*Unit 8: Clinical Psychology

Question 1

Explain psychological disorders on a biopsychosocial level.

Answer 1

Biological:

• evolution
• individual genes
• brain structure and chemistry

Psychological:

• stress
• trauma
• learned helplessness
• mood-related perceptions and memories

Social:

• roles
• expectations
• definitions of normality

Question 2

What are culture-bound syndromes?

Answer 2

Disorders which only seem to exist within certain cultures

Bulimia Nervosa: binging/purging, in the United States
Running amok: violent outbursts, in Malaysia
Hikikomori: social withdrawal, in Japan

Question 3

What is the labeling effect of psychological disorders?

Answer 3

• Critics of the DSM argue that labels may stigmatize individuals.
• Labels can also serve as self-fulfilling prophecies. For example, when teachers or students are told a particular student is “gifted,” they may act in ways to elicit the expected behavior.
• However, labels may be helpful for healthcare professionals when communicating with one another and establishing therapy.
• “Insanity” labels raise moral and ethical questions about how society should treat people who have psychological disorders and have committed crimes.

Question 4

Neurodevelopment Disorders

Answer 4

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Intellectual Disability
• ADHD

Question 5

Anxiety Disorders

Answer 5

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Phobias
• Separation Anxiety Disorder
• Social Anxiety Disorder

Question 6

Phobias

Answer 6

Agoraphobia - open places
Acrophobia - heights
Claustrophobia - closed spaces
Social phobia - being watched and judged by others

Question 7

Major Depressive Disorders

Answer 7

• Major Depression

- Bipolar Disorder

Question 8

Dissociative Disorders

Answer 8

• Dissociative amnesia
• Depersonalization disorder
• Dissociative identity disorder

Question 9

Eating Disorders

Answer 9

• Anorexia Nerviosa
• Bulimia Nerviosa
• Binge-Eating Disorder

Question 10

Personality Disorders

Answer 10

• Avoidant
• Histrionic
• Narcissistic
• Antisocial
• Schizoid

Question 11

What are some noteworthy schools of psychotherapy?

Answer 11

• Psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy (Freud)
• Humanistic, client-centered therapy (Rogers and Maslow)
• Behavior therapy, using conditioning (Skinner and Pavlov)
• Cognitive therapy, changing thoughts (Beck and Ellis)