Psychological disorders Flashcards
What is the DSM-IV?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a system containing criteria for mental disorders.
How many classes of disorders are listed in the DSM-IV?
17 different classes.
What is Axis I in the DSM-IV?
Axis I includes major mental disorders.
What is Axis II in the DSM-IV?
Axis II includes personality disorders and mental retardation.
What is Axis III in the DSM-IV?
Axis III includes associated medical conditions.
What is Axis IV in the DSM-IV?
Axis IV includes life stressors.
What is Axis V in the DSM-IV?
Axis V includes the overall level of daily functioning.
What are some criticisms of the DSM-IV?
Not all diagnoses meet criteria for validity, criteria not always based on scientific data, high level of comorbidity, reliance on categorical rather than dimensional model.
What is the “insanity defense” in law?
It requires people to not know what they were doing at the time of the crime or not know it was wrong.
When can someone be involuntarily committed?
If they pose a clear and present threat to themselves or others, or if they are so impaired they can’t care for themselves.
What are some examples of anxiety disorders?
Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
What is a characteristic of generalized anxiety disorder?
Continual feelings of worry, anxiety, physical tension, and irritability about many areas.
What are panic attacks associated with panic disorder?
Repeated, unexpected panic attacks along with either persistent concerns about future attacks or a change in personal behavior to avoid them.
What are phobias characterized by?
Intense fear of an object or situation that’s greatly out of proportion to its actual threat.
What is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Marked emotional disturbance after experiencing or witnessing a severely stressful event.
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) characterized by?
Marked by obsessions (persistent ideas, thoughts, or impulses that are unwanted and inappropriate) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts).
How do learning models explain anxiety disorders?
By acquiring fears via classical conditioning and maintaining them through operant conditioning.
What is major depressive disorder (MDD)?
The most common mood disorder, characterized by feeling blue or irritable, sleep difficulties, fatigue, weight changes, and thoughts of death or suicide.
What is bipolar disorder characterized by?
Having both depressive and manic episodes, including elevated mood, lowered need for sleep, high energy, talkativeness, inflated self-esteem, and irresponsible behavior.
What are some myths about suicide?
That talking about suicide makes it more likely to happen, that suicide is almost always completed with no warning, and that most people who threaten suicide are seeking attention.
What are personality disorders diagnosed based on?
When personality traits first appear, if they are inflexible, stable, and expressed in a wide variety of situations, and if they lead to distress or impairment.
What is borderline personality disorder characterized by?
Instability in mood, identity, and impulse control, often highly self-destructive.
What is psychopathic personality marked by?
Superficial charm, dishonesty, manipulativeness, self-centeredness, and risk taking, overlapping with antisocial personality disorder.
What are dissociative disorders?
Disorders involving disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception.