Abnormal Psych Flash Cards

Which disorder lasts at least 1 day but less than 1 month?

Brief psychotic disorder.

Which disorder lasts between 1 month and 6 months?

Schizophreniform disorder.

Which disorder combines psychotic symptoms with a major depressive or manic episode?

Schizoaffective disorder.

Which disorder involves persistent delusions without other odd behavior?

Delusional disorder.

For schizophrenia diagnosis, how many major symptoms are needed?

At least two, with at least one being delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech.

How long must the overall disturbance last for schizophrenia?

At least 6 months.

Which symptom category includes hallucinations and delusions?

Positive symptoms.

Which symptom category includes reduced motivation, speech, emotion, or pleasure?

Negative symptoms.

Which symptom category includes loose associations and disorganized speech?

Disorganized or cognitive symptoms.

Which symptom category includes catatonia?

Motor or psychomotor symptoms.

What is the most common hallucination type?

Auditory hallucinations.

“People are plotting against me” is what delusional theme?

Persecution.

“Everyone can hear my thoughts” is what delusional theme?

Thought broadcasting.

What are the three phases of schizophrenia?

Prodromal, active, and residual.

What happens during the prodromal phase?

Social withdrawal, peculiar behavior, poor communication, inappropriate affect, or neglect of grooming.

What happens during the active phase?

Full-blown symptoms appear, often after life stressors.

What happens during the residual phase?

Symptoms are no longer prominent, but milder impairment remains.

What is the lifetime prevalence in the U.S.?

About 1%.

What brain changes are linked with schizophrenia?

Decreased cortex volume, enlarged ventricles, brain cell loss, and poor communication between brain regions.

What is the dopamine hypothesis?

Excess dopamine activity in certain brain areas may contribute to symptoms.

What does CBT for psychosis try to normalize?

Unusual experiences, such as voices, as understandable stress reactions rather than a “broken mind.”

What is expressed emotion?

A negative family communication pattern involving criticism or emotional overinvolvement.

What personality disorder involves distrust and suspiciousness?

Paranoid personality disorder.

What personality disorder involves little interest in close relationships?

Schizoid personality disorder.

What personality disorder involves odd beliefs, magical thinking, and social discomfort?

Schizotypal personality disorder.

What personality disorder involves attention-seeking and excessive emotionality?

Histrionic personality disorder.

What personality disorder involves grandiosity, entitlement, and lack of empathy?

Narcissistic personality disorder.

What personality disorder involves disregard for others’ rights?

Antisocial personality disorder.

For antisocial personality disorder, what must be present before age 15?

Evidence of conduct disorder.

At what age can antisocial personality disorder be diagnosed?

Age 18 or older.

What are early predictors of antisocial personality disorder?

Early conduct problems, low fear response, poor sensitivity to punishment, impulsivity, and aggression.

What personality disorder involves unstable relationships, emotions, identity, and impulsivity?

Borderline personality disorder.

What is the treatment of choice for borderline personality disorder?

Dialectical behavior therapy.

What does DBT help with?

Emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and reducing self-harm or impulsive behaviors.

What is a critique of categorical personality disorder diagnosis?

It treats disorders as separate categories even though traits often overlap and vary by degree.

What is dissociation?

A separation or disconnect from consciousness, memory, or identity.

Which disorder involves memory loss for important personal information?

Dissociative amnesia.

What is dissociative fugue?

Confused wandering or travel with amnesia for identity or life history.

Which disorder involves feeling detached from oneself or surroundings while reality testing remains intact?

Depersonalization/derealization disorder.

Which disorder involves two or more personality states plus memory gaps?

Dissociative identity disorder.

What makes depersonalization/derealization different from psychosis?

The person remains in contact with reality.

What is the psychodynamic explanation for dissociation?

Repression protects the person from painful memories or conflicts entering awareness.

What is one critique in the DID debate?

Media, clinician bias, suggestion, or therapy techniques may shape or increase symptoms.

What is the debate around repressed memories?

Some may reflect trauma memories, while others may be created or distorted by suggestion.

What is delirium?

An acute, fluctuating disturbance in attention and awareness.

What makes delirium different from major neurocognitive disorder?

Delirium develops suddenly and fluctuates, while major neurocognitive disorder is more gradual and persistent.

What is mild neurocognitive disorder?

Cognitive decline is present, but the person can still function independently with extra effort or strategies.

What is major neurocognitive disorder?

Cognitive decline interferes with independence in everyday activities.

What suggests a neurocognitive disorder rather than normal aging?

Significant decline, impaired daily functioning, confusion, or loss of independence.

What is a concussion?

A mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt that disrupts brain functioning.

What is a contusion?

Bruising of brain tissue.

What is a coup-contrecoup injury?

Damage at the impact site and on the opposite side of the brain.

What is insomnia disorder?

Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early with distress or impairment.

What is hypersomnolence disorder?

Excessive sleepiness despite adequate sleep.

What is narcolepsy?

Repeated irresistible sleep attacks, sometimes with sudden loss of muscle tone.

What is sleep apnea?

Breathing repeatedly stops or is reduced during sleep.

What are parasomnias?

Abnormal behaviors or experiences during sleep, such as sleepwalking or nightmares.

What treatment is commonly used for insomnia?

CBT-I, sleep hygiene, stimulus control, and changing sleep-related thoughts or behaviors.

What are the four stages of the sexual response cycle?

Appetitive, arousal, orgasm, and resolution.

What happens during the appetitive phase?

Sexual interest, fantasies, or attraction.

What happens during the arousal phase?

Heightened sexual arousal and genital blood flow.

What happens during the orgasm phase?

Involuntary muscle contractions and release of sexual tension.

What happens during the resolution phase?

Relaxation and return of heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing to normal.

What is the general definition of sexual dysfunction?

A recurrent and persistent disruption of the normal sexual response cycle.

What criteria distinguish erectile disorder?

Inability to obtain or maintain an erection until completion of sexual activity.

What criteria distinguish premature ejaculation?

Ejaculation within about 1 minute and before the person wishes.

What criteria distinguish genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder?

Difficulty with penetration, pelvic pain, fear of pain, or pelvic floor tightening.

What suggests sexual problems are more likely psychological?

They are situational, occur only with certain partners or situations, or nocturnal penile tumescence is present.

When is a paraphilia diagnosed as a disorder?

When it harms or risks harming others, is acted on, or causes distress/impairment.

What criteria distinguish fetishistic disorder?

Arousal from nonliving objects or highly specific focus on nongenital body parts.

What criteria distinguish exhibitionistic disorder?

Arousal from exposing genitals to an unsuspecting person.

What criteria distinguish voyeuristic disorder?

Arousal from watching an unsuspecting person naked, disrobing, or engaging in sexual activity.

What criteria distinguish frotteuristic disorder?

Arousal from touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting person.

What criteria distinguish sexual masochism disorder?

Arousal from being humiliated, beaten, bound, or made to suffer.

What criteria distinguish sexual sadism disorder?

Arousal from another person’s physical or psychological suffering.

What criteria distinguish pedophilic disorder?

Recurrent arousal involving sexual activity with prepubescent children, generally under age 13.

Who are typical victims when pedophilic urges are acted on?

Children known to the person, often relatives, friends, or casual acquaintances.

For gender dysphoria, how long must symptoms last?

At least 6 months.

When is gender dysphoria diagnosed?

When gender incongruence causes significant distress or impairment.

What medical treatments may assist transition?

Gender-affirming hormone therapy and gender affirmation surgery.

What is the psychological treatment goal for children with gender dysphoria?

Support the child’s preferred identity and help them cope with stressors.

What criteria distinguish anorexia nervosa?

Restriction causing significantly low weight, intense fear of weight gain, and disturbed body weight/shape experience.

What are the two anorexia subtypes?

Restricting and binge-eating/purging.

What criteria distinguish bulimia nervosa?

Binge eating, loss of control, compensatory behavior, and self-evaluation based on weight/shape.

How is binge-eating disorder different from bulimia?

Binge-eating disorder does not include compensatory behaviors.

What criteria distinguish binge-eating disorder?

Binge eating with loss of control and distress at least once a week for 3 months, plus no compensatory behaviors.

What are physical complications of anorexia?

Low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, stopped periods, kidney problems, weak muscles, bone fractures, and osteoporosis.

What are physical complications of bulimia?

Tooth enamel erosion, sore throat/esophagus problems, dehydration, electrolyte problems, irregular heartbeat, and knuckle abrasions.

What are physical complications of binge-eating disorder?

Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and being overweight.

What racial/ethnic difference is listed for anorexia?

Higher rates among White and Asian Americans, lower rates among Latina/Hispanic and Black Americans.

What criteria distinguish somatic symptom disorder?

At least one distressing physical symptom plus excessive thoughts, anxiety, or time/energy devoted to it.

What criteria distinguish illness anxiety disorder?

Preoccupation with having a serious illness, with no or mild symptoms, plus checking or avoidance.

What criteria distinguish conversion disorder?

Motor, sensory, or seizure-like symptoms not better explained by a medical condition.

What is malingering?

Faking symptoms to achieve an external goal, such as money, avoiding school/work, or legal compensation.

What is tolerance?

Needing more of a substance for the same effect or getting less effect from the same amount.

What is withdrawal?

Symptoms that occur after reducing or stopping heavy or sustained substance use.

What is the typical progression toward substance abuse?

Initial use, repeated use, tolerance/craving, loss of control, impairment, and continued use despite problems.

What are common effects of stimulants?

Increased CNS activity, euphoria, improved performance, reduced appetite, and less sleep.

What is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance?

Caffeine.

What is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide?

Marijuana/cannabis.