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MCAT Psych/Soc > Psychological Disorders > Flashcards

Psychological Disorders Flashcards

1
Q

Mental Disorder

A

Disorders/abnormalities of the mind that cause distress/disability (this point is key) and impede life functions

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2
Q

Biomedical approach to psychological disorders

A

Assumes that there are underlying biomedical disturbances, so the solution must be of biomedical nature

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3
Q

Biopsychosocial approach to psychological disorders

A

Biomedical, plus psychological and social/cultural considerations when diagnosing, classifying, and treating mental illnesses

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4
Q

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

A

Originally meant to collect statistical data, it is a diagnostic tool for mental health disorders

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5
Q

Schizophrenia

A

A psychotic disorder consisting of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thought/behavior, and negative symptoms

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6
Q

Positive symptoms

A

Behaviors, thoughts, or feelings added to normal behavior; for schizophrenia, this includes delusions (reference, persecution, grandeur), thought broadcasting/insertion, hallucinations, and disorganized thoughts and behavior

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7
Q

Negative symptoms

A

The absence or disturbance of normal or desired behaviors; for schizophrenia, this includes emotional flattening or mismatched tone with speech

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8
Q

Prodromal phase

A

A phase before schizophrenia characterized by poor adjustment and clear evidence of deterioration, social withdrawal, role functioning impairment, and unusual experiences

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9
Q

Downward Drift Hypothesis

A

Schizophrenia causes a decline in socioeconomic status, leading to worse symptoms, leading to even lower socioeconomic status, etc.

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10
Q

Psychosis

A

A symptom of mental illness characterized by a removal from reality; includes delusions and hallucinations

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11
Q

Depressive Disorders

A

A class of disorders that are diagnosed by the severity and duration of abnormal sadness episodes

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12
Q

Affect

A

How mood and emotions are displayed

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13
Q

Symptoms of a major depressive episode

A

Prominent and persistent sadness, loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities, appetite disturbances, substantial weight changes, sleep disturbances, decreased energy, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, psychomotor depression (slowing down), and thoughts/attempts at suicide. At least five symptoms, one of which must be one of the first two

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14
Q

Dysthymia

A

A depressive mood that is not severe enough to be a major depressive episode

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15
Q

Seasonal Affective Disorder

A

A major depressive disorder with seasonal onset

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16
Q

Bipolar disorders

A

Mood disorders characterized by depressive and manic episodes

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17
Q

Manic episodes

A

Characterized by abnormal and persistently elevated mood lasting at least one week with increased distractibility, a decreased need for sleep, inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, racing thoughts, pressured speech, and involvement in high-risk behavior

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18
Q

Bipolar I disorder

A

Manic episodes without depressive episodes

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19
Q

Bipolar II disorder

A

Hypomania with at least one major depressive episode

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20
Q

Hypomania

A

Mania that does not significantly impair functioning nor contain psychotic features

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21
Q

Cyclothymic Disorder

A

A combination of hypomanic episodes and dysthymia

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22
Q

Monoamine/Catecholamine Theory of Depression

A

Norepinephrine and serotonin levels contribute to mania and depression; too high of levels contribute to mania, and loo low of levels contribute to depression

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23
Q

Anxiety Disorders

A

Disorders that result in distress/disability from abnormal worry or fear

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24
Q

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A

Disproportionate and persistent worry about many different things in life (no certain stimulus)

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25
Q

Phobia

A

Anxiety is produced by a specific stimulus

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26
Q

Social Anxiety Disorder

A

Anxiety due to social situations

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27
Q

Agoraphobia

A

The phobia of being in places or situations where it might be hard to escape

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28
Q

Panic Disorder

A

A disorder of repeated panic attacks – fear and apprehension, trembling, sweating, hyperventilation, and a sense of impending doom

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29
Q

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

A

Characterized by obsessions (persistent, intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (actions taken to address those thoughts); compulsions relieve the drive caused by obsessions

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30
Q

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

A

Unrealistic negative evaluation of personal appearance and attractiveness

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31
Q

PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A

Occurs after exposure to a traumatic event and includes intrusion symptoms, avoidance symptoms, negative cognitive symptoms, and arousal symptoms

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32
Q

Intrusion symptoms

A

Recurrent reliving of the event, flashbacks, nightmares, and prolonged distress

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33
Q

Avoidance symptoms

A

Deliberate attempts to avoid memories, people, places, activities, and objects associated with the trauma

34
Q

Negative Cognitive symptoms

A

Inability to recall key features of the event, negative mood, and persistent negative view of the world

35
Q

Arousal symptoms

A

Increased startle response, irritability, anxiety, self-destructive behavior, and sleep disturbances

36
Q

Acute Stress Disorder

A

Characterized by the symptoms of PTSD appearing for less than a month (but more than three days)

37
Q

Dissociative Disorders

A

Disorders where the person attempts to escape their identity but still has an intact sense of reality

38
Q

Dissociative amnesia

A

The inability to recall past experiences typically due to trauma

39
Q

Dissociative Fugue

A

A sudden, unexpected move or purposeless wandering away from one’s location of daily activities; accompanied with confusion about identity

40
Q

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A

Two or more personalities take control of a person’s behavior; results when components of identity fail to integrate

41
Q

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

A

A person feels attached from their own mind and body (depersonalization) or their environment/situation (derealization)

42
Q

Somatic Symptom Disorder

A

At least one bodily symptom that is accompanied by disproportionate concern about its seriousness, devotion of an excessive amount of time and energy to it, or elevated levels of anxiety

43
Q

Illness Anxiety Disorder

A

Being consumed with thoughts or anxiety about having or developing a serious medical condition

44
Q

Conversion Disorder

A

Unexplained symptoms affecting voluntary motor or sensory functions, usually after high stress or a traumatic event

45
Q

Personality Disorders

A

Patterns of behavior that are inflexible and maladaptive, causing distress or impaired function in cognition, emotion, interpersonal functioning, or impulse control

46
Q

Ego-syntonic

A

The person believes that their behavior is correct and normal

47
Q

Ego-dystonic

A

The person believes that their illness is thrust upon them and is intrusive and bothersome

48
Q

Cluster A Personality Disorders

A

Marked by odd, eccentric behaviors (in the eyes of others)

49
Q

Paranoid Personality Disorder

A

A Cluster A personality disorder characterized by pervasive distrust of others and suspicion regarding motives

50
Q

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

A

A Cluster A personality disorder characterized by odd or eccentric thinking; includes ideas of reference (less intense than delusions of reference) and magical thinking`

51
Q

Schizoid Personality Disorder

A

A Cluster A personality disorder characterized by a pattern of detachment from social relationships and restricted range of emotional expression

52
Q

Cluster B Personality Disorders

A

Marked by dramatic, emotional, and erratic behavior

53
Q

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A

A Cluster B personality disorder characterized by the disregard for the rights of others (and the frequent violation of these rights); evidenced be repeated aggression, deceitfulness, and lack of remorse

54
Q

Borderline Personality Disorder

A

A Cluster B personality disorder characterized by an instability in interpersonal behavior, mood, and self-image along with profound identity disturbance

55
Q

Histrionic Personality Disorder

A

A Cluster B personality disorder characterized by constant attention-seeking behavior

56
Q

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A

A Cluster B personality disorder characterized by a sense of self-importance or uniqueness, preoccupation with fantasies of success, a need for constant attention, and disturbances in interpersonal relationships

57
Q

Cluster C Personality Disorders

A

Marked by anxious or fearful behaviors

58
Q

Avoidant Personality Disorder

A

A Cluster C personality disorder characterized by extreme shyness, fear of rejection, feelings of social ineptness, and social isolation

59
Q

Dependent Personality Disorder

A

A Cluster C personality disorder characterized by a continuous need for reassurance

60
Q

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

A

A Cluster C personality disorder characterized by perfectionism and inflexibility with a strong liking of rules and order and maintenance of careful routines; unlike OCD, this is ego-systonic

61
Q

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A

Disorders due to an abnormality in the development of the nervous system; includes ADHD and Autism

62
Q

Neurocognitive Disorders

A

Disorders due to loss of brain functioning or other nervous system problems occurring after development

63
Q

Sleep-Wake Disorders

A

Disorders of sleep patterns or other sleep-related concerns

64
Q

Addictive Disorders

A

Also known as Substance-Related Disorders; disorders that result from the abuse of substances that cause mental impairments

65
Q

Eating Disorders

A

Behavioral abnormalities relating to eating patterns

66
Q

Elimination Disorders

A

Behavioral abnormalities relating to inappropriate urination/defacation

67
Q

Sexual Dysfunction

A

Behavioral abnormalities in the performance of sexual activities

68
Q

Gender Dysphoria

A

Stress or distress that results from identifying as a different gender than what they are socially represented as

69
Q

Paraphilic Disorder

A

Having sexual arousal to unusual stimuli

70
Q

Biological Basis of Schizophrenia

A

Trauma at birth; hereditary; high levels of dopamine; cerebral cortex is smaller; limbic system causes negative symptoms; temporal cortex causes positive symptoms

71
Q

Biological Basis of Depressive

A

Abnormally high glucose metabolism in amygdala; hippocampus atrophy; decreased serotonin and norepinephrine

72
Q

Biological Basis of Bipolar Disorders

A

Increases serotonin and norepinephrine; high risk if family member has a bipolar disorder

73
Q

Alzheimer’s Disease

A

A type of dementia characterized by memory loss, disorientation to time and place, and a tendency to misplace things that inhibit normal daily functions

74
Q

Parkinson’s Disease

A

Slowness in movement, resting tremor, acting as though rolling something between fingers, expressionless facial features, muscle tension that intermittently halts movement, and shuffling gait

75
Q

Biological Basis of Alzheimer’s

A

There are genes that are highly correlated with Alzheimer’s; reduction in choline acetyltransferase activity; deficient blood flow to parietal lobe, buildup of ß-amyloids and neurofibrillary triangles, and diffuse atrophy of the brain

76
Q

Biological Basis of Alzheimer’s

A

There are genes that are highly correlated with Alzheimer’s; reduction in choline acetyltransferase activity; deficient blood flow to parietal lobe; buildup of ß-amyloids and neurofibrillary tangles; smaller cerebellum; and diffuse atrophy of the brain

77
Q

ß-amyloids

A

Misfolded proteins in a ß-sheet format that cause senile plaques and are a sign of Alzheimer’s

78
Q

Neurofibrillary Tangles

A

Consist of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins and are a sign of Alzheimer’s

79
Q

Biological Basis of Parkinson’s

A

Decreased dopamine production in the basal ganglia (substantia nigra)

80
Q

Alpha-Synuclein

A

A protein found in normal brain cells that aggregates into Lewy Bodies in Parkinson’s

MCAT Psych/Soc (31 decks)

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