Psychopathology Flashcards
What is Psychiatry
branch of medicine that deals with mental disorders (close to neurology)
Mental Disorder
A behavioral of psychological pattern (syndrome) in an individual that either gives painful symptoms (distress) or seriously disturbs or impairs social or occupational functioning (in military—behavioral health issue)
mental illness is classified in terms of…
disturbance in the process of:
thinking (cognition)
feeling (emotion)
acting (behavior)
(only when significant distress or impairment is present)
Not Mental Disorders
Social Deviance Physical Handicap Expected Cultural Response to an event Religous Deviance Political Deviance
Mental Health Definition
Reaching or working towards life goals without undue impairment or distress
Psychosis Def
mental state in which reality testing is impaired in some grossly significant way. It is a symptomatic mental state, not a diagnosis. May come and go with these characteristics:
- Hallucinations-sensing things that are not there
- Illusions–misinterpretation of sensory stimuli
- Delusion-false belief
- Disorientation
Two general categories of contributing factors to mental disorders
Psychological factors
Biological Factors
Psychological Factors
Current Life Stress
Early Life Experiences
Biological Factors
Biological Illness (brain injury/hormones/infection) Genetic Inheritance (schizophrenia/dementia) Neurotransmitters
Biological Disorders Example
(they will have psychological symptoms as long as not in a coma)
substance-related disorders delirium dementia amnesic endocrine disorders disturbance of brain nutrition enceohalitis
Adjustment Disorders
mental symptoms and/or maladaptive behavior in reaction to a recognizable stress event or situation (temporary and improves with removal of stress)
Symptoms of Adjustment disorder
- mild to disabling
- depression
- self-test with alcohol or drugs
- hostility/anger
- acting out **
Personality disorders
life long
fixed pattern of behavior
(deviates from cultural norms, pervasive, stable over time, distress, onset in adolescence or childhood)
Difference between personality traits and disorder
disorder: inflexible and maladaptive
Three clusters of personality disorders
Cluster A: odd/eccentric
Cluster B: dramatic, emotional, erratic
Cluster C: anxious or fearful
Primary Gain
reduction in anxiety achieved by removing pt from an internal conflict
Secondary Gain
all other external benefits and support from the environment which accrue because of symptom/illness
malingering
deliberately simulating or self-inducing illness for some secondary gain
facticous disease
deliberately simulating illness for primary gain
Psychological Pain Disorder
excessive pain without anatomic cause (similar to conversion disorder)
Hypochondriasis
unrealistic interpretation of physical signs and sensations as abnormal, leading to preoccupation or having serious desease
Mood Disorders
a group of mental disorders in which serious disturbance of mood is the primary characteristic
Depressive Disorders
feelings–sad, pessimism, self-doubt, despair, worthlessness, helplessness, guilt
(Can be situational–real loss or endogenous–brain chemistry)
Severe-longer than 2weeks
Reactive-range of emotions
Nonreactive-cannot be cheered up
Dysthymic Disorder
(chronic mild/moderate depression)
Manic Episode
mental over-stimulation and elation
Schizophrenia
a group of mental disorders characterized by disturbance in thought process:
delusion, hallucination, illogical thinking, strange behavior,
Child and Adolescent Development Disorders
disorders first diagnosed in infancy/adolescence, failure to meet milestones
Examples of Developmental Disorders
mental retardation autism add speech disorders learning disabilities etc...
Disorders of Motivation or the natural appetites
disorders in controlling impulses to do harmful things or of the natural drives or appetittes
Examples of Disorders of Natural Appetites
Impulsive
Sleep Disorders
Eating Disorders
Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders
