Mental disorders and clinical psychology Flashcards
What is the main focus of clinical psychology?
Diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
Clinical psychology integrates scientific research, psychological theory, and clinical knowledge.
What are some roles of clinical psychologists?
Assess and diagnose psychological conditions, develop and implement evidence-based treatments, promote mental health and well-being.
They focus on psychological therapy, assessment, and behavioral interventions.
Why might someone seek the help of a clinical psychologist?
Mental health conditions, developmental and neurological disorders, mental illnesses, health psychology, support for specific populations, behavioral and emotional issues.
Clinical psychologists can provide targeted interventions for various psychological issues.
What is the DSM?
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
It uses a biopsychosocial approach and contains 18 different classes of disorders and over 300 diagnoses.
What is required for a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?
At least 5 of 9 symptoms during the same 2-week period, including depressed mood and/or loss of interest/pleasure.
Symptoms must not be attributable to another medical condition.
What does heterogeneity in MDD mean?
Two people with the same diagnosis can have very different symptoms.
Symptoms can range from overeating to undereating, or from no suicidal thoughts to being plagued with them.
What is comorbidity in mental health?
The occurrence of one mental health issue making it more likely to have another due to similar symptoms.
It is common for MDD to co-occur with anxiety conditions.
What is the goal of psychodynamic therapy?
To bring unconscious elements into conscious awareness for exploration and understanding.
This includes exploring early childhood experiences and internal conflicts.
Define transference in psychotherapy.
The projection of feelings and attitudes from past relationships onto the therapist.
Understanding transference can provide insights into the client’s relational patterns.
What are some techniques used in psychodynamic therapy?
Free association, interpretation, dream analysis, working through the transference process.
These techniques help in understanding the client’s unconscious processes.
What does the biological approach to mental disorders emphasize?
Physical (biological) causes and influences, including brain structure, genetic factors, and biochemical imbalances.
This approach considers neurological and neurochemical factors.
What are some solutions in the biological approach to treating mental disorders?
Medication, ECT, TMS, VNS, DBS, neurofeedback, and lifestyle changes.
Lifestyle changes can include improvements in sleep, exercise, and diet.
What does the biopsychosocial model include?
Biological, psychological, and social factors that inform treatment strategies.
It integrates physical health and genetics with psychological and social aspects.
What is the focus of behavioral therapy?
Observable behaviors and the ways in which they are learned.
It includes classical and operant conditioning as key concepts.
What is systematic desensitization?
A technique for phobias involving gradual exposure to a feared object or situation in a controlled way.
It is a common behavioral therapy technique.
What is the cognitive-behavioral approach focused on?
The relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Dysfunctional thinking can lead to dysfunctional emotions or behaviors.
What is the ABC model in cognitive-behavioral therapy?
Activating event, beliefs or thoughts about that event, and consequences that are emotional, physiological, and behavioral.
This model helps in understanding the impact of thoughts on feelings and behaviors.
What are the three criteria for evaluating therapies?
At least two independent RCTs showing the intervention is useful, active treatment must be better than placebo or alternative, and RCT must be competently carried out.
These criteria ensure that therapies are evidence-based.
What should be included in RCT protocols?
Recruitment procedures, inclusion/exclusion criteria, random assignment, assessment before and after the intervention, and adequate participant numbers.
These elements ensure the reliability and validity of the trials.
