Psychological Disorders and Therapy Flashcards
early theories about psychological disorders
thought to be caused by:
- being possessed by evil spirits
- alignment of the stars
- godlike powers
trephination
spirit possession was often treated by drilling holes into the skull to release to spirit
deviant
being different from most other people in one’s culture; mat vary by context or time
distressful
causes the individual pain, anxiety, etc.
dysfunctional
impairs the individual’s daily life
medical model
mental illness needs to be diagnosed on basis of symptoms and cured through therapy and treatment
biospsychosocial approach
focuses more on the causes of the disorder rather than treatment
primary prevention
measure taken to prevent the disease from occurring the first place
ie: wearing sunblock to prevent sunburn
secondary prevention
measures used after disease has occurred but before the person notices anything
ie: doctor checking for new moles
tertiary prevention
targets a person who already has symptoms of a disease
ie: surgery, chemotherapy
DSM-5
APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
aka the psychiatrists bible
people-first language
seeing individuals as people first and not as being defined by their disorder “a person with schizophrenia” vs. “a schizophrenic”
Rosenhan study
eight associates faked hallucination symptoms, all were admitted with schizophrenia (none exposed as imposters)
panic disorder
characterized by repeated panic attacks (episodes of intense dread) in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, and other frightening sensations)
separation anxiety disorder
a psychological condition in which an individual experiences excessive anxiety regarding separation from home or from people to whom the individual has strong emotional attachment
specific phobia
persistent irrational fear of a specific object, event, or person
agoraphobia
fear of avoidance of dangerous or uncomfortable situations in which escape may be difficult (typically vast openness or crowdedness)
social anxiety disorder
characterized by intense fear in one or more social situations due to anxiety over potential social interactions
selective mutism
a person who is normally capable of speech does not speak in specific situations or to specific people
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
an individual is continually tense, apprehensive, expecting, disaster, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal with no causal root
major depressive disorder
characterized by persistent and pervasive low mood that is accompanied by low self-esteem and a loss of self interest or pleasure in normal activities with no causal factor
season affective disorder (SAD)
depression experienced during the winter months due to lack of sunlight
bipolar disorder
characterized by periods of mania (elevated mood and activity/energy) alternating with periods of depression
enuresis
the repeated inability to control urination in children or adults old enough to be expected to exercise such control (approximately age 5 and older)
encopresis
the repeated voluntary or involuntary fecal soiling in children who have usually already been toilet trained
dissociative amnesia
individual experiences retrograde autobiographical loss of memory with no physiological basis for the disruption
dissociative fugue
subset of dissociative amnesia where a person forgets their past, creates a brand new identity, and begins a new life in a different location
depersonalization/derealization disorder (DDD)
a mental disorder where a person experiences a feeling of watching oneself act with no control over a situation (depersonalization) and a belief that one’s external world is unreal (derealization)
dissociative identity disorder (DID)
a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities
pica disorder
characterized by an appetite for substances that are non-nutritive, such as paper, clay, metal, chalk, soil, glass, or sand
anorexia nervosa
an eating disorder characterized by food intake restriction, distorted body self-perception, and possible excessive exercise
bulimia nervosa
an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging and possible excessive exercise
intellectual disability
characterized by significantly impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning defined at an IQ score below 70
autism spectrum disorder
characterized by social defects and communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors and interests, sensory issues, and in some cases, cognitive delays
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
characterized by significant problems with attention and inhibition control, hyperactivity, or impulsiveness
specific learning disorder
the impediment of ability to learn or use specific academic skills (such as reading, writing, or arithmetic) which are the foundation of other academic learning
tourette’s disorder
characterized by multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic
obsessive-compulsive disorder
characterized by persistent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) causing the feeling of needing to engage in a particular action (compulsion) to make the obsession stop
body dysmorphic disorder
a person is excessively concerned about and preoccupied by one or more imagined or minor defects in their physical features
hoarding disorder
characterized by excessive acquisition of large quantities of objects and an unwillingness or inability to discard them
trichotillomania
characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one’s hair, leading to noticeable hair loss and balding, distress, and social or functional impairment
excoriation
an impulse control disorder characterized by the repeated urge to pick at one’s own skin, often to the extent that damage is caused
schizophrenia
a mental disorder characterized by abnormal social behavior and a failure to recognize what is real
positive symptoms of schiz.
presence of inappropriate behaviors delusions hallucinations excessive/purposeless movement word salad
delusions
false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur
hallucinations
sensory experiences without sensory stimulation
word salad
confused and often repetitious language
negative symptoms of schiz.
absence of appropriate behaviors
flat affect
catatonia
loss of interest in everyday activities / lack of pleasure
feeling out of touch with people, family, and friends
flat affect
apathetic state involving lack of emotion
catatonia
motionless for hours
conversion disorder
characterized by suffering of neurological symptoms without definable cause
illness anxiety disorder
an individual excessively worries about a serious illness based on little or no evidence to substantiate the worry
reactive attachment disorder
characterized by persistent failure to initiate or respond to most social interactions in a developmentally appropriate way
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
characterized by disturbing, recurring flashbacks after exposure to a traumatic event
post traumatic growth
those who recover from traumatic events typically experience increased life satisfaction
adjustment disorder
characterized by being unable to adjust or cope with a particular stressor, such as a major life event
antisocial personality disorder
characterized by pervasive pattern of manipulation and a disregard for the rights of others
dependent personality disorder
characterized by a pervasive psychological dependence on other people
histrionic personality disorder
characterized by pattern of excessive attention-seeking, including a need for approval
avoidant personality disorder
characterized by pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation and avoidance of social interaction
narcissistic personality disorder
characterized by extreme ego-centrism and self importance and excessive preoccupation with power, prestige, and vanity
borderline personality disorder
characterized by impulsivity and extreme instability in emotions, relationships, and self-image
