S25 Psych 101 SI - Exam 3 Review - Mental Illness

Definition of a phobia

A persistent, intense fear of specific objects or situations

Causes of a phobia

Classical conditioning & stress in the real world

Definition of social anxiety disorder

Intense, unreasonable fear of social situations; interferes with normal social functioning

Definition of panic disorder

Disorder where a person experiences frequent, recurring panic attacks

Cognitive explanations for panic disorder

Being overly sensitive to bodily sensations; panic because they interpret these sensations as medical issues

Biological explanations for panic disorder

Abnormal neurotransmitter activity, triggering fight or flight response in the amygdala & hypothalamus

Definition of generalized anxiety disorder

Excessive anxiety and worry about everything that the person can't control

Biological explanation for generalized anxiety disorder

GABA neurotransmitter inhibits neuron impulses; it isn't released like it's supposed to be, causing anxiety

Definition of obsessive compulsive disorder

Experiencing recurring excessive/unreasonable obsessions and/or compulsions

Obsession definition - OCD

Persistent, intrusive thoughts, ideas, impulses, or images that cause anxiety

Compulsion definition - OCD

Repetitive & rigid behavior that a person feels they have to do to ease anxiety

Hoarding disorder

Inability to get rid of belongings

Excoriation

Picking at skin until sores/lesions appear

Trichotillomania

Hair-pulling; focused on only one area (eyebrows, eyelashes, head hair, etc)

Causes of OCD

Serotonin (neurotransmitter) imbalance; overactive orbitofrontal cortex

Definition of major depressive disorder

Disorder involving the presence of sad, empty, or irritable mood; characterized by a person having experienced at least 1 major depressive episode

Biological explanations of major depressive disorder

Genetic predisposition, imbalances of serotonin & norepinephrine, overactivity in Brodmann Area 25

Cognitive explanations of major depressive disorder

Pessimistic outlook on life and negative life events

Definition of bipolar disorder

Mood swings from depression to mania; can be type 1 or type 2

Bipolar 1 disorder

Major manic episodes and depressive episodes

Bipolar 2 disorder

Full depressive episodes and hypomania (milder form of mania)

Delusions (Bipolar disorder)

Beliefs that are different/against reality

Hallucinations

Perceptual experiences that aren't in reality

Causes of bipolar disorder

Primarily genetic, also neurotransmitter imbalance