Unit 8: Clinical Psychology Flashcards
Mental Disorder
Any condition characterized by cognitive and emotional disturbances, abnormal behavior, impaired functioning or any combination of these.
DSM
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
+ Diagnoses disorders
+ provides descriptions
+ provides a standard consistency
DOES NOT TREAT MD
Historical vs Contemporary of mental illness
H
+ Peopel used to view certrain disorders as supernatural forces
+ poor treatement
C
+ WHO makes sure that hospitals and organizations are humane
+ DSM better diagnoses
+ More understanding and Knowledageble
Insanity Defense
A defense plea that states the person is not liable for their conduct because of their mental state
M’Naughten Rule - can the person tell right from wrong?
American Law institute test - Is the individual able to understand the consequences of their actions? are they able to control their actions ?
Rosenhan study
** Seven individuals went undercover and pretended to be insane in attempts to be institutionalized. Once in the hospital they stopped pretending and the doctors did not believe them. **
!! Moral of the story !!
See the person for who they are, not the label they were given.
Behavioral Perspective
Strengths: The behavioral perspective has been effective in treating specific behavioral problems such as phobias and addictions. It also emphasizes the importance of empirical research and data collection.
Weaknesses: This perspective ignores the role of internal mental processes and individual differences in behavior. It also oversimplifies complex human behavior and may not fully explain how certain behaviors are learned or maintained.
Cognitive Perspective
Strengths: The cognitive perspective provides insights into how people think, learn, and process information. It has been helpful in understanding cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Weaknesses: This perspective may neglect the role of emotional and social factors in cognition. It also tends to overlook individual differences in cognitive processes and may not explain certain phenomena such as creativity.
Psychodynamic Perspective
Strengths: The psychodynamic perspective has been useful in treating certain mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. It also emphasizes the importance of individual differences and personal experiences in shaping behavior.
Weaknesses: This perspective is criticized for lacking empirical evidence and being difficult to test. It also tends to ignore environmental and social factors in behavior.
Humanistic Perspective
Strengths: The humanistic perspective has been influential in developing therapeutic techniques that focus on personal growth and self-improvement. It also emphasizes the importance of individual differences and subjective experiences in behavior.
Weaknesses: This perspective may overlook the role of environmental and social factors in shaping behavior. It also lacks empirical evidence to support its claims.
Biological Perspective
Strengths: The biological perspective has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of certain mental health conditions and developing new treatments. It also emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence and objective data.
Weaknesses: This perspective may oversimplify complex human behavior and ignore the role of environmental and social factors in shaping behavior. It also tends to overlook the role of individual differences and personal experiences in behavior.
Evolutionary Perspective
Strengths: The evolutionary perspective provides a framework for understanding how certain behaviors and cognitive processes may have developed over time and how they may have contributed to our survival and reproduction as a species. It has been particularly useful in explaining certain social behaviors such as altruism and aggression.
Weaknesses: This perspective can be criticized for oversimplifying complex behaviors and overlooking the role of individual and cultural differences in behavior. It also relies heavily on hypothetical scenarios and may not be easily testable through empirical research.
Sociocultural Perspective
Strengths: The sociocultural perspective emphasizes the importance of cultural and social influences on behavior, such as norms, values, and beliefs. It also recognizes the role of contextual factors such as family, peers, and institutions in shaping behavior.
Weaknesses: This perspective may neglect the role of biological and individual factors in behavior. It can also be difficult to separate the effects of social and cultural factors from other factors that may be influencing behavior. Additionally, this perspective can be limited by its cultural biases and may not be easily generalizable across cultures.
Biopsychosocial Perspective
Strengths: The biopsychosocial perspective provides a comprehensive and integrated approach to understanding human behavior and mental processes. It recognizes the importance of multiple factors and their interactions, rather than focusing on a single factor. This perspective has been particularly useful in understanding complex mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and substance use disorders.
Weaknesses: This perspective can be complex and difficult to apply in practice. It can also be criticized for not providing clear guidelines for diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, it may not fully account for individual differences and may not be easily generalizable across populations.
Maladaptive
Intereferes with daily life routines and prevents positive adjustments
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
+ No specific Trigger
+ Autonomic nervous system continually aroused
+ tends to decrease with age
Panic Disorder
+ Reoccuring panic attacks
+ Can lead to agoraphbia
Phobias
+ Persistent irrational fear and avoidance of
+ Becomes maladaptive
+ Compelled to do so
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
+ Unwanted repetitive thoughts(obsessions), actions (compulsions) or both
+ understand its irrational
PTSD
+ Hyper vigilance
+ Jump anxiety
+ Nightmares
+ Insomnia
+ Numbness of feeling
+ Social Withdrawal
+ Limbic system sensitivity
Adjustment Disorder
Excessive reaction to a stressful or traumatic event
+ More often in kids/pre adolescent
- depressed mood
- anxiety
- conduct disorder
Freud explanation for anxiety
Repressed energy/thoughts escaping (psychoanalytic)
+ uses free association and dream interpretation
APPLY AN APPROACH TO ANY DISORDER
EX DISORDERS. PTSD, ANXIETY, OCD, DEPRESSION, PHOBIAS
Postpartum Depression VS Baby Blues
PD
+ Difficulty bonding with newborn
+ Severe long lasting depression
+ Irritabiliy
BB
+ few days to two weeks after delivery
+ common
Seasonal Affective disorder (SAD)
+ Reoccurent depression in late fall/winter
+ More prevelant:
- younger plp
-women
