Mental Health and Disorders Review

These flashcards cover key definitions and concepts related to mental health, mental illness, therapeutic interventions, and various disorders.

Mental Health

A multifaceted concept involving emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affected by various influences like genetics and life experiences.

Mental Illness

A condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, and mood, making daily functioning and relationships difficult.

DSM-5

The current official guidebook for diagnosing psychiatric disorders in the United States, providing standardized criteria for classification.

Transference

A phenomenon where a patient projects feelings onto the therapist related to unfinished work from past relationships.

Countertransference

The emotional reactions of a therapist toward a patient, often based on the therapist’s own experiences.

Self-Actualization

The fulfillment of one's potential, where individuals strive to realize their capabilities as described in Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Physiological Needs

The most basic human needs, including food, water, and shelter, that must be met first before higher-level needs can be addressed.

Safety Needs

The need for protection and stability, involving a secure living environment.

Esteem Needs

The human need for self-regard and recognition from others, leading to a sense of self-worth.

Self-Transcendence

The drive to go beyond the personal self, often in search of a higher truth.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter critical for motivation and pleasure; its dysfunction is linked to various mental disorders.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

A class of antidepressants that increase levels of monoamines by inhibiting the enzyme monoamine oxidase.

GABA

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter that modulates neuron excitability and is associated with anxiety regulation.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

A disorder characterized by uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that the person feels compelled to repeat.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest that significantly impairs daily functioning.

Bipolar Spectrum Disorder

A group of disorders marked by unusual shifts in mood and energy levels, including episodes of mania and depression.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder marked by disturbances in thought, perception, and behavior, often including delusions and hallucinations.

Delirium

A temporary, acute state of confusion characterized by changes in cognition and attention, often resulting from underlying medical conditions.

Dementia

A decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life, often associated with irreversible neurological conditions.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A personality disorder defined by a persistent pattern of disregard for the rights of others, deceitfulness, and impulsive behavior.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A personality disorder marked by instability in relationships, self-image, and emotions, as well as impulsive behavior.

Suicide Risk Assessment

The process of evaluating the likelihood of a person intending to harm themselves, considering the details of their plan and available means.

Victim of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

An individual experiencing emotional, physical, or sexual abuse from a partner, often displaying signs of fear, shame, and injury.

Anticipatory Grief

A set of complex emotions experienced when anticipating the death of a loved one, often just as intense as post-loss grief.