psych 2nd exam

Fight-or-Flight Response

Automatic bodily reaction to perceived danger that readies the body for action (e.g. heart rate increase, adrenaline release).

Acute Stress Disorder

Stress symptoms (e.g. intrusion, avoidance, arousal) that begin within four weeks of trauma and last less than one month.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Persistent stress symptoms (intrusion, avoidance, negative mood, arousal) after trauma; onset can be immediate, delayed, or delayed by months/years.

Transition from ASD to PTSD

Up to 80% of acute stress disorder cases eventually develop into PTSD if symptoms persist.

Common Trauma Triggers

Military combat, natural/accidental disasters, sexual assault, torture, abuse, terrorism, victimization.

Biological & Genetic Vulnerability

Abnormal activity of neurotransmitters (especially norepinephrine, cortisol), structural/functional changes in hippocampus and amygdala, and inherited predispositions.

Personality & Coping Style

Risk factors: high trait anxiety, prior psychological disorders, pessimistic worldview. Protective factors: resilience, optimism, effective coping strategies.

Childhood Risk Factors

Early abuse, neglect, poverty, parental separation or mental illness, trauma in early development.

Social Support & Culture

Low social support increases risk. Cultural beliefs and norms influence expression, coping, and prevalence (e.g., some groups show higher PTSD vulnerability).

Trauma Severity & Exposure

Greater exposure, more direct involvement, witnessing death or mutilation increases likelihood of disorder.

Goals of Treatment

Suppress or eliminate traumatic symptoms, help client gain perspective on the trauma, restore functioning and life goals.

Duration With & Without Treatment

Average persistence ~3 years with treatment; ~5.5 years without.

Common Treatments

Trauma-focused cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), group therapy, SSRIs (e.g. sertraline, paroxetine), often combination approaches.

Mood Disorders

Disorders defined by extreme disturbances in mood: depression, mania, or alternating manic/depressive states.

Unipolar Depression

Depression alone (no history of mania). Mood returns to 'normal' between episodes.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

At least two weeks of depressed mood or markedly diminished interest/pleasure plus additional symptoms (sleep, appetite, concentration, guilt, suicidal ideation) causing impairment.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

Chronic, milder depression lasting at least two years (or one year in children/adolescents) without full MDD criteria continuously.

Bipolar I Disorder

At least one full manic episode; depressive episodes may occur but not required for diagnosis.

Bipolar II Disorder

Hypomanic episodes alternate with major depressive episodes; no full manic episodes.

Symptoms of Depression

Emotional: sadness, emptiness, worthlessness. Motivational: reduced drive, apathy. Behavioral: less activity, social withdrawal. Cognitive: pessimism, self-blame, poor concentration. Physical: fatigue, aches, changes in sleep/appetite.

Causes of Mood Disorders: Biological

Genetic vulnerability; neurotransmitter dysregulation (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine); HPA axis/hormonal factors; structural/functional brain differences.

Causes: Psychological & Cognitive

Learned helplessness, negative cognitive triad, dysfunctional beliefs, rumination, cognitive distortions, stress-vulnerability interaction.

Treatment of Depression/Bipolar

Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics), mood stabilizers (lithium, anticonvulsants), psychotherapy (CBT, interpersonal therapy), ECT (for refractory cases), psychoeducation, lifestyle interventions.

Suicide

Deliberate, self-inflicted death with conscious intent to die.

Parasuicide (Suicide Attempt)

Nonfatal, self-harm behavior with intent to die (but unsuccessful outcome).

Underreporting & Stigma

Many suicides are misclassified as accidents. Families or communities may hide intent due to stigma.

Relationship to Mental Disorders

Suicide is not a DSM disorder.

Risk Factors

Prior attempts, family history, mental illness (esp. mood, substance), hopelessness, impulsivity, access to lethal means, severe stressors (bereavement, loss), comorbidity.

Protective Factors

Social support, problem-solving skills, access to mental health care, restricted access to means, sense of purpose or spirituality, resilience.

Prevention & Intervention

Crisis hotlines, safety planning, therapy (e.g. DBT, CBT), hospital care if needed, post-attempt follow-up, community outreach and awareness.

Somatic Symptom & Related Disorders

Excessive thoughts, feelings, behaviors related to somatic symptoms, causing distress or impairment (despite possible medical explanation).

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness despite minimal or no somatic symptoms and excessive health-related behaviors or avoidance.

Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)

Neurological symptoms (e.g., paralysis, blindness, loss of sensation) inconsistent with medical findings, thought to be psychologically induced.

Psychological Factors Affecting Other Medical Conditions

Mental factors influencing course or outcome of actual medical condition (e.g. stress exacerbating disease).

Factitious Disorder

False creation or exaggeration of symptoms without external incentives (to ****************). Can be imposed on self or others.

Dissociative Disorders

Disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception as psychological response to stress/trauma.

Dissociative Amnesia

Inability to recall important autobiographical information, usually related to trauma or stress.

Dissociative Fugue

Sudden, unexpected travel or wandering away from home associated with inability to recall one's past identity.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Two or more distinct personality states (alters), recurrent gaps in memory, fragmentation of identity.

Depersonalization / Derealization Disorder

Persistent feelings of detachment from self (depersonalization) or environment (derealization) with intact reality testing.

Functions of Dissociation

Serves as escape or avoidance from overwhelming trauma. It may reduce awareness of distress.

Eating Disorders

Disorders characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior, weight regulation, and body image.

Anorexia Nervosa

Restriction of energy intake leading to significantly low weight, intense fear of weight gain, and distorted body image. Subtypes: restricting and binge/purge.

Bulimia Nervosa

Recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (vomiting, laxatives, fasting, exercise) at least once weekly for 3 months.

Binge-Eating Disorder

Recurrent binge eating (eating large amounts in discrete period) without compensatory behaviors; associated with distress or impairment.

Causes of Eating Disorders

Sociocultural pressures (thin ideal), body dissatisfaction, perfectionism, dieting, family attitudes, genetic and neurobiological vulnerabilities, low self-esteem.

Treatment of Eating Disorders

Nutritional rehabilitation, CBT or interpersonal psychotherapy, family-based therapy (especially for adolescents), SSRIs (for bulimia or comorbid depression), relapse prevention.

Substance Use & Addictive Disorders

Maladaptive patterns of substance use causing clinically significant impairment or distress (tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control).

Types of Substances

Alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, sedatives/hypnotics, stimulants, tobacco, stimulants, etc.

Diagnostic Features

Impaired control, social impairment, risky use, pharmacological criteria (tolerance, withdrawal).

Causes: Biological

Genetic predisposition, reward circuitry dysfunction (dopamine path), tolerance/withdrawal adaptations.

Causes: Psychological & Social

Stress, peer influence, coping deficits, exposure, comorbid mental disorders, conditioning and learning.

Treatment

Detoxification, behavioral therapies (CBT, motivational interviewing, contingency management), medication-assisted therapies (e.g. methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone), 12-step or peer-support programs, relapse prevention, harm reduction.