reassurance seeking

97
Q

Obsession: Contamination
Compulsion: ?

A

Excessive washing/cleaning or use of PPE
Avoidance

98
Q

Excoriation

A

Picking scabs

99
Q

Body dysmorphic disorder

A

Preoccupation with an image or a grossly exaggerated defect in appearance
Compulsive checking and attempts to remedy defect

100
Q

Systematic Desensitization

A

Leads to habituation and extinction of the fear and avoidance responses

101
Q

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for OCD

A

Medication (Prozac)
Therapy (Exposure and Response Prevention)

102
Q

ERP Procedure

A

Gradual exposure to situations that trigger obsessive thoughts
Abstinence from compulsive responses or avoidance (confronting fears)

Abnormal Psych (3 decks)

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