AP Psychology Unit 5 - Mental disorders

stress

A term in psychology which is used to define physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to events that can either be threatening or challenging.

Physical responses to stress

symptoms of stress: Unusual fatigue, sleeping irregularities, colds, chest pains, and nausea.

Behavioral responses to stress

Symptoms of stress: Pacing, excessive caring, acting out aggressively

emotional responses to stress

symptoms of stress: Anxiety, depression, fear, frustration, and anger

Mental symptoms of stress

Symptoms of stress: Struggles in concentration, memory, and decision making.

Stressors

An event which comes from a person or an external source causing stress.

Distress

Occurs when people experience unpleasant stress

Eustress

An optimal level of stress in which it promotes health and well being

General Adaption System (GAS)

A sequence which involves 3 stages and includes the physiological reactions which the body goes through when adapting to a stressor. The 3 stages includes alarm, resistance, and exhaustion

Alarm (GAS)

This is the stage when the sympathetic nervous system is activated and the adrenal glands release hormones which increase heart rate, blood pressure, supply of blood sugar, and bursts of energy

Resistance (GAS)

The release of stress hormones to aid the body to fight off the stressor

Exhaustion (GAS)

this stage of GAS occurs after the body has fought off the stressor causing events and this can lead to stress related diseases.

Psychoneuroimmunology

A study of psychology which studies the effects regarding the psychological effects of stress, thinking, learning, and behavior on the immune system.

Cononary heart disease (CHD)

The buildup of a waxy substance called plaque in the arteries of the heart

Diabetes type 2

Excessive weight gain and occurs when the pancreas insulin evens become efficient and body weight increases

Natural killer cell

Processes the suppression of viruses and destruction of tumor cells. Stress often leads to the release of this process

Social-support system

A network of friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers who can help an individual in need.

Coping methods

Actions which people take to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize the effects of stressors.

Problem-focused coping

A coping mechanism which eliminates or alters the actual stressor in order to minimize stress

Emotion-focused coping

A method which changes the way someone feels or emotionally reacts to a stressor

Meditation

A form of mental exercises meant to refocus attention and achieve a trancelike state of consciousness

Concentrative meditation

Focusing the mind on some repetitive or unchanging stimulus so the mind can forget daily hassles and issues.

Tend-and-befriend theory

Involves confronting or escaping threats, this theory suggests that during times of significant stress, people and women tend their own opinions to aid others.

Positive psychology

a branch of psychology which seeks to identify factors that lead to well-being, resilience, positive emotions, and psychological health.

Three pillars of positive psychology

1. Connecting with others

2. Positive individual traits

3. sense of gratitude

Gratitude

a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, thus, people acknowledge the good in their lives with this idea

Journaling

a practice of regulatory writing down ones’s thoughts as a way of indrirectly expressing emotions.

Signature strength

the most important strengths that a person celebrates & frequently exercises

Good character

In positive psychology people often seek this idea because it contributes to social well being

6 core traits (good character)

Wisdom, courage, humanity, transcendence, Justice, and temperance

Wisdom

People who score high in these core traits tend to have character strengths which lead them to acquire knowledge and use them in creative ways.

• Creativity - Thinking of new ways to do things

• Curiosity - taking interests in wide variety of topics

• Open mindness - examining things from all sides, and thinking things through.

• Love of learning - Mastering of new topics, skills, and bodies of research.

• Perspective - Being able to provide wise counsel to others, looking at the world in a way which makes sense

Courage

Individuals who score high in this core value show emotional character strengths which allows them to accomplish goals despite any opposition they face.

• Honesty - Speaking the truth; being authentic

• Bravery - Embracing difficult challenged, or pain

• Persistence - finishing things once they’ve begun

• Zest - Approaching all things in life with energy

Humanity

People who score high in this core trait often have character strengths involving caring and befriending other individuals

• Kindness - doing favors and good deeds

• Love - valuing close relationships

• Social intelligence - being aware of others, their motives and feelings

Justice

People who score high in this core value tend to posses civic strengths regarding the importance of a strong and healthy community

• Fairness - treating others in similar ways

• Leadership - organization of group activities

• Teamwork - working well together

Temperance

People who score high in this core value tend to have strengths protect excesses in life

• Forgiveness - forgiving others who have wronged them

• Modesty - letting one’s accomplishments stand their own

• Prudence - avoiding actions which can lead to regret

• Self-regulation - being disciplined

Transcendence

people who score high in their core value trait tend to create connections with God, the universe, or religions which provide meaning and service

• Appreciation of beauty - noticing beauty in everything

• gratitude - thankfulness

• hope - expecting the best and making an effort for something to happen

• humor - making others laugh and or smile

• religiousness - having a solid belief about a higher purpose

Post-traumatic growth (PTG)

a theory which explains the transformation after trauma. this theory doesn’t really minimize the pain of trauma but recognizes the adversity and can serve as a catalyst for growth.

Abnormality

any deviation from what is considered typical or normal behavior, cognition, or physiological function

Abnormal behavior

behavior which causes people to experience distress and prevents them from functioning in their lives.

Medical perspective

a perspective which suggests that when an individual displays symptoms of abnormal behavior, the root cause will be found in a physical examination of the individual which may reveal a hormonal imbalance, a chemical deficiency, or a brain injury

Psychoanalytic perspective

the perspective that suggests that abnormal behavior stems from childhood conflicts over opposing wishes regarding sex and aggression.

Behavioral perspective

looks at rewards and punishments in the environment that determines abnormal behavior.

Cognitive behavior

the perspective which shows that peoples thoughts and beliefs are central components of abnormal behaviors.

Humanistic perspective

Emphasizes the responsibility people have for their own behavior, even when such behavior is abnormal.

Sociocultural perspective

Perspectives which assumes society and culture shape abnormal behavior.

Anxiety disorders

the occurrence of anxiety without an obvious external cause that affects individuals daily and often develop in childhood.

Specific phobia

Fear or anxiety towards a specific object or situation.

Acrophobia

fear of heights

Arachnophobia

fear of spiders

Agoraphobia

intense fear of specific social situations, including public transportation, being in open spaces, being in enclosed spaces, standing in line or being in a crowd, or being outside of the home alone.

agoraphobia

If Maria has an intense fear of being at a mall because of past conflicts regarding the mall. What disorder would she most likely be diagnosed with

Panic disorder

a form of anxiety disorder which takes the form of panic attacks

Social anxiety disorder

intense fear of being judged or watched by others.

Taijin kyofusho

a culture-bong anxiety disorder experienced mainly by Japanese people in which people fear others are judging their bodies as undesirable, offensive, or unpleasing.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

long-term, persistent experiences of non-specific fear and or anxiety.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

a disorder which involves repetitive thoughts and urges to perform certain rituals and compulsions which are time consuming

>1 hour/day

How long does OCD most often occur for?

hoarding disorder

a disorder which is characterized by a persistent difficulty discarding possessions

Obsessions

intrusive, persistent, and unwanted thoughts

Compulsions

intrusive, repetitive behaviors which a person feels driven to do.

genetic factors

Identical twins can develop the same disorders because of which type of factor?

Mood disorders

A disturbance in emotional experience that is strong enough to interfere with daily life.

Major depressive disorder

A severe form of the given disorder in which people are extremely sad and interferes with concentration, decision making, and sociability.

Mania

an extended state of intense, wild emotion. most often includes intense feelings of happiness.

Bipolar disorders

a disorder which is characterized by periods of mania and periods of depressions.

Manic episodes

persistently elevated, high energy, euphoric, impulsive, or irritable mood and abnormally and persistently increased goal-directed activity

>1 week

How long does a manic episode usually last for?

Inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, more talkative than usual, feeling that thoughts are racing, distractibility, increase in goal-directed activity and excessive involvement in activities that have a high potential for painful consequences.

what are the symptoms of manic episodes?

Bipolar I

a disorder which is characterized by episodes of extreme mood swings, including periods of severe mania and potential depressive episodes.

Bipolar II

a disorder which is characterized by cycles of major depressive episodes and hypo-manic episodes.

the severity of manic episodes. Bipolar I is more severe than Bipolar II.

What is the major difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorder?

Depressed mood most of the day, markedly diminished interest, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive inappropriate guilt, diminished ability to think/concentrate, recurrent thoughts of death.

What are symptoms of major depressive disorder?

Persistent depressive disorder

A more chronic form of depression which continues for a multitude of years.

≥2 years.

How long does depression have to last in order for it to be considered persistent depressive disorder in adults?

Acute stress disorder (ASD)

a stress disorder which occurs after a traumatic event for approx. a month

Trauma and stressor-related disorders

disorders which are characterized by the exposure to a traumatic or stressful event with subsequent psychological distress.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

a disorder in which a person experiences fear and related symptoms after a traumatic event

>1 month after the event

How long does an individual have to experience fear and related symptoms for it to be considered PTSD?

Dissociative disorders

disorders which are characterized by dissociations from consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior.

All-or-nothing thinking

this occurs when an individual believes that their performance must be perfect or else they will result in a poorly manner.

over-generalization

this occurs when an individual jumps to conclusions without given facts or evidence which support the conclusion created.

Minimization

little or no emphasis to one’s successes or positive events

Dissociative amnesia

this disorder includes the Inability to recall important autobiographical information, usually from a traumatic or stressful source. People with this disorder struggle to remember their names and or specific personal events.

Dissociative fugue

This is a disorder in which an individual travels away from their home and afterwards can remember or recall important personal information

dissociative amnesia occurs when the individual is unable to recall important personal information, meanwhile dissociative fugue is the same concept, however, the individual travels to a new location.

What is the main difference between dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue?

Dissociative identity disorder (DID)

A disorder which is diagnosed for people who experience more than at least two or more distinct personalities existing in one body.

childhood traumas.

What types of trauma is experienced when taking about dissociative identity disorder?

Core personality

the persons usual personality

Switching

the transition from one’s sub-personality to another sub-personality which is triggered by a stressful event and or through hypnotic suggestion.

Mutually amnesic relationship

sub-personalities which have no awareness of another.

Mutually cognizant patterns

sub-personalities which are aware of the other sub-personalities.

One-way amnesic relationship

some sub-personalities which are aware of others, but the awareness ins’t mutual.

De-personalization/de-realization

a disorder in which people feel detached and disconnected from themselves, their bodies, and their surroundings.

Somatic symptom disorder

a disorder which psychological difficulties take on a physical form for which there is no medical cause.

Personality

A person’s consistent and enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving

Personality disorder

a disorder which is characterized by enduring patterns of internal experience and behavior which is deviant from one’s culture; is pervasive, and inflexible; begins in adolescence or early adulthood; is stable over time; and leads to personal distress or impairment.

Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal personality disorders.

Which personality disorders are apart of cluster A?

Odd and eccentric

What traits are associated with cluster A?

Antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders

Which personality disorders are of cluster B?

Dramatic, Emotional, or erratic

Which traits are associated with cluster B?