Psychological Disorders Flashcards
Biomedical Approach
therapy includes interventions that rally around symptom reduction of psychological disorders
Biopsychosocial Approach
method assumes that there are biological, psychological, and social components to an individual’s disorder
direct therapy
medication or periodic psychologist meetings
indirect therapy
aims to increase social support by educating and empowering family and friends of the affected individual
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
- created to help clinicians in considered all of the above factors
- Used as a diagnostic tool that has statistical data in the US
Schizophrenia
Prototypical psychotic disorder
Schizophrenia symptoms
delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thought, disorganized behavior, catatonia (above movements from a mental disorder), and other negative symptoms
Diagnosis of Schizophrenia
- must show continuous signs of the disturbance for at least six months
- At least one month must include active symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech)
Schizophrenia Positive symptoms
- behaviors, thoughts, or feelings added to normal behavior
- delusions/hallucinations, disorganized though, and disorganizes/catatonic behavior
Schizophrenia Negative symptoms
- involve the absence of normal or desired behavior
- disturbance of affect and avolition (decrease in motivation)
Delusions
false beliefs that are not in-line with reality and are not shared by others in the individual’s culture
Delusion of Reference
the belief that common elements in the environment are directed towards the individual
Delusions of Persecution
belief that the person is being deliberately interfered with, discriminated against, plotted against, or threatened
Delusions of Grandeur
belief that the person is remarkable in some significant way
Thought Broadcasting
belief that one’s thoughts are broadcasted directly from one’s head to the external world
Thought Insertion
belief that thoughts are being placed in one’s head
Hallucinations
perceptions that are not due to external stimuli but seem like reality
Disorganized thought
characterized by a loosening of associations
Neologisms
invented words by a schizophrenic person
Disorganized Behavior
inability to carry out activities of daily living such as paying bills. Maintaining hygiene, and keeping appointments
Catatonia
refers to certain motor behaviors characterizes of people with schizophrenia
Echolalia
repeating another’s word
Echopraxia
imitating others actions
Disturbance of Affect
- affect refers to the experience and display of emotion
- May include blunting, emotional flattening, Inappropriate affect
Blunting
severe reduction in the intensity of affect expression
Flat Effect (emotional flattening)
no signs of emotional expression
Inappropriate affect
affect is clearly discordant with the content of the individual’s speech
Avolition
decreased engagement in purposeful, goal-directed actions
Prodromal Phase
Phase before schizophrenia that is characterized by poor adjustment
Major Depressive Disorder
mood disorder that is characterized by at least one major depressive episode
Major Depressive Episode
period of at least two weeks with at least five of the symptoms
Major Depressive Episode Symptoms
o Prominent and relatively persistent depressed mood
o Anhedonia
o Appetite disturbances
o Substantial weight changes
o Sleep disturbances
o Decreased energy
o Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
o Difficulty concentrating or thinking
o Psychomotor symptoms
o Thoughts of death or attempts at suicide
Psychomotor symptoms
feeling slowed down
Anhedonia
loss of interest in all or almost all formerly enjoyable activities
Persistent Depressive Disorder
individuals who suffer from dysthymia
Dysthymia
depressed mood that isn’t severe enough to meet the criteria of a major depressive episode – for at least two years
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Major depressive that is characterized by seasonal onset
- not a freestanding diagnosis
- Depressive symptoms are only present in winter months
Bipolar
Major type of mood disorder that is characterized by both depression and mania
Manic episodes
- abnormal and persistently elevated mood lasting at least one week
- Have at least 3 of the symptoms
- Episodes have a rapid onset and briefer duration than depressive episodes
Manic episode symptoms
▪ Increased distractibility
▪ Decreased need for sleep
▪ Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
▪ Racing thoughts
▪ Increased goal-directed activity or agitation
▪ Pressured speech or increased talkativeness
▪ Involvement in high-risk behavior
Bipolar I disorder
manic episodes with or without major depressive episodes
Bipolar II disorder
hypomania with at least one major depressive disorder
Hypomania
does not significantly impair functioning and does not have psychotic features. Individual may be more energetic and optimistic however
Cyclothymic disorder
combination of hypomanic episodes and periods of dysthymia that are not severe enough to qualify as a major depressive episode
Monoamine or catecholamine theory of depression
- Too much norepinephrine and serotonin in the synapse may lead to mania
- Too little of the above would lead to depression
Generalized Anxiety disorder
disproportionate and persistent worry about many different things
Generalized Anxiety disorder symptoms
fatigue, muscle tension and sleep tension
Phobia
irrational fear of something that results in a compelling desire to avoid it
Specific Phobia
where anxiety is produced by a specific object or situation
Social Anxiety Disorder
- anxiety that is due to social situations
- Individuals have a persistent fear when exposed to social or performance situations that may result in embarrassment
Agoraphobia
Anxiety disorder caused by fear of being in places or situation where it might be hard to escape
Panic Disorder
-Anxiety disorder that consists of repeated panic attacks
Panic Attack symptoms
- Fear and apprehension, trembling, sweating, hyperventilation, and a sense of unreality
- suddenly stuck by a sense of impending doom and may be convinced that they are about to lose their mind
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
obsessions, that produce tension, and compulsions (repetitive tasks) that relieve tension but cause significant impairments in a person’s life
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Person has an unrealistic negative evaluation of their personal appearance and attractiveness
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event
- consists of intrusion symptoms, avoidance symptoms, negative cognitive symptoms, and arousal symptoms
Intrusion Symptoms
includes recurrent reliving of the event, flashbacks, nightmares, and prolonged distress
Avoidance Symptoms
deliberate attempts to avoid the memories, people, places, activities, and objects associated with the trauma
Negative Cognitive Symptoms
inability to recall key features of the event, negative mood or emotions, feeling distanced from others, and a persistent negative view of the world
Arousal Symptoms
increased startle response, irritability, anxiety, self-destructive or reckless behavior, and sleep disturbances
Acute Stress disorder
same symptoms last for less than one month, but more than three days
Dissociative Disorders
Person avoids stress by escaping from their identity
Dissociative Amnesia
- inability to recall past experiences
- often linked to trauma
Dissociative Fugue
- sudden, unexpected move or purposeless wandering away from one’s home
- confused about identity and can sometimes assume a new identity
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
- Two or more personalities that recurrently take control of a person’s behavior
- Results when the components of identity fail to integrate
- often involved with children who have been subject to sexual or physical abuse
Depersonalization
- Individuals feel detached from their own mind and body
- “out-of-body experience”
Derealization
- individual feels detached from their surroundings
- “dream-like world”
Somatic Symptom Disorder
have at least one somatic (bodily) symptom that may or may not be linked to an underlying medical condition
Illness Anxiety Disorder
- being consumed with thoughts about having or developing a serious medical condition
- individuals quick to become alarmed about their health
Conversion disorder
- Characterized by unexplained symptoms affecting voluntary motor or sensory functions
- Symptoms typically begin after the individual experiences high levels of stress or a traumatic event
Conversion disorder: La belle indifference
person is unconcerned by the symptom. Patients with this disorder may experience this indifference
Personality Disorder
- pattern of behavior that is inflexible and maladaptive
- Considered ego-syntonic
Personality Disorder causes distress or impaired functioning of at least two of the following
▪ Cognition
▪ Emotions
▪ Interpersonal functioning
▪ Impulse control
Ego-syntonic
individual perceives their behavior as correct, normal or in harmony with their goals
Ego-dystonic
individual sees the illness as something that is thrust upon them and is intrusive/bothersome
Cluster A disorders
- Paranoid, Schizotypal, and Schizoid Personality Disorders
- disorders that all have behaviors which are labeled as odd or eccentric by others
Paranoid personality disorder
pervasive distrust of others
Schizotypal Personality disorder
- pattern of odd or eccentric thinking
- Individuals have ideas of reference (like a less extreme delusion of reference) & magical thinking
Schizoid Personality Disorder
- pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression
- Individuals show little desire for social interaction
Cluster B disorders
- Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders
- behavior that is labelled as dramatic, emotional or erratic by others
Antisocial Personality Disorder
pattern of disregard for and violations of the rights of others
Borderline Personality Disorder
- pervasive instability in interpersonal behavior, mood, and self-image
- Have intense and unstable interpersonal relationships
- Profound identity disturbance: uncertainty about self-image, sexual identity, long-term goals, or values
- Intense fear of abandonment
Historic Personality Disorder
- constant attention seeking behavior
- Individuals wear colorful clothing, are dramatic, and are exceptionally extroverted
- May also use seductive behavior to gain attention
Narcissistic Personality disorder
person has a grandiose sense of self-importance and uniqueness, preoccupation with fantasies of success, a need for constant admiration and attention, and characteristic disturbances in interpersonal relation
Cluster C disorders
- avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders
- behaviors that are labeled as anxious or fearful
Avoidant
- affected individual has extreme shyness and fear of rejection
- Individual sees themselves as socially inept and is often socially isolated
- Have an intense desire for social affection and acceptance
- Tend to stay in the same jobs, life situations and relationships even if they want change
Dependent
- continuous need for reassurance
- Individuals tend to remain dependent on one specific person to take actions and make decisions
Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)
individual is perfectionistic and inflexible, tends to like rules and order
Neuroleptics
medication used to treat schizophrenia that act to block dopamine receptors
Presenilin
gene on chromosome 1 and 14 contribute to having Alzheimer’s Disease
Apolipoprotein E gene
mutations on chromosome 19 can alter the likelihood of acquiring Alzheimer’s Disease
Beta-amyloid precursor protein
gene on chromosome 21 contributes to a higher risk of having Alzheimer’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease characterization
- Bradykinesia
- Resting tremor
- Pill-rolling tremor
- Masklike facies
- Cogwheel Rigidity
- Shuffling Gait
Bradykinesia
slowness in movement
Resting tremor
tremor that appears when muscles are not being used
Pill-rolling tremor
flexing and extending the fingers while moving the thumb back and forth. As if something is rolling in the fingers
Masklike facies
facial expression consisting of static and expressionless facial features
Cogwheel Rigidity
muscle tension that intermittently halts movement as an examiner attempts to move a limb
Shuffling Gait
stooped posture
Substantia nigra
layer of cells in the brain that functions to produce dopamine
