PSYCH - NEURO, DISORDERS, AUTISM, PERSON

Glucocorticoids

Hormones that produce an array of effects in response to stress.

Cortisol

Known as "the stress hormone" because it's secreted in higher levels during the body's 'fight or flight' response to stress, and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body. Small increases of cortisol have some positive effects

Type A

Friedman and Rosenman's term for competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone people.

Type B

Friedman and Rosenman's term for easygoing, relaxed people.

Type C

Accurate, precise, detailed-oriented.

Type D

The tendency to experience increased negative emotions across time and situations and tend not to share these emotions with others, because of fear of rejection or disapproval. The letter D stands for 'distressed'.

Psychophysiological illness

Literally, "mind-body" illness; any stress-related physical illness, such as hypertension and some headaches.

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)

The study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes together affect the immune system and resulting health.

Coronary heart disease

The clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle; the leading cause of death in North America.

Lymphocytes

The two types of white blood cells that are part of the body's immune system; B lymphocytes form in the bone marrow and release antibodies that fight bacterial infections; T lymphocytes form in the thymus and other lymphatic tissue and attack cancer cells, viruses, and foreign substances.

B lymphocytes

Fight bacterial infections.

T lymphocytes

Attack cancer cells and viruses.

Microphages

Ingest foreign substances.

Adaptation-level phenomenon of happiness

Judging various stimuli in comparison with our past experiences

Relative deprivation of happiness

The perception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares

Autism Spectrum Disorder

A group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Characterized by a pattern of behavior, present in multiple settings (e.g., school and home), that can result in performance issues in social, educational, or work settings. As in DSM-IV, symptoms will be divided into two categories of inattention and hyperactivity and impulsivity that include behaviors like failure to pay close attention to details, difficulty organizing tasks and activities, excessive talking, fidgeting, or an inability to remain seated in appropriate situations.

Chronic (process) schizophrenia

Characterized by long periods of symptom development and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as flat affect. Does not appear to be related to life stressors.

Acute (reactive) schizophrenia

May occur at any time during life, usually surfaces in response to stress or a major emotional event.

Genetic basis for schizophrenia

The risk of developing schizophrenia increases if there is schizophrenia in the family.

Dopamine hypothesis

Over activity of certain dopamine neurons may cause some forms of schizophrenia, especially those that involve hallucinations and delusions. Antipsychotic medications block the excess dopamine activity to reduce the hallucinations and delusions.

Diathesis-stress model

People inherit a predisposition or diathesis that increases their risk of schizophrenia; stressful life experiences then trigger schizophrenic episodes.

Paranoid personality disorder

Characterized by high levels of suspiciousness of the motives and intentions of others but w/out the outright paranoid delusions associated with paranoid schizophrenia. (More common in males)

Schizoid personality disorder

Characterized by being aloof and distant from others, with shallow or blunted emotions; considered "cold". (More common in males)

Schizotypal

Characterized by odd thinking, often being suspicious and hostile, and having difficulties in establishing close social relationships.

Histrionic personality disorder

Characterized by being excessively dramatic, egocentric, and seeking attention and tending to overreact. (More common in females)

Narcissistic personality disorder

Characterized by being unrealistically self-important, manipulative, lacking empathy, and not being able to take criticism. (More common in males)

Borderline personality disorder

Characterized by being emotionally unstable, impulsive, unpredictable, irritable, and prone to boredom. (More common in females)

Antisocial personality disorder

Characterized by violating other people's rights without guilt or remorse, being manipulative, exploitive, self-indulgent, and irresponsible. (More common in males)

Avoidant personality disorder

Characterized by being excessively sensitive to potential rejection and humiliation.

Dependent personality disorder

Characterized by excessively lacking self-confidence, subordinating one's own needs, and allowing others to make all decisions. (More common in females)

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Characterized by usually being preoccupied with rules, schedules, and details, being extremely conventional, serious, and emotionally insensitive.