lecture 11 p4: psychological challenges Flashcards
Panic Attacks vs. Heart Attacks
○ Panic attacks, though intense, are not likely to be life-threatening on their own.
○ Important to distinguish between panic attacks and heart attacks.
○ Panic attacks can mimic symptoms of a heart attack, but seeking medical attention is crucial to rule out serious conditions.
breakdown of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
○ Obsession
○ Compulsion
○ Types of Obsessions and Compulsions
Obsession
Intrusive and unwanted thoughts causing distress
Compulsion
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts aimed at reducing distress
Types of Obsessions and Compulsions
- Symmetry/Exactness
- Forbidden Thoughts or Actions
- Contamination
- Hoarding
- Complications
Symmetry/Exactness
Need for order; repetitive rituals; arranging items systematically
Forbidden Thoughts or Actions
Disturbing thoughts countered by checking, avoidance, or seeking reassurance.
Contamination
Fear of becoming dirty or infected, leading to excessive washing or avoidance
Hoarding
Persistent difficulty discarding possessions regardless of their value.
Complications
Repeating rituals or seeking reassurance can become time-consuming, impacting daily life
Treatment
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- medications (such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
MDD Symptoms
■ Low mood, lethargy, decreased appetite, lack of motivation.
■ Not just extreme sadness; can manifest as numbness or lack of feeling.
■ Accompanied by a “why bother” mentality.
MDD Misconceptions
■ Depression is not solely extreme sadness but can also be a sense of numbness and lack of motivation.
■ MDD is not always characterized by constant crying; it can also manifest as a heavy, weight-like feeling
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Characteristics
○ Emotional symptoms
○ Motivational symptoms
○ Cognitive symptoms
○ Other symptoms
Emotional symptoms
- sadness
- hopelessness
- misery
- inability to experience joy
Motivational symptoms
- loss of interest
- lack of drive
- difficulty starting activities
Cognitive symptoms
negative thoughts about self, world, and others
Other symptoms
- changes in appetite
- energy levels
- sleep difficulties
- weight loss or gain
Cognitive Patterns in Depression
- reversed self-serving bias
- attributing bad things to themselves
- good things to external factors.
Manic Episodes Characteristics
■ Exaggerated elation, joy, or feeling “on top of the world.”
■ Similar to the heightened euphoria associated with cocaine use.
■ Can lead to impulsive and risky behavior
Bipolar Disorder: mania facts
■ Individuals with bipolar disorder experience both depressive and manic episodes.
Three main types of Bipolar
- Bipolar I
- Bipolar II
- Cyclothymia
bipolar fact
Managing the extremes of mood swings is essential for individuals with bipolar disorder
bipolar depression and mania
Not a simple opposition of depression and mania; they can coexist or be experienced separately
bipolar 1
Full depressive and manic episodes
bipolar 2
Depressive episodes with hypomanic episodes (less severe than full manic)
Cyclothymia
Mild depressive and hypomanic symptoms; less extreme than bipolar I and II
Mixed Features in Bipolar Disorder
○ Episodes can have mixed features, where depressive episodes may include some manic symptoms, and vice versa.
○ Shows that depression and mania are not strictly polar opposites; they can overlap.
