Psychological Disorders Part II

Question 1

Cognitive model

Answer 1

Biases in how information is attended to, processed, and remembered lead to and maintain depression

Question 2

Helplessness theory

Answer 2

Individuals who are prone to depression automatically attribute negative experiences to causes that are
internal (their fault), stable (unlikely to change), and global (widespread)

Question 3

Negative schema

Answer 3

– Interpretations of information (tendency to interpret neutral information as negative)
– Attention (trouble disengaging from negative information)
– Memory (better recall of negative information)

Question 4

Bipolar disorder

Answer 4

Characterized by cycles of abnormal, persistent high mood (mania) and low mood (depression). Typically a cycle of manic either before or after depression. No biological sex differences.

Question 5

Depressive phase

Answer 5

Just like major depression

Question 6

Mania phase

Answer 6

1 week long, elevated or expansive or irritable
mood, grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, talkativeness, racing thoughts, reckless behaviour, distractibility; sometimes also hallucinations and delusions

Question 7

Rapid cycling behaviour

Answer 7

Four mood episodes (either manic or depressive) every year

Question 8

Causes of bipolar disorder

Answer 8

• Highest rate of heritability
• Polygenic
• Pleiotropic effects
• Stressful life experiences
• Influence of family members with expressive emotion:

Question 9

Polygenic

Answer 9

Interaction of multiple genes

Question 10

Pleiotropic effects

Answer 10

One gene influences one’s susceptibility to multiple disorders

Question 11

Expressive emotion

Answer 11

Critical, hostile, and emotionally over-involved attitude that relatives have toward a family member with a disorder.

Question 12

Psychosis

Answer 12

Break from reality

Question 13

Schizophrenia

Answer 13

Profound disruption of basic psychological
processes; a distorted perception of reality; altered or blunted emotion; and disturbances in thought, motivation, and behaviour

Question 14

Diagnosis of schizophrenia

Answer 14

– Two or more symptoms emerge during a continuous period of at least 1 month with signs for at least 6 months
– Symptoms are separated into positive, negative, and cognitive categories
- First episode occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood

Question 15

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 15

Thoughts/behaviours present

Includes hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and grossly disorganized behaviour

Question 16

Hallucinations

Answer 16

False perceptual experiences that seem real despite the absence of external stimulation
– Hearing, seeing, smelling, or feeling things that aren’t there
– Most common? Auditory (65%)

Question 17

Delusions

Answer 17

False beliefs, often bizarre or grandiose, that are
maintained despite being irrational; persecution is also
common
– Do not recognize that they have lost control of their minds
– Develop beliefs/theories they attribute to external agents

Question 18

Disorganized speech

Answer 18

Severe disruption of verbal communication in which ideas shift rapidly and incoherently among unrelated topics

Question 19

Grossly disorganized behaviour

Answer 19

Behaviour inappropriate for the situation or ineffective in attaining goals, often with specific motor disturbances
– Childlike silliness
– Improper sexual behaviour
– Disheveled appearance
– Shouting or swearing
– Motor disturbances: catatonia

Question 20

Catatonia

Answer 20

Decrease in all movement, muscle rigidity, repetitive or purposeless overactivity, etc - basically abnormalities in movement

Question 21

Negative symptoms

Answer 21

Deficits or disruptions of normal emotions and behaviours

• Emotional and social withdrawal
• Apathy
• Poverty of speech
• Lack of motivation, emotions
• Lack of a capacity to focus

Question 22

Cognitive symptoms

Answer 22

Deficits in cognitive abilities, specifically in executive functioning, attention, and working memory
- Hard to notice; less publicly displayed

Question 23

Causes of schizophrenia

Answer 23

• Biological factors: Rates increase dramatically with biological relatedness
• Environmental factors: Prenatal/perinatal (immediately before and after birth) environment
• Biochemical factors: Dopamine hypothesis
• Neuroanatomy: Enlargement of the ventricles (areas with cerebrospinal fluid) in the brain; enlargement means reduced tissue mass
• Psychological factors: Family environment: extreme conflict, lack of communication, chaotic relationships

Question 24

Dopamine hypothesis

Answer 24

Schizophrenia involves an excess of dopamine activity; mixed findings on this!

Question 25

Misconceptions with schizophrenia

Answer 25

• Schizophrenia is NOT multiple personality disorder or split personalities
• Multiple personality disorder is NOT the correct term

Question 26

Dissociative identity disorder

Answer 26

• Disorder where two or more distinct identities or personality states alternately take control of the individual
  – Deficits in the integration of various aspects of identity, memory, and consciousness into a single self

Question 27

Autism

Answer 27

• Begins in early childhood
• Persistent communication deficits
• Restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours, interests, or activities
• More diagnoses now – better screening tools!
• Includes: Autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, Childhood disintegrative disorder, and Pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified

Question 28

Heritability of autism

Answer 28

90%

Question 29

Unique capabilities of autism

Answer 29

• Enhanced abilities to perceive or remember details
  – Master symbol systems like math or music
  – Superior ability for systematizing (understanding
  rules that organize structure/function of objects)

Question 30

What does autism impair?

Answer 30

Empathizing (knowing mental states of others)

Question 31

ADHD

Answer 31

Persistent pattern of severe problems with inattention and/or hyperactivity or impulsiveness that causes significant impairments in functioning

Question 32

Diagnosis of ADHD

Answer 32

Must have:
– Multiple symptoms of inattention (e.g., organization, memory)
– Evidence of hyperactivity-impulsiveness (e.g., difficulties remaining still, waiting for a turn)
– Must be present for at least 6 months in at least two settings (e.g., home and school)
– Before age 12

Question 33

Adult ADHD

Answer 33

Can persist into adulthood

– Few adults receive treatment even though it has negative consequences on job performance and relationships

Question 34

Cause of ADHD

Answer 34

• Strong biological influence (heritability is 76%!)
  – Smaller brain volumes in ADHD individuals
  – Structural/functional abnormalities in areas associated
  with attention and behavioural inhibition

Question 35

Conduct disorder

Answer 35

Persistent pattern of deviant behaviour involving

aggression to people or animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness or theft, or serious rule violations

Question 36

Symptoms of conduct disorder

Answer 36

Cluster into 3 categories:
- Rule breaking
- Theft/deceit
- Aggression towards others
For diagnosis, need 3/15 symptoms = 32k combos

Question 37

Causes of conduct disorder

Answer 37

Combination of genetic factors + environmental stressors = brain structures/functions that combine with
environmental factors (i.e., peers) to lead to deviant
behaviours

Question 38

Personality disorders

Answer 38

Enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, or relating to others or controlling impulses that deviate from cultural
expectations and cause distress or impaired functioning. Begin in adolescence or early adulthood; stable over time. 3 clusters: odd/eccentric, dramatic/erratic, and anxious/inhibited.

Question 39

Antisocial personality disorder

Answer 39

Pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adulthood and continues into adulthood. Usually history of conduct disorder before 15.

Question 40

Symptoms of antisocial personality disorder

Answer 40

Diagnosis w/ 3 of 7 signs:
- Illegal behaviour
– Deception
– Impulsivity
– Physical aggression
– Recklessness
– Irresponsibility
– Lack of remorse for wrongdoing

Question 41

Sociopath/psychopath

Answer 41

Terms used to describe people who have APD but are especially cold-hearted, manipulative, ruthless, glib, charming

Question 42

Cause of APD

Answer 42

• Early onset of conduct problems
  – Brain abnormalities
  – Less activity in amygdala/hippocampus = less sensitive to fear

Question 43

Suicide

Answer 43

Intentional self—inflicted death
– Biological sex differences: men more than women
– Sociodemographic differences

Question 44

Suicide attempt

Answer 44

Engaging in potentially harmful behaviour with
intent of dying
– Biological sex differences: women more than men
– Increases during adolescence and young adulthood

Question 45

Cause of suicide

Answer 45

– We do not know; complex issue
– Influence of distressing situations (like multiple mental
illnesses, trauma, severe medical issues)

Question 46

Nonsuicidal self-injury

Answer 46

Direct, deliberate destruction of body tissue in the absence of any intent to die
– No real biological sex or racial differences; some cultural differences

Question 47

Cause of self-harm

Answer 47

• Understanding is limited; no clear biological or environmental causes
  – Strong emotional and physiological responses to negative events; self-injury diminishes the intensity of the response