Mental and Physical Health

abnormal psychology

Study of unusual patterns of behavior, emotion, and thoughts
- explores causes, symptoms, treatments of psych disorders to understand and improve mental health (not clinical)

Clinical psychology

branch of psychology that assesses, diagnoses, treats, and prevents mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders

Psychology student syndrom

psychology students studying abnormal behavior can also become convinced they they have a mental disorder (don’t do this!)

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)

Comprehensive classification system used by mental health professionals to diagnose and categorize mental disorders (U.S.)

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

Global standard for reporting and categorizing diseases

deviation

significant departure from accepted social behaviors and cultural expectations used to identify and diagnose abnormal behaviors and disorders in clinics

distress

intense and prolonged emotional suffering that impairs your ability to function in daily life

dysfunction

disruption in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning that significantly impairs your ability to perform normal daily activites

stigma

negative stereotypes and social disapproval directed at people with mental disorders

biological perspective

mental disorders are caused by physiological and genetic factors…focuses on how brain function, neurochermistry, and genetics contribute to physiological conditions

behavioral perspective

mental disorders arise from maldaptive learned behaviors and associations…focuses on how inappropriate conditioning and reinforcements of behaviors contribute

psychodynamic perspective

mental disorders stem from unresolved unconscious conflicts and impulses, often originating in childhood, that influenced current behavior and emotional states

humanistic perspective

emphasizes that mental disorders arise when your innate potential for self-fulfillment and personal growth is blocked, often due to failures in achieving self-acceptance and meaningful personal goals

cognitive perspective

mental disorders are caused by maladaptive thought patterns and beliefs

evolutionary perspective

suggests that mental disorders arise from behaviors and mental processes that are maladaptive, reducing your chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment

sociocultural perspective

mental disorders stem from maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics

eclectic approach

combining techniques and theories from multiple therapeautic orientations to tailor treatment to the unique needs of clients

biopsychosocial model

psychological disorders result from a complex interaction of biological, psychosocial, and sociocultural factors

diathesis-stress model

psychological disorders arise from a predisposing genetic vulnerability (diathesis) combined with stressful environmental factors (stress)

anxiety disorders

disorders characterized by excessive fear and anxiety that lead to significant disturbances in behavior

specific phobia

Psychological disorder, characterized by an intense and irrational fear of a specific object or situation, leading to distress and avoidance that disrupts daily functioning

acrophobia

fear of heights

arachnophobia

fear of spiders

agoraphobia

Fear of being in situations were escapist difficult or no help (crowds)

panic disorder

Recurrent and unexpected panic attack attacks- sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort within minutes

attaque de nervios

Episodes of intense, emotional distress, dramatic expressions of emotion, such as screaming, and crying, shaking, suffocation feeling (Caribbean, Puerto Rico)

social anxiety disorder

Significant and persistent fear of social situations were embarrassing/scrutiny may occur lead to avoidance and anxiety when interacting in public

taijin kyofusho

Observed in Japan, characterized by intense fear of offending or embarrassing others through one's bodily function/appearance —> social anxiety, and avoidance

generalized anxiety disorder

Persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of daily life, with restlessness, fatigue, and difficult concentrating, not tied to any specific causes or events

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Recurrent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, typically aimed at reducing anxiety, but causing distress and interference

hoarding disorder

Persistent, difficulty, discarding, or parting with possessions, regardless of actual value due to need to save them (filled house)

trauma and stressor-related disorders

Disorders that involves psychological distress, following exposure to a traumatic or stressful event, leads to anxiety, flashbacks, and insomnia, hostility —> impairs daily functioning

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Persistent, mental and emotional stress, following exposure to a traumatic event, featuring symptoms with flashbacks and exaggerated response

schizophrenic spectrum disorders

Disorders characterized by dilutions, hallucinations, disorganized, thinking or speech, disorganized, motor behavior and negative symptoms (acute or chronic)

schizophrenia

Psychological disorder, characterized by persistent illusions, hallucinations, disorganized, thinking or speech, disorganized, motor behavior, and negative symptoms

positive (+) symptoms

Additional behaviors or experiences not present in healthy people such as illusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and speech and motor behavior

negative (-) symptoms

Deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functions such as effective flattening, alogia, anhedonia and evolution

delusions

False beliefs strongly held despite clear evidence to the contrary

Persecution: false belief that one is being targeted or harassed
Grandeur: false belief in one's exceptional abilities, wealth, and fame

hallucinations

False sensory experiences without external stimuli, most commonly involving hearing voices that others don’t hear

disorganized thinking or speech

Incoherent or nonsensical speech patterns, like jumping between unrelated topics or using words inappropriately inflecting disordered thought process (“Word Salad”)

disorganized motor behavior

Abnormal or erratic movement, like excessive agitation, bizarre postures, which impact daily life

Catatonia: excitement (+): excessive purposeless motor activity OR stupor (-) lack of movement/response

flat affect

Severe reduction in emotional expressiveness, where people show little or no facial expression, voice tone, or emotional reaction

dopamine hypothesis

Hypothesis suggesting that the disorder is linked to an imbalance of dopamine activity in the brain, were excessive dopamine activity contributing to symptoms, such as delusions and hallucination

disassociative disorders

disorders characterized by disruptions or discontinuities in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception, leading to significant impairment in daily functioning

dissociative amnesia

Inability to recall, important autobiographical information usually of a traumatic or stressful nature.
When accompanied by FUGUE, it includes sudden unexpected travel away from home/work, with inability to recall your past and confusion about personal identity

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

Disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states/identities, each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the world, resulting in gaps in memory and a disrupted sense of self