AP PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND THERAPIES

Psychological Disorder

A syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that causes dysfunction or distress

Abnormal Behavior

Behavior that is deviant, distressing, dysfunctional, and/or dangeous (Four D’s)

Four D’s of abnormality

Deviance, Distress, Dysfunction, Danger

Deviance

Behavior is statistically rare or violates social norms

Distress

Causes personal suffering or emotional pain

Dysfunction

Interferes with daily life (work, school, relationships)

Danger

Poses risk to self or others

Biopsychosocial Approach

Explains disorders as the result of interacting biological (genes, brain), psychological (thoughts, emotions), and social (culture, environment) influences

Medical Model

Views psychological disorders as illnesses with biological causes, emphasizing diagnosis, treatment (often drugs), and possible cure

DSM-5-TR

A standardized classification system used by clinicians that lists symptoms and criteria for diagnosing mental disorders, allowing consistency but sometimes criticized for labeling and overdiagnosis

Diagnostic Label

The name given to a disorder, which can help guide treatment and communication, but may also lead to stigma, stereotyping, and self-fulfilling prophecies

Insanity Defense

Legal claim that a person was unable to understand their actions due to mental illness

Internet Gaming Disorder

Excessive gaming causing distress, impairement, and withdrawal symptoms

Anxiety Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by excessive, persistent fear or anxiety and maladaptive behaviors (like avoidance) that reduce anxiety short-term but worsen functioning long-term

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A disorder involving chronic, uncontrollable worry about multiple aspects of life, accompanied by physical symptoms like muscle tension, fatigue, and sleep problems

Panic Disorder

A disorder marked by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent fear of future attacks, often leading to behavior changes like avoidance

Panic Attack

A sudden surge of intense fear with physical symptoms (racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness) that may feel like a heart attack

Phobia

A persistent, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that leads to avoidance and interferes with normal life

Specific Phobia

Fear focused on a particular trigger (e.g., heights, animals, needles)

Agoraphobia

Fear of being in situations where escape may be difficult or help unavailable, leading to avoidance of crowds or public places

Social Anxiety Disorder

Intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or negatively evaluated in social or performance situations

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A disorder that develops after exposure to trauma, involving intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance, negative mood, and heightened arousal

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A disorder characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that create anxiety and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) performed to reduce that anxiety

Obsessions

Persistent, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress (e.g., fear of germs)

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts (e.g., handwashing, counting) performed to reduce anxiety caused by obsessions, but only temporarily

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Preoccupation with perceived physical flaws that are minor or not observable to others

Hoarding Disorder

Persistent difficulty discarding items, leading to excessive accumulation that disrupts living spaces

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder involving at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest, along with symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, and feelings of worthlessness

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

A chronic, less severe form of depression lasting 2 years or more, with ongoing low mood and reduced energy

Bipolar I Disorder

A disorder involving alternating episodes of severe depression and full mania, often impairing functioning

Bipolar II Disorder

Alternating depression with hypomania (less intense mania) that does not cause severe impairment

Mania

A period of abnormally elevated mood, energy, and impulsivity, often involving poor judgment and risky behavior

Schizophrenia

A severe psychotic disorder involving distorted thinking, perception, and emotion, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized behavior

Psychotic Disorders

Disorders characterized by loss of contact with reality, including hallucinations and delusions

Positive Symptoms (Schizophrenia)

The presence of abnormal behaviors (hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech)

Negative Symptoms (Schizophrenia)

The absence of normal behaviors (flat affect, lack of motivation, social withdrawal)

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences (seeing/hearing things that are not there)

Delusions

Strongly held false beliefs that are not based in reality (e.g., paranoia)

Dissociative Disorders

Disorders in which conscious awareness becomes separated from memories, identity, or perception, often as a response to trauma

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

A disorder where two or more distinct identities take control of behavior at different times

Somatic Symptom Disorder

A disorder where a person experiences physical symptoms without a medical cause, but the symptoms are genuinely felt and distressing

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Preoccupation with having a serious illness despite little or no physical symptoms

Conversion Disorder

Neurological symptoms (paralysis, blindness) that cannot be explained medically, often triggered by stress

Psychotherapy

Treatment involving interaction with a trained therapist to change thoughts, behaviors, or emotions

Psychodynamic Therapy

Focuses on unconscious conflicts and past experiences influencing current behavior

Humanistic Therapy

Emphasizes self-growth, free will, and personal potential

Client-Centered Therapy

Therapy using empathy, active listening, and unconditional positive regard to help clients explore feelings

Behavior Therapy

Uses learning principles (conditioning) to modify maladaptive behaviors

Cognitive Therapy

Focuses on identifying and changing negative, irrational thoughts

CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy)

Combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to change both thoughts and actions

Biomedical Therapy

Treatment that alters brain chemistry or structure using drugs, stimulation, or surgery

Psychopharmacology

Study of how drugs affect brain and behavior

Antipsychotic Drugs

Medications that reduce symptoms of schizophrenia by blocking dopamine activity

Double-Blind Study

Research method where neither participants nor researchers know who receives treatment, preventing bias

Electrocovulsive Therapy (ECT)

Procedure using electrical currents to trigger seizures to treat severe depression

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions

Therapeautic Lifestyle Change

Improving mental health through sleep, exercise, sunlight, and social support