Psychopathology (14) Flashcards
Psychopathology
Sickness or disorder of the mind; psychological disorder
Etiology
The factors that contribute to the development of a disorder; used to help understand the disorder.
Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)
A method that defines basic aspects or domains of functioning (eg. attention, social communication, anxiety) and considers them across multiple levels of analysis, from genes to brain systems to behaviour.
The goal is to understand the processes that give rise to disordered thoughts, emotions and behaviour.
Assessment
In psychology, examination of a person’s cognitive, emotional, or behavioural functioning to diagnose possible psychological disorders. Examining a person’s mental functions and psychological condition, usually using self-reports, psychological testing, observations, interviews, and even neuropsychological testing.
Diathesis-stress model
A diagnostic model that proposes that a disorder may develop when an underlying vulnerability is coupled with a precipitating event.
Vulnerability can be biological (eg. genetic predisposition) or environmental (eg. childhood abuse).
If stress level exceeds an individual’s ability to cope, the symptoms of psychological disorders will occur.
Family systems model
A diagnostic model that considers an individual’s behaviour within a social context, particularly within the family. Problems within an individual are considered as indicating/manifestations of problems within the family.
Sociocultural model
A diagnostic model that views psychopathology as the result of the interaction between individuals and their cultures (eg. lifestyle, expectations, opportunities).
Cognitive-behavioural approach
A diagnostic model that views psychopathology as a result of learned, maladaptive thoughts and beliefs. Therefore, they can be unlearned through treatment.
This relies on the belief that thought processes are available to the conscious mind (unlike psychoanalytic psychologists).
Eg. Little Albert, classically conditioned fear response.
Anxiety disorders
Psychological disorders characterised by excessive fear and anxiety in the absence of true danger.
Feel tense, apprehensive; often irritable for lack of solution; difficulty falling and staying asleep due to constant worry; impaired concentration and attention span.
Continuous arousal of autonomic nervous system means sweating, dry mouth, rapid pulse, shallow breathing, increased blood pressure, and increased muscular tension; hypertension, headaches and other health problems; restless and pointless motor behaviours.
Various disorders share some symptoms, but their behavioural manifestations differ.
Generalised anxiety disorder
A diffuse state of constant anxiety not associated with any specific object or event.
Constantly anxious and worry incessantly about anything.
Hypervigilance – distractibility, fatigue, irritability, and sleep problems; headaches, restlessness, light-headedness, and muscle pain.
Panic disorder
An anxiety disorder that consists of sudden, over-whelming attacks of terror; worry about having additional panic attacks, which seemingly come out of nowhere, or are cued by external stimuli, or internal thought processes.
Sweat, tremble, shortness of breath, racing heart, chest pain, dizzy and lightheadedness, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.
Agoraphobia
An anxiety disorder marked by fear of being in situations in which escape may be difficult or impossible.
Fear is so strong that being in such situations causes panic attacks.
Avoid open spaces and places where there might be crowds; also fear of having panic attack in public.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
A disorder characterised by frequent intrusive thoughts and compulsive actions.
Obsessions are recurrent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts or ideas or mental images that increase anxiety, which individuals with OCD typically attempt to ignore.
Compulsions are particular acts that the OCD patient feels driven to perform over and over that reduce anxiety (often only temporarily).
The anticipation of catastrophe and loss of control, fear of what they might do or might have done.
Causes – possibly classical conditions, reinforced through operant conditioning.
OCD related genes appear to control the neurotransmitter glutamate (excitatory, causing increased neural firing).
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A disorder that involves frequent nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and flashbacks related to an earlier trauma. People with PTSD often try to avoid situations or stimuli that remind them of their trauma.
NIU – those with genetic markers related to serotonin functioning were much more likely to show PTSD symptoms in the week after the shooting.
Chronic tension, anxiety and health problems, may experience memory problems and attention problems; “overconsolidation.”
Major depressive disorder
A disorder characterised by severe negative moods or lack of interest in normally pleasurable activities. Must experience a major depressive episode, where these symptoms last every day for at least two weeks.
Must have other symptoms, eg. appetite and weight changes, sleep disturbances, loss of energy, difficulty concentrating, feelings of self-reproach or guilt, and frequent thoughts of death.
Lasts several months, often years.
