Week 1: Lecture Flashcards
What is a syndrome?
a syndrome is operationalised in
terms of a diagnosis
What is a diagnosis
→ a diagnosis is a predefined set of symptoms, not explained by other factors, which causes impairment functioning or noticeable stress (to the person or others)
What is hysteria?
women experience extreme emotions due to uterus ‘wandering’ through their bodies
Back in the day, homosexuality used to be seen as…
.. a mental disorder as it was not correct in regards to the norm
What is sluggish Schizophrenia?
(USSR) people who had a large suspicion against the communist beliefs.
It’s a fictional diagnosis used in the Soviet Union following the Second World War. It was a political tool that the government employed to oppress anti-Soviet dissenter.
What is Somatic Symptom Disorder?
physical complaint that cannot be explained…
When does someone have a mild, moderate or severe substance abuse disorder?
2-3 symptoms: mild
4-5 symptoms: moderate
> 5 symptoms = severe
Substance Abuse Disorder
use alcohol or another substance that causes impairment in
functioning or noticeable stress →
at least 1 out of 10 other symptoms (e.g. tolerance, cravings, etc.)
Case-Formulations
a hypothesis on causes, precipitants, and maintaining influences on a
person’s mental well-being → dynamic: active ongoing process responsive to new data
→ it is also detailed, but less scientific/reliable and differs from just forming a diagnosis
What do we mean when we say, a case formulation is dynamic and detailed?
dynamic: active ongoing process responsive to new data.
it is also detailed, but less scientific/reliable and differs from just forming a diagnosis
Two Factor Theory = (Mowrer)
avoidance learning and also anxiety involves two processes:
1. Classic Conditioning → a (earlier neutral) stimulus gets meaning
2. Operant Conditioning → avoidance of the stimulus comes with relief of negative emotions
Clinical Psychology
(definition from lecture) an integration of science and clinical knowledge for
purpose of understanding, preventing & relieving psychologically-based distress/dysfunction and to
promote well-being & development → starts with knowledge & knowledge starts with observation
- Data ↔ 2. Phenomenon ↔ 3. Theory (Eronen & Brinkmann)
- Data → raw observations, they are evidence for the phenomenon
- Phenomenon → relatively stable features of world and/or observations (e.g. placebo response)
- Theory → a description of how phenomenon come about (e.g. the mentalistic theory for the
placebo response: patient expectation is the primary cause of the effect)
Sensitisation Theory
liking becomes wanting and craving in addiction (shift
positive reinforcement (pleasure) to negative reinforcement fed by cues (withdrawal))
Mental State Exam (MSE)
a tool/skill that allows (semi) structured assessment and observation
of a person’s mental state → common sense: state of mind. There are indications of mental states:
1. Orientation → aware of the self, the place, the time, and the situation (one, two, three or all)
2. Insight → symptoms, recognised?: 100% denial → intellectual insight → emotional insight
3. Appearance → the way someone looks reflects their personality and their state of mind
4. Thought Processes & Content → form of thinking (logical, circumstantial) & think about what?
5. Speech → how does someone speak about themselves? → “I”, “we”, etc.
a. Example: people become more disconnected from the social context, like a poet talks
about “we” much more, but closer to suicide uses more “I” as becoming disconnected
6. Behaviour → intended to express: emotions are endowed with communicative function
7. Mood & Affect → mood: emotional climate & long lasting, affect: response to certain events
8. Memory & Concentration → consolidating memory & concentration level rely on mental state
a. In relation to mental disorders e.g. schizophrenia & depression have impairments
