Clinical Psychology - Causal Factors and Viewpoints

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering causal mechanisms, developmental models, and biological factors in psychopathology based on lecture notes.

Correlate

A variable ($X$) that is associated with an outcome of interest ($Y$).

Risk Factor

A variable ($X$) that is shown to occur before an outcome ($Y$), indicating an increased risk of developing the condition.

Variable Risk Factor

A risk factor ($X$) for an outcome ($Y$) that can be changed.

Fixed Marker

A risk factor ($X$) for an outcome ($Y$) that cannot be changed.

Variable Marker

A variable risk factor ($X$) that, when changed, does not lead to a change in the outcome ($Y$).

Causal Risk Factor

A variable risk factor ($X$) that, when changed, leads to a change in the outcome ($Y$).

Necessary Cause

A characteristic ($X$) that must exist for a disorder ($Y$) to occur; if ($Y$) occurs, ($X$) must have preceded it.

Sufficient Cause

A condition that guarantees the occurrence of a disorder; if ($X$) occurs, ($Y$) will also occur.

Contributory Cause

A factor that increases the probability of a disorder developing but is neither necessary nor sufficient for the disorder.

Reinforcing Contributory Cause

A condition that tends to maintain maladaptive behavior that is already occurring, such as getting extra sympathy when ill.

Distal Risk Factors

Causal factors occurring relatively early in life that may not show their effects for many years.

Proximal Risk Factors

Causal factors that operate shortly before the occurrence of the symptoms of a disorder.

Bidirectionality

The existence of mutual influences where effects can serve as feedback that in turn influences original causes.

Diathesis-Stress Models

Mental disorders believed to develop when someone with a preexisting vulnerability for that disorder experiences a major stressor.

Diathesis

A predisposition or vulnerability toward developing a disorder derived from biological, psychological, or sociocultural factors.

Additive Model

A model where the diathesis and stress sum together; a person with low diathesis can still develop a disorder if stress is high enough.

Interactive Model

A model stating that a specific amount of diathesis must be present before stress will have any effect on the development of a disorder.

Protective Factors

Influences that decrease the likelihood of negative outcomes among those at risk, such as a warm family environment.

Resilience

The ability to adapt successfully to even very difficult situations.

Biopsychosocial Approach

An integrated viewpoint acknowledging that biological, psychological, and social factors all interact and play a role in psychopathology.

Alleles

The alternate forms in which a single gene can exist.

Genotype

A person's total genetic endowment.

Phenotype

The observed structural and functional characteristics resulting from an interaction of the genotype and the environment.

Chromosomes

Chain-like structures within a cell nucleus containing the genes; human cells typically have $23$ pairs.

Polygenic

Influenced by multiple genes or multiple polymorphisms of genes, where any single gene has only a very small effect.

Genotype-Environment Interaction

When genetic factors combine with a significant stressor to contribute to a vulnerability, such as with PKU-induced intellectual disability.

Niche Building

An active genotype-environment correlation where the individual seeks out or builds an environment that is congenial to their genetic tendencies.

Proband (Index Case)

The subject or carrier of the trait or disorder being investigated in a family history method study.

Concordance Rate

The percentage of twins sharing a specific disorder or trait.

Shared Environmental Influences

Factors that make children in a family more similar, such as family discord or poverty.

Nonshared Environmental Influences

Unique experiences at school or unique features of home upbringing that make children in a family differ from one another.

Linkage Analysis

A method that tracks the location of genes by observing familial patterns of a disorder alongside known genetic markers like eye color.

Association Studies

A method that compares frequencies of genetic markers between groups with and without a disorder to locate associated genes.

Neural Plasticity

The flexibility of the brain to make changes in organization and function in response to experience, stress, diet, or disease.

Neurogenesis

The creation of new brain cells.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical substances released into the synapse by the presynaptic neuron to transmit messages to the postsynaptic neuron.

Reuptake

A process of reabsorption by which neurotransmitters are returned to storage vesicles in the axon endings.

Agonists

Medications that facilitate the effects of a neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic neuron.

Antagonists

Medications that oppose or inhibit the effects of a neurotransmitter on a postsynaptic neuron.

Norepinephrine

A monoamine neurotransmitter that plays an important role in emergency reactions and stress, as well as attention and orientation.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter implicated in pleasure and cognitive processing, as well as schizophrenia and addictive disorders.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter with important effects on mood and information processing, often linked to anxiety, depression, and suicide.

HPA Axis

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; a feedback loop involving CRH and ACTH that regulates the production of cortisol in response to stress.

Cortisol

A stress hormone produced by the adrenal gland that mobilizes the body to deal with stress.

Temperament

A child's biologically programmed reactivity and characteristic ways of self-regulation.

Behaviorally Inhibited

A trait where children are fearful and hypervigilant in novel or unfamiliar situations; a risk factor for anxiety disorders.

Id

According to Freud, the source of instinctual drives and the first structure of personality to appear in infancy.