Unit 8 Flashcards
psychology student syndrome
Psychology students studying abnormal behavior can also become convinced that they have some mental disorde
abnormal psychology
The scientific study of abnormal behavior undertaken to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning
clinical psychologists
The applied field of psychology that seeks to assess, understand and treat psychological conditions in clinical practice
psychopathology
Scientific study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences
etiology
study and investigation into the root causes of a psychological disorder
Deviant
Abnormal behavior, thoughts, and emotions that differ markedly from a society’s ideas about proper functioning
Distress
The person reports feeling pain and discomfort associated with his or her emotions, thoughts, or behaviors
dysfunctional
Interfering with the ability to conduct daily activities in a constructive way
Danger
Abnormal behavior becomes dangerous to oneself or others
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
Manual that lists 541 diagnoses, most widely used classification system
published by American Psychiatric Association in 2013, Continues to change & evolve
insanity
Legal term pertaining to a defendant’s ability to determine right from wrong when a crime is committed
Concept discussed in court to help distinguish guilt from innocence
(cuando mandan al psiquiattrico en lugar de la carcel)
model
Set of assumptions and concepts that help scientists explain and interpret observations (synonym-paradigm)
medical/biological models
View abnormal behavior as an illness brought about by the malfunctions parts of the organism, believe that the most effective treatments are biological ones
psychodynamic model
Believe that a person’s behavior, whether normal or abnormal, is determined largely by underlying psychological forces of which he or she is not consciously aware
humanistic model
An approach suggests abnormal behaviors are brought upon the individual due to limiting factors in his/her life.
behavioral model
Believe that our actions are determined largely by our experiences in life (response to environment)
cognitive model
Cognitive processes are at the center of behaviors, thoughts, and emotions
eclectic approach
Broad-based approach, trusting a combination of established approaches to diagnose and treat individuals with psychological disorders
stigma
The societal disapproval and judgment of a person with mental illness because they do not fit their community’s social norms
effects of stigma
Refusal to receive treatment, stigma deters people from seeking help
Social isolation, fear of “bringing them down” or “being a burden.”
Distorted perception of the incidence of mental illness,
trephinic( ancient times)
Holes are drilled into a living person’s skull in order to release demonic spirits thought to be causing the person’s disordered behaviors
Hippocrates, Ancient Greek Physician 500 B.C.
Believed that abnormal behavior was a disease arising from internal physical problems (imbalance of four fluids, or humors)
Asylums
A type of institution that first became popular in the sixteenth century to provide care for persons with mental disorders
phillipel pinel
In the late 1700s, French physician, argued for more humane treatment of the mentally ill, brought reform in the way mental institutions would be run
Dorothea Dix
School teacher who made humane care a public and political concern in the United States from 1841 to 1881
psychopharmalogic revolution
Effective drugs for conditions like schizophrenia and depression were found in the 1950s by accident
chlorpromazine
deinstitutionalization
When better psychotropic drugs were created this movement began to remove patients who were not considered a threat to themselves or the community from mental hospitals
Preventing Disorders & Promoting Mental Health
Rather than wait for psychological disorders to occur, many of today’s community programs try to deter mental disorders before they can develop
Action A: Assess for Risk of Suicide or Harm
A first aider should look out for any crises and assist in dealing with them
Action L: Listen Non Judgmentally
When listening it is important to set aside any judgments made about the person or their situation and avoid expressing those judgments
Action G: Give Reassurance and Information
Reassurances includes emotional support, empathizing with how they feel, voicing hope, and offering practical help
Action E: Encourage Appropriate Professional Help
A first aider might also be able to help a young person make and keep appointments or assist in accessing appropriate help
Action E: Encourage Self-Help and Other Support Strategies
Encourage the support of their social network of family, friends, and others.
anxiety disorders
Anxiety is the primary symptom or the primary cause of other symptoms for all anxiety disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Experience excessive anxiety under most circumstances and worry about practically anything
Panic disorder
Anxiety disorder marked by recurrent and unpredictable panic attacks
specific phobia
Marked, persistent, and disproportionate fear of a particular object of situation, usually lasting at least 6 months
agoraphobia
Afraid to be in public situations from which escape might be difficult or help unavailable if panic-like or embarrassing symptoms were to occur
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Occurrence of repeated obsessions, compulsions, or both
The obsessions or compulsions take up considerable time
Significant distress or impairment
obsession
persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts that an individual cannot get out of his or her mind
compulsion
ritualistic behaviors performed repeatedly
hoarding disorder
Characterized by persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save the items and distress parting with them
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Result of some trauma experienced by the victim. Victims re-experience the traumatic event in nightmares about the event, or flashbacks in which they relieve the event
Bipolar disorder I
Occurrence of a manic episode
Hypomanic or major depressive episodes may precede or follow the manic episode
bipolar disorder ll
Presence or history of major depressive episode(s)
Presence or history of hypomanic episode(s)
No history of a manic episode
rapid cycling
is usually short periods of mania followed almost immediately by deep pression, usually for longer duration
major depressive disorders
Involves intense depressed mood, reduced interest or pleasure in activities, loss of energy, and problems in making decisions for a minimum of 2 weeks
psychotherapy
Psychologist or other trained professional working with an individual or group to identify a problem and develop solutions. Usually that process involves a lot of talking and thinking
confidentiality and the law
Psychotherapists and psychiatrists are required by law to protect the confidentiality of their clients
Therapists can break confidentiality when people are a threat to themselves or others (also court orders)
behavior therapy
The techniques used in this type of treatment are based on the theories of classical conditioning and operant conditioning
it is action based
exposure treatments
a technique in behavior therapy to treat anxiety disorders. Exposure therapy involves exposing the target patient to the anxiety source or its context without the intention to cause any danger
Flooding
Exposing people to fear-invoking objects or situations intensely and rapidly
It is often used to treat phobias. During the process, the individual is prevented from escaping or avoiding the situation
Systematic Desensitization
Developed by Joseph Wolpe, a client makes a list of fears and then learns to relax while concentrating on these fears
aversion therapy
Pairing an undesirable behavior with an aversive stimulus in the hope that the unwanted behavior will eventually be reduced
token economy
Behavioral strategy relies on reinforcement to modify behavior. Clients are allowed to earn tokens that can be exchanged for special privileges or desired items
biofeedback
Mind-body technique that involves using visual or auditory feedback to gain control over involuntary bodily functions
cognitive-behavioral therapist
Human emotions and behavior are predominantly generated by ideas, beliefs, attitudes and thinking
Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Developed in 1950s by Albert Ellis, psychological problems arise when thoughts are irrational and lead to behavioral consequences that are distressful
Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy
Researched by Aaron Beck, based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion) and how we act (behavior) all interact together
personality disorder
Longstanding, maladaptive thought and behavior patterns that are troublesome to others, harmful, or illegal
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Pattern of distrust and suspiciousness about other people’s motives, individual thinks that others are out to threaten, betray, exploit, or harm
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Characterized by persistent avoidance of social relationships and little expression of emotion
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Characterized by extreme discomfort in close relationships, very odd patterns of thinking and perceiving, and behavioral eccentricities
antisocial personality disorder(APD)
Characterized by a general pattern of disregard for and violation of other people’s rights (closely linked to criminal behavior)
Borderline personality disorder
Characterized by repeated instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood and by impulsive behavior
Histrionic personality disorder
Characterized by a pattern of excessive emotionality (dramatic) and attention seeking
narcissistic personality disorder
Characterized by a proad pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy
avoidant personality disorder
Characterized by consistent discomfort and restraint in social situations, overwhelming feelings of inadequacy, and extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation/potential rejection, humanilitation
Dependent personality disorder
Characterized by a pattern of clinging and obedience, fear of separation, and an ongoing need to be taken care of
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
Characterized by an intense focus on orderliness, perfectionism, and control that the person loses flexibility, openness, and efficiency
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Groups of disabilities in the functioning of the brain that emerge at birth or during very early childhood and affect the individual’s behavior, memory, concentration and/or ability to learn
Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Disorder marked by the inability to focus attention, or overactive and impulsive behavior, or both
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Disorder marked by extreme unresponsiveness to others, severe communication deficits, and highly repetitive and rigid behaviors, interests, and activities
intellectual disability (ID)
Disorder marked by intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior that are well below average
neurocognitive disorders
Group of disorders in which the primary problem is in cognitive function, impairments in cognitive abilities such as memory, problem solving, and perception
delirium
A rapidly developing, acute disturbance in attention, and orientation that makes it very difficult to concentrate and think in a clear and organized manner
alzheimers disease
fatal degenerative disease in which brain neurons progressively die, characterized by loss of memory, reasoning, emotion, and control of bodily functions
eating and feeding disorders
Mental disorders defined by abnormal eating habits. May involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual’s physical and mental health
anorexia nervosa
Life-threatening eating disorder that involves intense fear of weight gain or becoming overweight, distorted perception of one’s weight/body shape, persistent restriction of caloric intake
bulimia nervosa
Recurrent binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors for the intake of food, such as purging
Binge Eating Disorder
Uncontrollably eating a large amount of food in a short period of time; after a bingeing episode a person will not purge and will feel an extreme sense of guilt
insight therapy
Designed to help clients understand the causes of their problems. This understanding or insight will then help clients gain greater control over their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
psychoanalysis
The primary focus of psychodynamic therapy is to uncover the unconscious content of a client’s psyche in order to alleviate psychic tension
free association
The client spontaneously reports thoughts, feelings, and mental images that come to mind (no censorship)
resistance
The patient’s conscious or unconscious attempt to block disturbing memories, motives, and experiences (sensitive material)
transference
The process by which a patient projects or transfers unresolved conflicts and feelings onto the therapist
psychodynamic therapy
Evolved from Freud’s original approach, based on the ideas that a person’s development is often determined by forgotten events in early childhood, human behavior and dysfunction are largely influenced by the unconscious (neo-freudians)
humanistic therapy
Aim to boost self-fulfillment by helping people grow in self-awareness and self-acceptance
person centered therapy
One of the most widely used models in psychotherapy today developed by Carl Rogers. Nondirective therapy, the therapist listens, without judging or interpreting, and seeks to refrain from directing the client toward certain insights
gestalt therapy
Developed by Fritz Perls, therapists goal is to push clients to decide whether they will allow past conflicts to control their future or whether they will take control of their own destiny
group therapy
In a small group, usually around 6 to 12, persons with similar problems come together under the direction or facilitation of a trained therapist or counselor to discuss their psychological issues
self-help groups
Facilitator organizes meetings, but there is an absence of a trained psychotherapist directing the process of the group
couple or family therapy
Trained professionals can direct spouses and family members to openly discuss their individual perspectives on the same issue
somatic sympthom disorder
Characterized by physical symptoms including pain, and high anxiety in these individuals about having a disease
illness anxiety disorder
Characterized by a preoccupation with a serious medical or health condition with either no or mild physical (somatic) symptoms such as nausea or dizziness that has persisted for 6 months
conversion disorder
Characterized by loss of some bodily function without physical damage to the affected organs or their neural connections
dissociative dissorder
Psychological disorders that involve a sudden loss or memory (amnesia) or change in identity
dissociative amnesia
Loss of memory for a traumatic event or period of time that is too painful for an individual to remember
dissociative identity disorder
Rare mental disorder characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring identities or dissociated personality states that recurrently control a person’s behavior
Schizophrenia
Psychotic disorder in which personal, social, and occupational functioning deteriorate as a result of unusual perceptions, odd thoughts, disturbed emotions, and motor abnormalities
psychosis
Any disorder in which the affected person has lost contact with reality (break with reality)
positive sympthoms
Characteristics of schizophrenia that are added to a person’s personality, such as hallucinations, inappropriate emotions, delusions
schizophrenia delusions
Bizarre or far fetched belief(s) that are unchanging even after being proven incorrect
delusion of reference
Believing that hidden messages are being sent to you via newspaper, TV, radio, or magazines
delusions of grandeur
Believing you are someone very powerful or important, have special abilities, possessions, or powers
delusions of persecution
Believing that spies, aliens, the government, or even your neighbors are plotting against you (most common)
schizophrenia hallucination
Perceiving a sensory stimuli that no one else is able to perceive, vividly real to the person experiencing it, content is usually negative
Disorganized speech
Combing thoughts or switching from one thought to another “word salad”
Inappropiate affect
Emotions are unsuited to the situation
negative sympthoms
Characteristics taken away from a person’s personality; things that the individual does not do
Catatonia
A pattern of extreme psychomotor symptoms which may include catatonic stupor, rigidity, or posturing
flat affect
Withholding of emotions and exhibiting diminished emotional expression
avolition
Apathy and an inability to start or complete a course of action
Schizofrenia ethiology
While genetics, environment, neurobiology, and psychosocial stress contribute to schizophrenia, the exact cause of the disease is unknown
Dopamine hypothesis
High fluctuation of levels of dopamine can be responsible for schizophrenic symptoms
diathesis stress model
People inherit a predisposition or diathesis that increases their risk of schizophrenia; exposure to stress may put one at higher risk of developing schizophrenia
biomedical therapy
Based on the premise that the symptoms of many psychological disorders involve biological factors, involves medication and/or medical procedures to treat psychological disorders
psychopharmacology
The study of how psychotropic drugs affect mental processes and behavior
antyanxiety drugs (anxiolytic)
Designed to reduce anxiety and produce relaxation by lowering sympathetic activity in the brain
antidepressant drug
Elevate mood by affecting neurotransmitters such as serotonin that are linked to depression
SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) – blocks the reuptake of serotonin
NDRI (norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors)
SNRI (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
mood stabilizing drugs
Designed to treat the combination of manic episodes and depression characteristic of bipolar disorder because they reduce dramatic mood swings
stimulants
Stimulate the central nervous system, stop the absorption of dopamine and norepinephrine and allow the brain to experience more stimulation
antipsychotic drugs
Designed to diminish or eliminate positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms of schizophrenia
electroconvulsive therapy
A biological treatment in which a brain seizure is triggered as an electric current passes through electrodes attached to the patient’s forehead
psychosurgery
The most dramatic and least used biomedical intervention for changing behaviors, involves removing or lesioning brain tissue, process is irreversible
deep brain stimulation
Treating severe cases of depression, thin wire is surgically implanted in the area of the brain associated with depression
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
An alternative to ECT that involves placing a pulsating magnetic coil over the prefrontal regions of the brain, treats depression with minimal side effects
