Mental & Physical Health Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering major clinical psychology terms, disorder classifications, and treatment modalities based on the AP Psychology curriculum.

Clinical Psychology

The branch of psychology that assesses, diagnoses, treats, and prevents mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders to improve individuals' mental health and well-being.

Psychology Student Syndrome

A phenomenon where students studying abnormal behavior become convinced that they have some mental disorder.

Deviant

Abnormal behavior, thoughts, and emotions that differ markedly from a society’s ideas about proper functioning.

Distressing

When a person reports feeling internal pain and discomfort associated with their emotions, thoughts, or behaviors.

Dysfunctional

Behavior that interferes with the ability to conduct daily activities in a constructive way, such as the inability to care for oneself or work productively.

Stigma

Negative stereotypes and social disapproval directed at individuals with mental disorders, often leading to discrimination and barriers to seeking care.

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

A comprehensive classification system used by mental health professionals in the US to diagnose and categorize mental disorders.

International Classification of Diseases (ICD)

A classification system for medical diseases, including a section for mental health disorders, published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A group of disorders beginning in the developmental period characterized by symptoms that affect behavior, learning, and development relative to age or maturity level.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Characterized by persistent challenges in social communication and interaction, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior or interests.

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

Disorders characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking/speech, disorganized motor behavior, and negative symptoms.

Psychosis

A mental state characterized by a disconnection from reality.

Positive Symptoms

Characteristics of schizophrenia added to a person’s personality, such as hallucinations or delusions.

Negative Symptoms

Characteristics taken away from a person’s personality, such as appropriate behavior being absent, a flat affect, or lack of motivation.

Delusions

False beliefs strongly held despite clear evidence to the contrary.

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences without external stimuli, most commonly involving hearing voices others do not hear.

Word Salad

A jumble of words and phrases that are incoherent and lack logical connection.

Catatonia

A state of disordered movement in schizophrenia that can manifest as purposeless motor excitement or a lack of response (stupor).

Flat Affect

A severe reduction in emotional expressiveness, showing little or no facial expression or voice tone.

Dopamine Hypothesis

The suggestion that schizophrenia is linked to an imbalance of dopamine activity in the brain, specifically excessive activity.

Diathesis-Stress Model

The theory that mental disorders develop from the joint action of genetic predisposition and stress.

Anxiety Disorders

Disorders characterized by excessive fear and anxiety leading to significant disturbances in behavior.

Specific Phobia

An intense and irrational fear of a specific object or situation, leading to significant distress and avoidance behavior.

Agoraphobia

An intense fear of being in situations or places where escape might be difficult or help unavailable during a panic attack.

Panic Disorder

Recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort peaking within minutes.

Ataque de nervios

A cultural syndrome common among individuals from Caribbean and Iberian backgrounds involving intense emotional distress, screaming, or shaking.

Social Anxiety Disorder

A persistent fear of social situations where embarrassment or scrutiny by others may occur.

Taijin Kyofusho (TKS)

A culturally bound form of social anxiety in Japan and Korea characterized by an intense fear of offending or embarrassing others with one's body.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life for six months or more, often described as 'free-floating anxiety.'

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A disorder involving recurrent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.

Hoarding Disorder

Persistent difficulty discarding possessions regardless of value due to a perceived need to save them.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A pervasive low mood and loss of interest in enjoyable activities for at least two weeks, including at least five specific DSM symptoms.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

A chronic depressed mood lasting for at least two years with less severe but longer-lasting symptoms than major depression.

Bipolar I Disorder

A disorder characterized by at least one full manic episode, often followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes.

Bipolar II Disorder

Characterized by at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode, without ever having a full manic episode.

Hypomanic Episode

A period of elevated mood and increased energy lasting at least four days that is less severe than a full manic episode and does not require hospitalization.

Dissociative Amnesia

An inability to recall important autobiographical information, usually of a traumatic nature, sometimes accompanied by sudden travel (fugue).

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

The presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities, each with its own pattern of perceiving the world.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Persistent mental and emotional stress following exposure to a traumatic event, featuring flashbacks, avoidance, and heightened reactivity.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by restricted food intake, intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted body image.

Bulimia Nervosa

Characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting.

Personality Disorders

Enduring, pervasive, and inflexible patterns of behavior that deviate markedly from cultural expectations and begin in adolescence or early adulthood.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, often involving deceit and a lack of remorse.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, along with impulsive behaviors.

Deinstitutionalization

The mid-20th-century movement to reduce the number of patients in psychiatric hospitals by transitioning them to community-based care.

Therapeutic Alliance

The collaborative and trusting relationship between a therapist and client that is crucial for effective treatment outcomes.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle of 'do no harm,' ensuring therapists avoid interventions that could harm clients.

Free Association

A psychodynamic technique where the patient speaks freely about thoughts and feelings as they come to mind to uncover unconscious conflicts.

Unconditional Positive Regard

An attitude of complete acceptance and support offered by a humanistic therapist regardless of what the client says or does.

Cognitive Restructuring

The process of identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and replacing them with more positive, realistic ones.

Cognitive Triad

The negative thought patterns about oneself, the world, and the future that contribute to depression.

Systematic Desensitization

An exposure technique using classical conditioning where a client learns deep relaxation while being introduced to a hierarchy of anxieties.

Aversion Therapy

A behavioral therapy where an unwanted behavior is associated with an unpleasant stimulus to stop the behavior.

Token Economy

A behavioral system where individuals earn tokens for desired behaviors that can be exchanged for rewards.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

An integrative therapy that aims to change both maladaptive thinking and behavior.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

A type of CBT focusing on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

A directive and confronting form of CBT developed by Albert Ellis that identifies and changes irrational beliefs.

Tardive Dyskinesia

A potential side effect of long-term antipsychotic use characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements like grimacing or limb jerking.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)

A class of antidepressant medications that treat depression and anxiety by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.

Lithium

A psychoactive medication commonly used as a mood stabilizer to treat bipolar disorder.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A medical treatment for severe, treatment-resistant depression that involves sending electric currents through the brain to induce a brief seizure.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A non-invasive treatment for depression involving a pulsating magnetic coil placed over the prefrontal regions of the brain.