AP Psych Terms Clinical

Psychological disorder

A pattern of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that causes distress or interferes with daily life

Dysfunction

When thoughts or behaviors interfere with normal functioning

Distress

Intense negative feelings like anxiety, sadness, or discomfort

Deviation

Behavior that goes against social or cultural norms

Stigma

Negative attitudes or discrimination toward people with mental illness

Diagnostic tools

Methods psychologists use to identify disorders (interviews, tests, observations)

DSM

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual used to classify mental disorders

ICD

International Classification of Diseases used worldwide to classify disorders

Eclectic approach

Using multiple psychological perspectives to diagnose or treat disorders

Behavioral perspective

Explains disorders through learned behaviors and conditioning

Psychodynamic perspective

Explains disorders through unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences

Humanistic perspective

Focuses on lack of personal growth or unmet needs

Cognitive perspective

Explains disorders through unhealthy thought patterns

Evolutionary perspective

Behaviors or mental processes that reduce survival or reproduction

Sociocultural perspective

Focuses on how culture, environment, and social interactions influence disorders

Biological perspective

Focuses on genetics, brain structure, and neurotransmitters

Biopsychosocial model

Model explaining disorders as a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors

Diathesis-stress model

Disorders develop when genetic vulnerability combines with stress

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Disorders that begin during childhood development and affect behavior or learning

ADHD

A disorder involving inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

Autism spectrum disorder

A developmental disorder affecting communication, social interaction, and behavior

Schizophrenia

A severe disorder involving distorted thinking, hallucinations, and delusions

Acute schizophrenia

Sudden onset of schizophrenia symptoms often linked to stress

Chronic schizophrenia

Long-lasting schizophrenia with ongoing symptoms

Positive symptoms

Added abnormal behaviors like hallucinations or delusions

Delusion

A false belief held despite evidence

Delusion of persecution

Belief that others are trying to harm you

Delusion of grandeur

Belief that you have great power, fame, or importance

Hallucination

Sensing something that isn’t actually present

Disorganized thinking

Speech or thoughts that are confused or illogical

Word salad

Random words strung together with no clear meaning

Disorganized motor behavior

Unusual or unpredictable movements

Catatonia

Disturbance in movement or activity

Catatonic excitement

Wild or uncontrollable movement

Negative symptoms

Absence of normal behaviors

Flat affect

Little or no emotional expression

Catatonic stupor

No movement or response to surroundings

Prenatal exposure

Exposure to viruses or toxins before birth

Dopamine hypothesis

Schizophrenia may be linked to excess dopamine activity

Depressive disorders

Disorders involving long-lasting sadness and loss of interest

Major depressive disorder

Severe depression lasting at least two weeks

Persistent depressive disorder

Long-term depression lasting two years or more

Bipolar disorders

Mood disorders involving swings between mania and depression

Mania

Period of extremely elevated mood, energy, and activity

Bipolar cycling

Alternating periods of mania and depression

Bipolar I disorder

Bipolar disorder with full manic episodes

Bipolar II disorder

Bipolar disorder with hypomania and major depression

Anxiety disorders

Disorders involving excessive fear or worry

Specific phobia

Intense fear of a specific object or situation

Acrophobia

Fear of heights

Arachnophobia

Fear of spiders

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape may be difficult

Panic disorder

Repeated unexpected panic attacks

Panic attack

Sudden intense fear with physical symptoms

Ataque de nervios

Culture-bound panic-like disorder common in Caribbean cultures

Social anxiety disorder

Fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations

Taijin kyofusho

Fear of offending others in Japanese culture

Generalized anxiety disorder

Chronic excessive worry about many things

Obsessive-compulsive disorders

Disorders involving intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Disorder with recurring obsessions and compulsions

Obsession

Unwanted repetitive thoughts

Compulsion

Repetitive behavior performed to reduce anxiety

Hoarding disorder

Difficulty throwing away possessions

Dissociative disorders

Disorders involving separation from memory, identity, or awareness

Dissociative amnesia

Inability to recall important personal information

Fugue

Sudden travel with memory loss about identity

Dissociative identity disorder

Disorder with two or more distinct personalities

Trauma and stressor-related disorders

Disorders triggered by traumatic events

PTSD

Disorder involving flashbacks, anxiety, and distress after trauma

Feeding and eating disorders

Disorders involving unhealthy eating behaviors

Anorexia nervosa

Extreme food restriction and fear of gaining weight

Bulimia nervosa

Cycles of binge eating followed by purging

Personality disorders

Enduring patterns of behavior that deviate from cultural expectations

Paranoid personality disorder

Extreme distrust of others

Schizoid personality disorder

Detachment from social relationships

Schizotypal personality disorder

Odd thinking and behavior

Antisocial personality disorder

Disregard for others and lack of remorse

Borderline personality disorder

Instability in emotions and relationships

Histrionic personality disorder

Excessive attention-seeking behavior

Narcissistic personality disorder

Grandiosity and need for admiration

Avoidant personality disorder

Social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy

Dependent personality disorder

Excessive reliance on others

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Preoccupation with order and perfection

Meta-analysis

Combining results from many studies to find overall patterns

Evidence-based interventions

Treatments supported by scientific research

Cultural humility

Respecting and understanding a client's cultural background

Therapeutic alliance

Trusting relationship between therapist and client

Psychotropic medication

Drugs used to treat psychological disorders

Deinstitutionalization

Movement of patients out of mental hospitals into community care

Decentralized treatment

Treatment provided in community settings instead of large institutions

Nonmaleficence

Ethical rule to do no harm

Fidelity

Being trustworthy and responsible

Integrity

Honesty and accuracy in professional work

Respect for people's rights and dignity

Protecting client autonomy and confidentiality

Psychodynamic therapy

Therapy focusing on unconscious conflicts

Free association

Client says whatever comes to mind

Dream interpretation

Analyzing dreams to understand unconscious thoughts

Cognitive therapy

Therapy focusing on changing negative thinking patterns

Cognitive restructuring

Replacing negative thoughts with healthier ones

Fear hierarchies

Listing feared situations from least to most scary