Psych Test 4/6/26

3 D’s of Abnormal Psychology

• Distress

• Dysfunction

• Deviance

Biopsychosocial Approach

Mental disorders are a result of biology, psychology, and socio-cultural factors

The Diathesis - Stress Model

• Explain how disorders develop

• The disorder occurs when vulnerability combines with stress

Diathesis

biological, psychological, and environmental predisposition vulnerability

DSM - 5

• Most widely used classification system

• Specifies over 350 diagnostic categories

Anxiety Disorders

The frequency and intensity of anxiety are out of proportion to the situation and interfere with daily life.

Phobias

a strong and irrational fear of certain objects, actions, or situations

Social Phobias

social situations and being criticized

General Anxiety Disorder

chronic anxiety that is not attached to specific situations or objects

Panic Disorder

• recurring panic attacks

• Sudden and intense anxiety and physical symptoms

Casual Factors of Anxiety Disorders - Psychology

• Cognitive Theory: maladaptive thought patterns

• Behavioral Theory: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, or observational learning

Casual Factors of Anxiety Disorders - Environment

stress and abuse increase the risk of an anxiety disorder

Obsessive/Compulsive Disorders

• OCD

• Hoarding Disorder

• PTSD

Obsession

repetitive, unwelcomed thoughts that are difficult to control

Compulsions

repetitive behavioral responses

Hoarding Disorder

• Persistent difficulty discarding possessions

  • Due to the perceived need to save them

4 Types of Symptoms for PTSD

• Reliving the Trauma

• Avoiding Reminders

• Negative Changes in Mood & Cognition

• Increased Arousal

PTSD Symptoms

• Survivor's guilt is common

• Some symptoms may not appear to be immediate

Somatic Disorders

• Somatic Symptoms Disorder

• Illness Anxiety Disorder

• Conversion Disorder

Somatic Symptoms Disorder

extreme focus on physical symptoms that are distressing or disrupting functioning

Illness Anxiety Disorder

strong and unjustified fear of physical illness

Conversion Disorder

• blindness, deafness, paralysis, or pain insensitivity 

• Even though the nervous system is intact

Dissociative Disorders

• Dissociative Amnesia

• Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Amensia

sudden lost of memory for a personal identity or important events

DID - Dissociative Identity Disorder

• 2 or more personalities in the same person

• Very controversial diagnosis

Trauma-Dissociation Theory

DID occurs in response to severe stress

Type of Symptoms in Depression

• Emotional: negative mood state, sadness

• Cognitive: difficulty concentrating, low self-esteem

• Motivation: inability to get started

• Somatic: appetite, sleep disturbances

Casual Factors in Depression - Biological

genetics and neurotransmitter activity

Casual Factors in Depression - Psychological

• Early traumatic loss or rejection

• Negative thoughts about the world, self, and future

• Learned Helplessness

Learned Helplessness

the feeling of being incapable of controlling negative events

Bipolar Disorder

• Depression altering with mania

• Strongly influenced by biological factors

Mania

• highly excited mood and behavior

• Hyperactivity, rapid speech, grandiosity, less sleep

Psychotic disorder

loss of reality

Schizophrenia

• Severe distruptions in thinking, speech, perception, emotion, and behavior 

• Characterized by a series of long-lasting dysfunction

Casual Factors in Schizophrenia - Biological

• Genetics

• Structural abnormal in the brain

• Positive symptoms may result from overactivity of neurotransmitters

Casual Factors in Schizophrenia - Cognitive Theories

a defect in an attentional mechanism that filters out irrational stimuli

Casual Factors in Schizophrenia - Environment

• Stressful life events

• Family Dynamics

• Low socioeconomic status

Substance Abuse Disorders

the use of substances that leads to significant distress or impaired function

Criteria for Substance Use Disorder

• Impaired control

• Social impairment

• Risky use

• Tolerance and withdrawal

Causes of Substance Abuse Disorder - Biological

• genes

• dopamine activity

Causes of Substance Abuse Disorder - Psychological

• Self-medicated for anxiety and depression

• Impulse and sensation seeking

Causes of Substance Abuse Disorder - Sociocultural

• Peer influence, available

• Social norms

Personality Disorder

an influx of behaviors that are dysfunctional styles of living

Personality Disorder Cluster B (SEVERE, most detrimental to society)

• Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Borderline Personality Disorder

• Historic Personality Disorder

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder

• shameless disregard for and violation of other people’s rights

• Little anxiety or guilt

• Don’t respond to punishment

• Don’t diagnose until an adult

  • See roots in childhood

Borderline Personality Disorder

• lack of stability in relationships and emotions

• Angry outbursts and fear of abandonment

Historic Personality Disorder

• preoccupied with being the center of attention

• Overly dramatic behavior

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

• arrogance and exaggerated ideas of self-importance

• Preoccupied with fantasies of success

Eating Disorder Characteristics

• disruptions in eating behavior

• distorted thoughts about the body,

• physical and psychological consequences

Types of Eating Disorders

• Anorexia Nervosa

• Bulimia Nervosa

• Binge Eating Disorder

Binge Eating Disorder

• recurrent binge eating without compensatory behaviors

• Strongly linked with distress, not low body weight

Bulimia Nervosa

• recurrent binge eating is followed by compensatory behaviors

• Self-evaluation is tied to body weight or shape

Anorexia Nervosa

• restricting food intake and significantly low body weight

  • Distorted body image

  • Restrictive type, binge-eating, purge type

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Inattention, hyperactivity, combined

• Problems often last into adolescence and adulthood

• Influence of genetics and brain structure

• Environmental factors may exacerbate symptoms

• Can impact function at school and work

• Treatment often involves medication and behavior therapy

Autism Characteristics

• Impairment in social communication and interactions

• Restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests

Autism

• Typically appears by age 3

• Early intervention and treatment programs can help to improve adaptive skills

Psychotherapy

rationalizing through psychological methods

Psychotherapy Goal

help people change think, feel, and behavior to improve quality of life

Psychoanalysis Goal

help clients achieve insight

Psychoanalysis Methods and concepts

• Free association

• Dream interpretation

  • Manifest and latent content

• Resistance

  • Defense from anxiety

  • Transference

Contemporary Approach

briefer and more focused on current situations and relationships

Humanistic Therapy

creates an enviroment that promotes self-exploration and remember barriers toward personal growth

Roger’s Client-Centered Therapy - Humanistic Therapy

• Client centered approach

• Creates a climate where the client feels accepted, understood, and free to explore

Roger’s Client-Centered Therapy - 3 Important attributes

• Unconditional positive regard

• Empathy

• Congruence

Behavioral Therapy

problem behaviors are learned and can be unlearned by applying behavior principles

Types of Behavioral Therapy

• flooding/exposure therapy

• Systematic sensentization: go through anxious situations while practicing relaxation

• Aversion therapy and punishment 

• Positive reinforcement and token economy

• Modeling

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Focus on identifying maladaptive thoughts and replacing with more adaptive ones

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Elli’s Rational Emotion Therapy

• Activate

• Belief

• Consequences

• Disputing

• Disputing and changing irrational beliefs

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Back’s Cognitive Therapy

similar approach of identifying distorted ways of thinking

Electic Therapy

combination of different treatment methods

General Treatment Conclusions

• Psychotherapy helps

• No single type of therapy is best

  • Some types are better for certain problems

• Client, therapist, and technology variables matter

Common Therapy Factors

• Clients faith in therapist

• Explanation for problems

• Support setting

• Opportunity to practice new behaviors

Drug Types

• Anti-Psychotic 

• Anxiolytic

• Anti-Depressent

• Mood Stabilizers

Anti-Psychotic Drugs

• Decreases dopamine

• Reduces positive symptoms

• Side effects of Tarive Dyskinesia

  • Severe movement disorder

Anxiolytic Drugs

• Slows down excitatory nervous system activity

• Side effects: drowsiness, difficulty concentration, drug dependency

Anti-Depressent Drugs

• SSRIs are the most common

  • Work by increasing serotonin

• Effective for reducing anxiet and treating other disorders

Mood Stabilizer Drugs

Used for bipolar disorder

Problems With Drugs for Treatment

• Dont cure

• Dont teach coping 

• Dont teach problem solving skills

Electrocenvulsive Therapy (ECT)

• Brief electric shock administrated to the brain

• beneficial for severe depression

  • Not responsive to other treatment

Psycho Surgery

• Surgery procedure that destroy brain tissue

• Used rarely and as a last resort