Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders

Psychopathology

A sickness or disorder of the mind

Diathesis-stress model

The idea that a disorder may develop when an underlying vulnerability (diathesis) is coupled with stress

Biopsychosocial approach

Most psychological disorders are influenced by biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors 

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Categorized catalog of mental disorders, standard tool used by professionals to sort people’s symptoms into categories of psychological disorders 

Specific phobia

An anxiety disorder marked by fear of a specific object or situation that is exaggerated and out of proportion with any actual danger

Social anxiety disorder

An anxiety disorder characterized by fear of being negatively evaluated by others, including fears of being in social situations, public speaking, speaking up in class, meeting new people, and eating in front of others

Generalized anxiety disorder

An anxiety disorder characterized by a state of constant anxiety not associated with any specific object or situation 

Panic disorder

An anxiety disorder that consists of sudden overwhelming attacks of terror with worry about having additional panic attacks

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

A psychological disorder characterized by frequent intrusive thoughts that create anxiety and compulsive actions that temporarily reduce the anxiety

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A psychological disorder that involves frequent and unwanted thoughts related to past stress or trauma, including nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and flashbacks 

Major depressive disorder

A mood disorder, characterized by extremely negative moods or a loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities, that persists for two weeks or more

Bipolar I

A mood disorder characterized by extremely elevated moods during manic episodes

Bipolar II

A mood disorder characterized by alternating periods of extremely depressed and mildly elevated moods 

Schizophrenia

A psychological disorder characterized by extreme alterations in thought, in perceptions, and/or in consciousness, resulting in a break from reality

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Symptoms of schizophrenia that are additional unusual experiences or behaviors, such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech or behavior

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Symptoms of schizophrenia that are deficits in functioning, such as apathy, lack of emotion, slowed speech, and slowed movement

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences in the absence of any genuine external input

Delusions

False beliefs that reflect breaks from reality

Disorganized speech

Incoherent speech that fails to follow a normal conversational structure

Disorganized behavior

Acting in strange or unusual ways, such as failing to dress properly, alternating between anger and laughter, and pacing and wringing one’s hands 

Borderline personality disorder

A personality disorder characterized by disturbances in identity, in moods, and in impulse control

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)

A personality disorder marked by disregard for and violation of the rights of others and by lack of remorse

Dissociative amnesia

Psychological disorder that involves disruptions of memory for a specific event or for a large block of time

Dissociative identity disorder (DID)

The presence of two or more distinct identities in the same individual 

Autism spectrum disorder

A developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction, by impaired communication, and by restricted, repetitive behavior and interests

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A disorder characterized by excessive activity or fidgeting, inattentiveness, and impulsivity 

Persistent depressive disorder

mood disorder, characterized by mildly or moderately depressed moods, that persists for at least 2 years