Psychological Disorders Flashcards
Biomedical Approach
- approach to psychological disorders that assumes any disorder has roots in biomedical disturbances and thus the solution should be of a biomedical nature
- focus on physical and medical causes of a psychological disorder
- fails to take into account other sources of disorders like lifestyle and SES
Biopsychosocial Approach
- considers the relative contributions of biological, psychological, and social components to an individual’s disorder
- treatments fall into same areas
- stems from an individuals thoughts, emotions or behaviors
- social component of a disorder results from individuals surroundings and can include issues of perceived class in society and discrimination
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
- used to diagnose psychological disorders
- categorizes mental disorders based on symptom patterns
Direct Therapy
treatment that acts directly on the individual, such as medication or periodic meetings with a psychologist
Indirect Therapy
aims to increase social support by educating and empowering family and friends of the affected individual
What are the most common disorders in the US?
psychological disorders, especially anxiety, depressive, and substance use disorders
Schizophrenia
- only prototypical disorder with psychosis as a feature
- contains both positive and negative symptoms
- to be diagnosed with this must show continuous signs of the disturbance for at least 6 months and have at least one month of “active symptoms” (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech)
Positive Symptoms
- add something to behavior, cognition, or affect
- includes: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, catatonic behavior
- considered to be two distinct dimensions – psychotic dimension (delusions and hallucinations) and disorganized dimension (disorganized thought and behavior)
Negative Symptoms
- loss of something from behavior, cognition or affect
- includes: disturbance of affect, avolition
Delusion
- positive symptom
- false beliefs discordant with reality and not shared by others in the individuals culture that are maintained in spite of strong evidence to the contrary
- includes delusions of reference, persecution, and grandeur
Delusions of Reference
- involve the belief that common elements in the environment are directed toward the individual
- Ex. belief that characters in a TV are talking to them directly
Delusions of Persecution
- involve the belief that the person is being deliberately interfered with, discriminated against, plotted against, or threatened
- person with this might say “My neighbors break into my house at night and steal clothes out of my closet”
Delusions of Grandeur
- common in schizophrenia and bipolar 1 disorder
- involved the belief that the person is remarkable in some significant way, such as being an inventor, historical figure or religious icon
Thought Broadcasting
- another common delusion
- the belief that one’s thoughts are broadcast directly from one’s head to the external world
Thought Insertion
- another common delusion
- belief that thoughts are being placed in one’s head
- person might believe that the thoughts they are experiencing originated in the minds of others yet have been implanted in their minds
Hallucinations
- positive symptom
- perceptions that are not due to external stimuli but have a compelling sense of reality
- most common form is auditory (hearing voices)
Disorganized Thought
- positive symptom
- characterized by loosening of associations
- may be exhibited as speech when ideas shift from one subject to another in such a way that the listener would be unable to follow the train of thought (word salad)
Neologisms
when a person with schizophrenia invents new words
Disorganized Behavior
- positive symptom in people with Schizophrenia
- inability to carry out activities of daily living (e.g. paying bills, maintaining hygiene, keeping appointments)
- lack of inhibition and impulse control
- behaviors that appear bizarre and have no purpose
- unpredictable or inappropriate emotional responses
Catatonia
- certain motor behaviors characteristic of some people with schizophrenia
- patient may maintain a rigid posture or have bizarre movements not caused by any external stimuli – echolalia (repeating another’s words) or echopraxia (imitating another’s actions)
Disturbance of Affect
- negative symptom
- refers to the experience and display of emotion
- symptoms include: blunting (severe reduction in intensity of affect expression), flat affect (emotional flattening), inappropriate affect (affect is discordant with the content of the individual’s speech – ex. laugh hysterically while describing someones death)
Avolition
- negative symptom
- marked by decreased engagement in purposeful , goal-directed actions
- unable to start or follow through on a course of action
Prodromal Phase
- occurs before schizophrenia is diagnosed when the patient goes through a phase characterized by poor adjustment
- exemplified by clear evidence of deterioration, social withdrawal, role functioning impairment, peculiar behavior, inappropriate affect, unusual experiences
Downward Drift Hypothesis
- sociology connect to schizophrenia
- states that schizophrenia causes a decline in SES leading to worsening symptoms which sets up a negative spiral for the patient toward poverty and psychosis – why rates of schiz are higher among homeless and indigents
Which disorders are depressive disorders?
- major depressive disorder
- seasonal affective disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
-mood disorder characterized by at least one major depressive episode – period of at least two weeks with at least five symptoms
What are the symptoms of a major depressive episode?
*SIG E. CAPS* Sadness + -Sleep -Interest -Guilt (excessive) -Energy (decreased) -Concentration -Appetite disturbances -Psychomotor symptoms (feeling "slowed down") -Suicidal thoughts
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymic Disorder)
- individuals diagnosed with this have a depressed mood that isn’t severe enough to meet the criteria of a major depressive episode
- low mood lasts for at least two years along with at least two other symptoms of depression
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- not a freestanding diagnosis on the DSM-5, but is best categorized as major depressive disorder with seasonal onset
- depressive symptoms present only in winter months
- may be related to abnormal melatonin metabolism
How can SAD be treated?
bright light therapy – patient is exposed to a bright light for a specified amount of time each day
Bipolar Disorders
- type of mood disorder characterized by both depression and mania
- includes Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2
Manic Episodes
characterized by abnormal and persistently elevated mood lasting at least one week with at least 3 symptoms from list
What are the symptoms of a manic episode?
- DIG FAST*
- Distractible
- Insomnia (decreased need for sleep)
- Grandiosity (beliefs that one is all powerful, famous, or wealthy)
- Flight of ideas (racing thoughts)
- Agitation (or increase in goal-directed activity)
- Speech
- Thoughtlessness (risky behavior)
Bipolar 1 Disorder
has manic episodes with or without major depressive episodes
Bipolar 2 Disorder
has hypomania (typically does not significantly impair functioning nor are there psychotic features although individual may be more energetic/optimistic) with at least one major depressive episode
Cyclothymic Disorder
-consists of a combination of hypomanic episodes and periods of dysthymia that are not severe enough to qualify as major depressive episodes