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Intro Psychology > Psychological disorders > Flashcards

Psychological disorders Flashcards

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1
Q

How does a psychologist evaluate behaviour before diagnosing someone?

A

The four D’s: Deviance, distress, dysfunction and danger.

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2
Q

What is used to bring consistency to the language used to talk about psychological disorders

A

Diagnostic and statistical manual of Psychological disorders ( DSM-5 )

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3
Q

What is a psychiatrist?

A

A medical doctor specializing in the field of psychological disorders

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4
Q

What does the reliability of a diagnostic system measure?

A

The extent to which different diagnosticians, all trained in the use of the system, reach the same conclusion when they all independently diagnose the same individual.

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5
Q

Name the 13 categories of disorders

A 
Anxiety disorders (incl phobias)
Trauma and stressor related disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
Depressive disorders
Bipolar and related disorders
Schizophrenia Spectrum and other Psychotic Disorders
Personality disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Feeding and eating disorders
Substance related and eating disorders 
Sleep-awake disorders
Neurodevelopment disorders
Neurocognitive disorders
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6
Q

What is the validity of a diagnostic system?

A

An index of the extent to which the categories it identifies are useful and meaningful for clinicians.

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7
Q

Name an alternative method to diagnosing disorders

A

International classification of diseases (ICD-10) By WHO

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8
Q

What is the potential harm of labels

A

It can stigmatie the person, affect how people see them, affect their self esteem, become a self fulfilling prophecy etc

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9
Q

What is medical students disease

A

When someone identifies personally with symptoms described in a textbook

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10
Q

What are culture bound syndromes

A

Expressions of mental distress that are found almost solely in specific cultural groups. These are sometimes exaggerated forms of behavior that is admired by the culture (anorexia)

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11
Q

What are the two main factors attributed to the rise in number of types of personality disorders

A

More scientific research and a cultural shift of seeing them as disorders rather than human variation

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12
Q

Note the 3 varieties of ADHD

A

the predominately innattentive type is characterized by a lack of attention to instructions, failure to concentrate on schoolwork and other tasks and carelessness in assignments.
The predominately hyperactive impulsive type is characterized by fidgeting, leaving ones seat without permission, talking excessively, interrupting others and blurting out answers.
The combined type is both sets of symptoms.

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13
Q

How does down syndrome affect behavior

A

The extra chromosome 21 causes damage to the developing brain.

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14
Q

What causes alzheimer’s?

A

Physical disruptions in the including the presence of amyloid plaques. The plaques are deposits of a particular protein called beta amyloid which form in the spaces between neurons and may disrupt neural communication.

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15
Q

What is meant by disorders being episodic?

A

They are reversible

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16
Q

Name and briefly explain the three causes of mental disorders

A

Predisposing causes of psychological disorders are those that are in place way before the onset of the disorder and make the person susceptible to the disorder (genes, damaging environmental effects on the brain)
Precipitating causes of psychological disorders are the immediate events in in a persons life that bring on the disorder.
Perpetrating causes of psychological disorders are those consequences of a disorder that keep it going once it begins. (attention, rewards, lack of sleep, withdrawal)

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17
Q

Why might a high stress environment produce maladaptive behaviour as an adult

A

Because during development these are the strategies they learned of coping which would have served them from an evolutionary standpoint but are seen as maladaptive in today’s society.

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18
Q

What differences are there in men and women in regards to mental disorders

A

Women report higher numbers of anxiety, depression x2 and men report higher numbers of intermittent explosive disorder, antisocial personality disorder (x3/4) and substance-use disorders (x2)

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19
Q

What could be the reasons for this

A

Mean are less likely to admit to anxiety/ depression and clinicians expectations regarding sex and disorders. They can also be attributed to the difference in stressful situations and their responses to these situations.

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20
Q

What is an anxiety disorder? Give 3 examples

A

Those in which fear or anxiety is the most prominent disturbance. Generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, and panic disorder are examples

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21
Q

Describe generalized anxiety disorder

A

Sufferers worry continuously about everything we worry about to a lesser extent and to lesser provocation. It can produce irritability, muscle tension and difficulty in sleeping. To be diagnosed they must suffer for 6 months and occur independently of other disorders. It is rarely diagnosed in children, usually diagnosed around 31 to predisposing people after a significant event. (6%)

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22
Q

What is hypervigilance? Explain in neurological and in terms of experience how this can occur in people suffering from anxiety.

A

Heightened attention to possible threat, It may result in part from genetic influences.The amygdala responds automatically to fearful situations, for most of us the amygdala is attached to the prefrontal cortex to help control the fear reactions however, in people with anxiety, studies suggest these inhibitory connections are less effective. It is also shown people with traumatic experiences from their youth it is much more prevalent.

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23
Q

What is a phobia?

A

An intense irrational fear that is very clearly related to a particular category of object or event. Often they are aware these fears are irrational but can’t control it.

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24
Q

What are the requirements to diagnose a phobia?

A

Must be long standing and sufficiently strong. (7-13%)

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25
Q

How may a phobia arise?

A

Most people suffering from phobias recall a traumatic experience, suggesting they are learned (classic conditioning.) People are also genetically prepared to be aware of things which presented danger to our genetic ancestors. In some people these can develop into phobias.

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26
Q

Describe panic attacks

A

A feeling of helpless terror which , for some people, comes at unpredictable times unrelated to any specific situation or thought. They usually last several minutes and are accompanied by high physiological arousal and a fear of losing control and behaving in some frantic, desperate way. These can be experienced independent of panic disorder.

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27
Q

How is one diagnosed with panic disorder

A

A person must have experiences recurrent panic attacks, at least one of which is followed by at least one month of debilitating worry about another panic attack or by life constraining changes in behavior motivated by fear of another. (2%)

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28
Q

What is the possible causes of panic disorder?

A

Usually manifests after some stressful life event or change. Panic attacks can be brought on in people with the disorder through lactic acid injection, high doses of caffeine, CO2 inhalation, intense physical exercise among others.

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29
Q

What is agoraphobia?

A

A fear of public places, developing partly because of the embarrassment and humiliation that might follow a loss of control in public.

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30
Q

What is an obsession?

A

A disturbing thought that intrudes repeatedly on a persons consciousness even though the person registers it as irrational.

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31
Q

What is a compulsion?

A

A compulsion is a repetitive action that is usually in response to an obsession.

32
Q

What is required to be diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder?

A

The obsessions and compulsions must consume at least an hour a day and seriously interfere with work and social relationships. (2-3%)

33
Q

What is known to cause OCD?

A

Brain damage from blows to the head, poison or from a difficult birth. There are also unknown causes.

34
Q

What parts of the brain are involved in OCD? What is the theory behind this?

A

Frontal lobes of the cortex and parts of the underlying limbic system and basal ganglia, which normally work together in a circuit to control voluntary actions.It is thought this is because they interfere with the psychological sense of closure when a protective action is complete.

35
Q

What function is inhibited by OCD

A

Executive function is usually inhibited meaning they are less able to inhibit undesirable behavior or to switch from one task to another than people without the disorder.

36
Q

Name the 5 disorders under Traumatic and stress related disorders

A

When children receive abuse, neglect or unfamiliar care:
Reactive attachment disorder ( Children are inhibited or emotionally withdrawn from their caregivers.)
Disinhibited social engagement disorders (Children are overly familiar with unfamiliar adults.)
Involved with exposure to traumatic events or threats of trauma:
Acute stress disorder (distressing memories,negative mood, memory loss, sleep disturbances.)
Adjustment disorder (emotional distress out of proportion to the severity of the stressor in response to an identifiable event.)
Post traumatic stress disorder

37
Q

What 3 major symptoms characterize PTSD

A

uncontrollable re-experiencing, heightened arousal, and avoidance of trauma-related stimuli.

38
Q

What cognitive abilities do sufferers of PTSD also often experience?

A

Speed of info processing, working memory, verbal learning and memory, inhibitory control, episodic memory and imagining future events.

39
Q

Which is more likely to cause PTSD long time exposure to stressors or one short term highly stressful event?

A

Long term exposure, possibly due to the debilitating effect of stress hormones in the brain.

40
Q

What can play a role in developing or preventing PTSD?

A

Ability to regulate one’s emotions, social support before and after and genes

41
Q

What is meant by mood?

A

A prolonged emotional state that colours many if not all aspects of a person’s thought and behavior.

42
Q

What are the two main categories of mood disorders?

A

Depressive disorders and bipolar and related disorders.

43
Q

How is depression characterized? List some other symptoms. How can it be diagnosed?

A

Prolonged sadness, self blame, sense of worthlessness and an absence of pleasure. Other common symptoms include change in sleep, eating or motor systems. These must be very severe, prolonged and not attributed just to a specific life experience to be diagnosed.

44
Q

Distinguish between the two main classes of depression

A

Major depression is classified by very severe symptoms that must have lasted at least two weeks. (15%) dysthymia is characterised by less severe symptoms that must have lasted at least 2 years. (2-3%)

45
Q

Compare generalized anxiety and depression

A

Both predisposed by the same genes, often occur in the same individuals, usually anxiety before major depression.One is excessive worry one is giving up.

46
Q

Explain hopelessness theory

A

Depression results from a pattern of thinking about negative events that have three characteristics;
Assuming the negative event will have disastrous consequences
It reflects something negative about themselves
Attributing the cause to something that won’t change and will affect everything in future.

47
Q

What is meant by rumination?

A

Repetitively and passively focusing on symptoms of distress and on the possible causes and consequences of these symptoms.

48
Q

Name and explain two causes for depression other than negative thinking

A

People who have recently experienced a stressful event, particularily a life alterng loss are more likely to become depressed that those who haven’t. Whether they develop depression or not is highly related to genes.

49
Q

What genes are involved in depression?

A

People who hae the short allele (s) for the gene 5-HTTLLPR are more susceptible to depression, but only if they experienced stressful events in childhood.

50
Q

What neurotransmitters are stimulated when treated for depression?

A

Serotonin and norepinephrine

51
Q

How does the brain change during periods of psychological stress

A

Stress and worry are associated with cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. On animals this can shut off certain growth promoting processes, over periods of weeks or months, a high level of cortisol can result in small but measurable shrinkage in certain parts of the brain including portions of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. This is reversible and serotonin and norepinephrine can stimulate growth in these areas.

52
Q

What is meant by seasonal adaptive disorder?

A

Depression in response to seasonal changes, associated with increased appetite, increased sleepiness and lethargy.

53
Q

How long may mood swings last in people suffering from bipolar disorder?

A

Few days to several months

54
Q

Distinguish between Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorder

A

Bipolar I disorder is categorised by at least one manic episode which may or may not be followed by a period of depression (1%). Bipolar II disorder has a less extreme high phase which is called hypomania rather than mania. (2/3%)

55
Q

What is the cause of bipolar disorder?

A

It is strongly heritable and may be aggravated by a stressful event.

56
Q

What is used to treat Bipolar disorder?

A

Lithium, which works mainly to promote the survival, development and function of neurons.

57
Q

What are the symptoms of a manic episode

A

Euphoric feelings, elevated self-esteem, increased talkativeness, decreased need for sleep and enhanced energy or enthusiasm. Not all people experience it as euphoric, some experience it as rage, suspiciousness others as irritability.

58
Q

What is bipolar correlated with

A

creativity

59
Q

Give a general overview of the people that are diagnosed with schizophrenia

A

More in patient in mental hospitals than any other disorder. More prevalent in men or women and strikes harder, quicker and earlier in men. People can make a partial or full recovery or their life can deteriorate as a result. (0.7%)

60
Q

How can a person be diagnosed with schizophrenia?

A

Must manifest a serious decline in ability to work, care for themself, and connect socially with others. They also must have two or more of the following: Disorganised thought and speech, delusions, hallucinations, grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour and negative symptoms. These are not usually continuously present and may be separated by periods of comparative normalcy.

61
Q

Explain disorganised thought and speech

A

They show speech patterns which reflect an underlying deficit to think in a logical, coherent manner, these sometimes are guided by loose word associations. They also do poorly in all sorts of formal tests of logic.

62
Q

What is a delusion?

A

A false belief held in the face of compelling evidence to the contrary

63
Q

Name three common delusions held by schizophrenics

A

delusions of persecutions, , delusions of being controlled and delusions of grandeur, which may be a result of an inability to separate fantasy from real life or deficits in logical reasoning.

64
Q

What are hallucinations and how do patients often combat them

A

False sensory perceptions, they are usually combatted by procedures such as humming or counting etc

65
Q

What is meant by catatonic behaviour

A

behaviour that is unresponsive to the environment. This may involve excited, restless motor activity or a complete lack of movement over long periods (catalonic supur.)

66
Q

What is meant by negative behaviors?

A

A lack of or reduction in expected thoughts, feelings and drives.

67
Q

What do schizophrenics suffer deficits in?

A

Essentially all basic processes of memory and attention

68
Q

Explain dopamine theory and the evidence behind it and against it

A

Schizophrenia arises from too much activity at brain synapses where dopamine is the neurotransmitter. The most compelling evidence is that the clinical success of reducing the positive symptoms of schizophrenia was directly proportional to the drugs effectiveness of blocking dopamine release at synaptic terminals. Other evidence included that drugs such as cocaine and amphetamine which release dopamine greatly aggravate the conditions and in high doses even produce some of the symptoms. The evidence against it is that it didn’t relieve any of the negative symptoms.

69
Q

What are the modern theories of schizophrenia?

A

Overactivity in some of the brain, especially in the basal ganglia may promote the positive symptoms and underactivity in the prefrontal cortex may promote the negative symptoms. Also one of the main receptors for glutamate may be defective in people with schizophrenia. Abnormalities in pruning on neural cells may also play a role.

70
Q

What alterations in brain structure are observed in people with schizophrenia?

A

Enlargement of the cerebral ventricles (fluid filled spaces in the brain) and a reduction in neural tissue surrounding the ventricles. Abnormal blood flow has also been observed as well as abnormal organisation and activation patterns in the cerebellum and decreased neural mass especially in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex.

71
Q

What are index cases?

A

A group of people who have a certain disorder

72
Q

What is meant by concordance?

A

The percentage of relatives who have the same disorder as an index case.

73
Q

What do the genes associated with schizophrenia influence in the brain

A

Dopamine and glutamate

74
Q

What other biological reason, other than genes, may contribute towards schizophrenia?

A

Prenatal environment such as the prenatal stressors and toxins as well as malnutrition, viral infections or birth complications may contribute to schizophrenia. Head injury before the age of ten can also increase the risk of schizophrenia.

75
Q

Given predisposition, what can trigger schizophrenia?

A

Various stressful life events can precipitate schizophrenia and exacerbate its symptoms. In family life, parental communication in a disorganised, hard to follow or highly emotional manner can increase risk.

76
Q

What was found from the cross culture study on schizophrenia? Give possible reasons for this.

A

There was a high recovery rate and people in developing countries have a higher recovery rate.This may be due to a greater emphasis on interdependence in these countries, that it is seen as less of a permanent illness in this country or that those diagnosed with schizophrenia are more able to play an economically useful role. Another possible factor is that the developing countries used less long term drugs than developed countries.

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