Psychological Disorders Flashcards
What are psychological disorders?
patterns of thoughts, feelings, or actions that are deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional
- maldaptive
What are the three criteria of disorder that must persist for a prolonger period of time for a psychological disorder to be indicated?
deviance = differences from normal
distress = causing physical or psychological harm to yourself or others
dysfunction = significant impairment to m=normal functioning
What is medical student syndrome?
tendency for medical students to think they have whatever disorder they are learning about
What are the different approaches to psychological disorders?
medical model = madness is a sickness of the mind -> mental health movement
biopsychosocial = biological influences
- evolution, individual genes, brain structure and chemistry
- uses medication
social-cultural = roles, expectation, definitions or normality and disorder
- role of environment
When are most disorders able to occur by?
8-10 yo
what factors increase psychological disorder probability?
poverty
academic failure
family disorganization
conflict
what factors decrease psychological disorder probability?
exercise
literary
positive attachment + early bonding
self-esteem
What is DSM-5?
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- disorders are defined based on field trials conducted
What are criticisms of DSM-5?
pathologize everyday life
produces labels that is judged by society
antisocial personality disorders and generalized anxiety disorders do poorly on field tests
What are the benefits of the DSM-5?
helps mental health professionals communicate and is useful in research
- study and talk about similar patterns of behavior
order and describe symptoms = describe clusters of behavior
allows for prediction of disorder, suggests treatment, and stimulates research
What are anxiety disorders and the symptoms associated?
distressing, persistent anxiety or maldaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety
symptoms:
- physical = dizziness, elevated heart rate, flight/fight response
cognitive = worrying, panic, fear of losing control
behavioral = fleeing, aggressive, freezing, and avoiding
What are the different types of anxiety disorders?
generalized anxiety, panic, specific phobia, social phobia, OCD, and PTSD
What are the characteristics of generalized anxiety disorders?
unfocused out of control worry, tense, apprehensive, without no identifiable cause for > 6 mo
symptoms = headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension, high bp, dizziness, ringing in ears
genetic components -> linked to depression and childhood trauma
What are the characteristics of panic disorders?
unpredictable, repeated, minutes long episodes of intense dread
-physical = chest pain, choking, trembling -> perceived as a heart attack
- onset = late teens/ early adulthood
What are the characteristics of phobias?
present, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation
- provokes anxiety = avoidance
- social phobia = fear of being judged by others
- specific phobia = extreme fear of specific objects/ situations that last for > 6 mo
What are the characteristics of OCD?
unwanted repetitive thoughts/ obsessions and or actions/ compulsions that cause distress
diagnosis
- obsessions and compulsions
- realization that it is excessive
- it interferes with daily routine
What is the learning perspective as to why anxiety occurs?
anxiety is a product of conditioning/ observational learning
- classical = associate anxiety with certain cues
- stimulus generalization = anxiety about things related to a traumatic event
- reinforcement = repeat behaviors that reduce anxiety = maintain phobias and complusions
What is the biological perspective of why anxiety develops?
- genes predispose via regulating neurotransmitters
- brain = overarousal of brain areas that control impulse control and habitual behaviors
- bio-preparedness theory = psychologically ready to be afraid of something
What are mood disorders?
emotional extremes and challenges in regulating mood
- continuum = depression to elation
- long terms disturbance
What are some key notes about depression?
Women have higher rates than men
- more than 90% of people who commit suicide have clinical depression/ another mental disorder
- warning signs = comments of helplessness, tying up loose ends
What is bipolar disorder?
Person alternates between hopelessness and lethargy of depression + overexcited state of mania
mania = hyperactive, wildly overactive, and elated
- overtalkative, ≠ want sleep, fewer sexual inhibitions
- loud speech, flighty
- poor judgment
-fuel creativity
more dysfunctional than depression
What are the explanations for bipolar?
Genetics = increases probability is family member has it
- several genes intertwine to produce small effects that increase risk
-highly heritable
- twin studies = heritability of major depression = 37%
Brain -> left frontal lobe is less active from depression.
- norepinephrine and serotonin levels decline
explanatory style
- depressed explain bad events globally -> stable/ permanent -> internally
psychology
- view self and world negatively
- socialcultural = lower social status and adverse events
social-cognitive = negative explanatory style -> depressed -> cog and behavioral changes
- self defeating beliefs
What is schizophrenia?
group of psychotic disorders characterized by disordered thinking and a breka with reality/ psychosis
- affects 1% of population
- ≠ mean multiple personalities
How is schizophrenia diagnosed?
positive symptoms
- disorganized speech
- delusions
- hallucinations
- disorganized behavior
negative symptoms
- falt affect
- social withdrawal
- neglect of hygiene
- loss of interest in everyday activities
