Psychological Disorders Flashcards
Explain why ‘unusual’ thinking or behavior is not the same as a mental disorder.
Some patterns of thinking are statistically rare but do not negatively interfere with life.
For example, being a math genius is rare, but not a psychological disorder.
Describe a definition of mental disorder that uses evolutionary concepts (Jerome Wakefield). Cons?
An emotional state or behavior that is 1) harmful to oneself or others and 2) dysfunctional because it does not perform its evolutionary function.
Cons: it is difficult to trace the evolutionary feature of a mental disorder.
Textbook’s definition of mental disorder (roughly)
A disturbance in emotion, thinking, or behavior that causes suffering, is self-destructive, interferes with relationships, etc.
DSM full name
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
When was homosexuality removed from the DSM?
1973 (during DSM-II)
Describe the over-diagnosis danger of ADHD and its relation to the DSM
There’s evidence that subthreshold diagnosis is happening. Normal behavior (not listening to teacher, refusing to nap, being disruptive) is being interpreted as psychological issues.
After ADHD was added to DSM, the cases skyrocketed.
Drapetomania
A ‘mental disorder’ of the urge to escape slavery (1851).
Describe the power of diagnostic labels
After one is labeled, others start to see their behaviors based on the label (even if inaccurate)
On the other hand, it might help with identity and serve to explain uncontrollable behavior
Medical Diseases vs. Psychological Disorders
Most medical diseases are defined by root causes rather than symptoms.
Psychological disorders are defined by symptoms rather than root causes.
What are Projective Tests? What assumptions do they have? Are they good?
Projective tests are interpretive tests that show unconscious motives or conflicts. (eg. Rorschach inkblot tests)
Assumes that unconscious dynamics will be projected (projection assumption)
They generally lack validity and reliability
Think: A study found babies who were sexually abused were interested in genitals of dolls at a statistically significant level. Would doll behavior be a good way to test childhood sexual abuse?
It needs a control group. Turns out most babies had interest in genitals too.
Major Depression (definition) (hint: 4 aspects)
A disorder characterized by disturbances in emotion, behavior, cognition, and body function
Explain why Major Depression is not just an emotional disorder?
It impacts emotion, but it is also a behavioral, cognitive, and physical disorder.
What do people generally want to achieve from suicide?
Relief from their existing pain.
____% of people experience major depression at some point in their life
20%
Describe the gender gap in prevalence of depression. What eliminates the gap?
It might be because men tend to hide their emotions and refuse to seek help. Maybe they use it in other means (eg. abusing alcohol, attacks, etc.)
When including alcohol abuse, anger attacks, etc. the gap disappears. Definition matters.
What psychological disorder did Mark Twain have?
Bipolar Disorder
Define Mania
The opposite of depression.
A euphoric state; feeling powerful (or even invincible), full of plans, delusional, irritable, etc.
In the DSM, Bipolar Disorder is in between which two disorders? Why?
Between major depression and schizophrenia.
Biopolar shares some symptoms with each disorder
Vulnerability-Stress Model
Individual vulnerability (i.e., genetic, personality, cognitive habits)
+
Stressful/Triggering event(s) (eg. job loss, violence, abuse)
–>
Severe Depression
What’s the issue with finding a single genetic variant in people with depression?
That’s not a thing. A large study found 87 genetic variants significantly related to depression.
What personality profile longitudinally predicted depression?
Neuroticism or High Negative Emotionality predicted depression later in life.
What are the two parts of cognitive habits of people with depression about their depression?
They think their state is 1) permanent and 2) uncontrollable
What happened when people with depression were told to recall happy memories? What about those without depression?
When depressed individuals relived happy memories, they became sadder (possibly because of hopelessness; ‘i won’t ever be able to return to that’)
For those not depressed, the opposite reaction occured.
What are the two strongest predictors of suicide and attempted suicide?
Repeated sexual abuse and violence when young (WHO, Stein 2010)
5 Onset of Depression Factors in the textbook
1) Genetic Predispositions
2) Personality
3) Cognitive Habits
4) Violence and Abuse
5) Loss of Relationships
Anxiety is adaptive. But when does it become a disorder?
When fear lingers past the presence of a threat or in the absence of a potential threat.
Define: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Continuous anxiety with worry or apprehension; Difficulty in concentration and motor tension;
for the majority of days in a 6-month period without a physical cause
