Psychology Ch. 14 Flashcards
Psychological Disorder
A syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behaviour that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning”
Stigma
One of biggest barriers to treatment is the fear
of being judged and/or discriminated against
(stigma) Certain mental health
issues are more stigmatized than others
(e.g., addiction, psychotic disorders)
Stereotypes with disorders
Psychological disorders are incurable
People with psychological disorders are often
violent and dangerous
People with psychological disorders behave in
bizarre ways and are very different from normal
people
Evidence based practice
making informed decisions rooted in the best available evidence from scientific research.
Mental disorders are what?
Brain diseases -Implies that it is not the fault of the person, which is
important; but doesn’t necessarily reduce stigma or
discrimination
Diathesis-stress model
It’s the combination of both of these things determines how likely someone is to develop a mental disorder
[Not everyone with a family history, genetic predisposition,
childhood trauma, etc., will develop a psychological disorder
Not everyone who experiences a stressful life event will
develop a psychological disorder]
Assessments
involves examining a person’s mental
state in order to diagnose (and treat) possible
psychological disorders
Comorbidity
juggling multiple health challenges at once, and it requires a holistic approach to address the interconnected aspects of each condition.
What criteria do psychologists use to determine whether someone’s behaviour is normal or abnormal?
Maladaptive behaviour (not just abnormal)
The behaviour must interfere with at least one important
aspect of the person’s life
Our understanding of abnormal behaviour and mental
illness is also constantly evolving
Treatment
always involves interactions between
practitioner and client/patient importance of finding the
right practitioner Increased understanding of the
causes of a mental disorder does not necessarily lead to more effective treatment strategies
Psychotherapy
Any psychological service provided by a trained
professional that primarily uses forms of
communication and interaction to assess,
diagnose, and treat dysfunctional emotional
reactions, ways of thinking, and behaviour patterns
May be provided to individuals, couples, families, or
members of a group
Major categories include psychodynamic therapy,
humanistic therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy
Psychoanalytic Therapy
Focus on bringing unconscious struggles into consciousness
(free association, dream analysis)
Insight: Increase patient’s understanding of their own
psychological processes
Person–Centered (Humanistic) Therapy
Encouragement of personal growth through self-
understanding -congruence
Safe and comfortable setting, empathy, reflective listening
Cognitive therapy
Attempts to modify maladaptive thought patterns
E.g., Cognitive restructuring
Recognizing automatic thoughts
Identify cognitive distortions (e.g., personalizing)
Challenge or dispute the thoughts
Replace with healthier/ more functional thoughts
Behaviour therapy
Attempts to modify maladaptive behaviours and the
environments that trigger them (reconditioning)
E.g., systematic desensitization (fear hierarchy, relaxation training,
exposure therapy)
VRET
virtual reality exposure therapy
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Incorporates techniques
from both cognitive
therapy and behavioural
therapy to correct faulty
thinking and change
maladaptive behaviours
Very successful at treating
anxiety and mood
disorders, particularly over
the long-term
Psychotropic medication
Drugs that affect mental
processes
Anxiolytics
treatment of anxiety
e.g., benzodiazepines, increase GABA activity
Antidepressants
E.g., SSRIs increase serotonin levels
Antipsychotics
Block dopamine, reduce positive symptoms of
schizophrenia (e.g.,hallucinations, delusions)
Schizophrenia
A mental disorder characterized by
alterations in perceptions, emotions,
thoughts, or consciousness
(can cause hallucinations etc..)
Maladaptive
doing things or thinking in ways that aren’t helpful. It’s like having habits or thoughts that make life harder instead of easier.
Positive symptoms
represent an increase or addition to normal functioning. These symptoms are not present in healthy individuals and often indicate an alteration in perception, thought processes, or behavior.(hallucinations, delusions etc..)
Delusions
False personal beliefs based on incorrect
inferences about reality
Hallucinations
False sensory experiences
Disorganized speech:
Loosening of associations;
Speech pattern in which
thoughts are disorganized or
meaningless
Disorganized behaviour
Disorganized or abnormal
motor behaviour, e.g.,
catatonia
Negative symptoms
deficits or reductions in normal functioning. They represent a decrease or absence of certain behaviors and abilities that are typically present in healthy individuals
Isolation, withdrawal
Apathy
Blunted emotion
Slowed, monotonous speech
Generally more difficult to treat
than positive symptoms; different
underlying causes
Biological & Environmental Factors
Genetic component Structural and
functional differences in the
brain frontal lobe
dysfunction Environmental stress Socioeconomic
status, prenatal environment Drug use (THC)
Treatment for Schizophrenia
Pharmacological treatments are the most effective
Neuroleptics revolutionized the treatment of schizophrenia
Significant side effects - tardive dyskinesia
Atypical (second generation) antipsychotics, e.g.,
Clozapine
lower risk of motor impairment, though not
without their own side effects
Little to no effect on negative symptoms in the long-term
Bipolar disorders (BD)
Manic episodes – elevated mood, increased activity,
diminished need for sleep, grandiose ideas, racing
thoughts, and extreme distractibility
Different subtypes based on nature of manic (or
hypomanic) and depressive (or neutral) episodes
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
One of the most frequently diagnosed disorders (~7% of the adult population each year)
more common among young adults (18 – 29 years old) and women
Diagnosis requires presence of depressed mood and/or
anhedonia, along with other physical or cognitive symptoms
(e.g., appetite and sleep disturbances, loss of energy; difficulty
concentrating, feelings of worthlessness, thoughts of death)
Suicide: Warning Signs
Risk factors for youth include mood disorders, recent and
extremely stressful life events, etc.
(talking about suicide, giving away prized possessions, has attempted before etc…)
Potential Causes of Depression
Learned helplessness
Depressive attributional style: attribute failures to internal,
global, stable causes
“It’s my fault my partner broke up with me, I am unlovable, and it’s always going to be this way”
Heritability of depression is estimated to be around 40%
Genes affecting serotonin function
Genes affecting circadian rhythms
Many different areas of the brain are impacted by
depression
Importantly, the experience of severe stress (e.g., loss of a loved one, failure to reach goals) frequently occurs
just before the onset of a depressive episode
Treatment for Depression
Many different treatment
approaches are available: Antidepressants, Cognitive-behavioural therapy
Alternative treatments- include phototherapy,
aerobic exercise, electroconvulsive therapy
(ECT), and deep brain stimulation (DBS)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Hypervigilance - fatigue, irritability, headaches, etc.
Specific phobias (e.g., blood-injury-injection)
Social anxiety
Having an intense fear of social situations, which can interfere with personal and professional aspects of life. It’s a common mental health challenge that many people successfully manage with the right support and strategies.
e.g., Agoraphobia (with or without panic attacks)
Treatments for anxiety disorder
Anxiolytics (e.g., Xanax à increase
GABA) - Cognitive-behavioural therapy - Exposure therapy (phobias)
Obsessions
component of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), characterized by persistent, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings
Compulsions
particular acts that one feels driven to perform over and over again; often include cleaning, checking, and
counting
OCD
Having unwanted thoughts that won’t go away, and feeling compelled to do certain actions repeatedly to ease anxiety -a mental loop of distressing thoughts leading to repetitive behaviors
Causes of OCD
strong genetic component
Classical and operant conditioning processes
Anxiety paired with event (CC), behaviour linked
with relief (OC)
Abnormal behavior
like behavior that stands out significantly from what is considered normal, and it can vary based on cultural and situational factors. When it interferes with daily life, it may be a sign that professional help is needed.
Neurodevelopmental disorders
variations in the typical growth of the brain, influencing how individuals think, learn, and interact
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
A unique way of experiencing the world, characterized by differences in communication and social interaction. Individuals with ASD may face challenges in verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as difficulties in forming social relationships
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
A neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity. Individuals with ADHD may find it difficult to stay focused on tasks, often becoming easily distracted. Impulsivity can manifest as hasty decision-making or difficulty waiting for one’s turn. Hyperactivity may involve excessive fidgeting or restlessness.
Cognitive triad
It involves three negative thought patterns that individuals may develop, influencing their perceptions of themselves, the world, and the future.
Electroconvulsive therapy
A medical treatment primarily used for severe mental health conditions, particularly when other interventions have not been effective. It involves the controlled induction of a brief seizure by passing an electric current through the brain.
Deep brain stimulation
A medical procedure involving the implantation of a device that sends electrical signals to specific areas of the brain
Specific phobias
Irrational fears of specific objects or situations that cause significant distress.
Agoraphobia
scared of going outside/public places
