Unit 12: Abnormal Psychology Flashcards
Lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia
1%
Factors that increase your risk of developing schizophrenia
- Being Male
- Drug Use (Marijuana)
- Family History
- Old Father
What is the difference between hallucinations and delusions
Hallucinations are sensory information without sensory input (seeing/hearing/feeling things without anything there)
Delusions are irrational thoughts (thinking that you are a god, or that “the government” is out to get you)
Most common type of hallucination
Most common = auditory (75% of people with schizophrenia)
Followed by visual (15% of people with schizophrenia)
What is the difference between positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia
Positive = ADDITIONAL symptoms
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
Negative = LACK of normal functioning
- Attention Deficits
- “Flat Affect” (lack of facial expressions)
- Lack of proper movements
What are the most common types of schizophrenia
- Paranoid
- Disorganized
- Catatonic
- Undifferentiated
- Residual
Describe paranoid schizophrenia
Type of schizophrenia marked by presence of hallucinations and delusions. Commonly centered around paranoia (someone is “out to get you”, anxious)
Positive symptoms, most high functioning
Describe disorganized schizophrenia
Negative symptoms, unable to follow trains of thought, may not be able to create proper sentences. May show inappropriate or no emotions (laughing at very sad stories, or showing no happy or sad emotions in response to emotional stimuli). Difficulty holding attention.
Describe Catatonic Schizophrenia
Type of schizophrenia involving states of catatonic stupor. These periods may last up to hours, and involve the person being very still (like they are in a coma), and can hold irregular body positions for the whole time.
Describe undifferentiated schizophrenia
A person with some symptoms of schizophrenia, but not enough to formally allow a diagnosis of a separate type of schizophrenia (e.g. they have delusions, but not hallucinations, or they have symptoms, but not for long enough to qualify)
Describe Residual Schizophrenia
Residual schizophrenia indicates a patient that has had schizophrenia, but no longer shows any symptoms, or show marked improvement.
What is conversion disorder
Conversion disorder is one (or two) major physical symptoms without a physical cause (mentally produced)
(e.g. Seizures, Tics, Blindness, Paralysis <– all caused in the mind)
They are NOT faking it, otherwise it would be malingering or factitious.
Suzie called the school to say that she was having seizures. Later, we found out that she was “malingering”. What does this mean?
She was intentionally faking the seizures for some benefit (e.g. to get out of a difficult test)
Suzie called the school to say that she was having seizures. Later, we found out that she was “factitious”. What does this mean?
She was intentially faking the disorder for social benefits, so that people would feel sorry for her, and pay attention to her.
What do disorders in the somatoform family have in common
Somatoform disorders are conditions in which a person have physical symptoms with a psychological cause (usually stress of some sort)
What is somatization disorder
Lots of little conversion disorders - you need to have the following to qualify:
- 4 pain symptoms
- 2 gastrointenstinal symptoms
- 1 sexual symptoms
- 1 pseudoneurological symptom
What is hypochondriasis
When a person is hyperaware of becoming sick. (e.g. they see a new freckle on their arm and think they have skin cancer, or develop a cough and think they have the flu)
Condition causing episodes of physical pain with a psychological cause
Pain Disorder
What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
Condition where a person is SO unhappy with a very specific part of their body that it causes extreme anxiety, sometimes preventing them from going into public. This belief is not accurate and is a delusion.
What is the difference between obsessions and compulsions in OCD
Obsessions are the thoughts that cause anxiety
- Germ obsession
- Orderliness, etc…
Compulsions are the behaviors that (temporarily) reduce anxiety
- Washing hands
- Organizing, etc…
Most people inaccurately portray the differences between anorexia and bulimia.
What is the main important difference between anorexia and bulimia
Body weight:
A person with anorexia must be 15% underweight, with a refusal to gain weight
A person with bulimia must be above 15% underweight, and must purge in some manner
If a person has an irregular pattern of eating, is overly concerned with their body weight, but is not severely underweight, and does not purge, what might this person have?
EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified)
This is the “other” category of eating disorders, if you don’t qualify for another specific disorder.
Why is anorexia bad for you?
It is the most lethal psychiatric condition OF ALL CONDITIONS, you starve your body and do not take in enough vital nutrients
15% will die as a direct result of the disorder
Leads to the following conditions: cold hands, yellow skin, dry and brittle hair, low blood pressure, dizziness, tiredness
What are the three methods of purging associated with Bulimia
- Throwing up
- Use of laxatives
- Extreme exercise
Why is bulimia bad for you?
Vomiting is bad for your teeth (can permanently destroy the enamel, which does not recreate), and throat (the exposure to acid can cause esophogeal cancer)
The cycle of binging and purging does not allow you to absorb the proper nutrients required by your body.
What is binge eating disorder
People with BED (Binge Eating Disorder) will binge and not purge, leading to obesity
What is the age of onset for the following:
Schizophrenia
Anorexia
Bulimia
Binge Eating Disorder
Schizophrenia: 19-24
Anorexia: 15-19
Bulimia: early-mid 20s
Binge Eating Disorder: 30-50
What are the five axis used by therapists in treating patients with psychotherapy?
Axis I - Primary Disorder (e.g. “Schizophrenia” or “Major Depression)
Axis II - Personality Disorder or Developmental Disorders (e.g. “Antisocial Personality Disorder” or “Mental Retardation”)
Axis III - Medical Problems (e.g. “Type 2 Diabetes” or “Asthma”)
Axis IV - Psychosocial Stressors (e.g. “divorce” or “job loss”)
Axis V - GAF Global Assessment of Functioning (0-100 scale, where 100 indicates “normal” functioning)
The condition where a person splits into several distinct personalities, where each one has different traits, and can even remember separate things. This used to be called “Multiple Personality Disorder”
Dissociative Identity Disorder
The original identity in DID
Host
The “other” identities in DID
Alter identities
What causes DID?
Severe trauma in childhood
Why is DID controversial?
Some psychiatrists believe that it (a) doesn’t exist at all, or (b) exists much less frequently than is currently reported
Condition marked by frequent “out of body” experiences, feeling like you are watching your body live your life with no control
Depersonalization Disorder
Forgetting what happened BEFORE whatever caused memory loss
Retrograde Amnesia
Inability to form new memories
Anterograde Amnesia
Forgetting ALL of a specific incident (ALL of your traumatic 15th birthday party)
Localized Amnesia
Forgetting PARTS of a specific incident
Selective Amnesia
Condition marked by anterograde amnesia and… walking a long distance…
Dissociative Fugue
Irrational fear of something
Phobia
Irrational fear of a specific situation or object
Specific Phobia
Most common type of specific phobia
Social Phobia
74% of people that report having a specific phobia report having social phobia
Persistent panic attacks (at least 2 in the last 6 months)
Panic Disorder
Fear of being in a place where escape might be difficult, for fear that you might have a panic attack (e.g. open, large, crowded places)
Agoraphobia
