Abnormal Psychology Video Notes: Key Terms and Concepts

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering etiology, historical models, schizophrenia, bipolar spectrum, depressive and anxiety disorders, and related assessment tools and treatments from the video notes.

Etiology

Study of origins of disorders (cause and effect) in the bio‑psycho‑social framework; beliefs about causes affect treatment.

Bio-psycho-social model

A framework that explains mental illness as the result of biological, psychological, and social factors interacting.

Supernatural model

Historical view attributing abnormal behavior to possession or divine influence; included rituals like trephining and exorcisms.

Trephining

Ancient surgical practice of drilling or scraping a hole in the skull to release evil spirits or treat symptoms.

Exorcism

Rituals used to cast demons out of the body.

Demonology

Belief that demons are causes of abnormal behavior.

Mass hysteria

Rapid, shared spread of symptoms or fear in a group with no plausible organic origin.

Hippocrates

Ancient physician who proposed natural/physical causes for mental disorders and emphasized brain pathology and heredity.

Four Humours

Ancient theory that body fluids (black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, blood) must be balanced for health.

Galen

Greek physician who linked humours to seasons/elements and emphasized the brain as a key organ; developed Theory of Opposites.

Insulin shock therapy

1927 biological treatment to induce convulsions to treat psychosis; early form of brain-focused therapy.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Biological treatment delivering electric shocks to provoke seizures to alleviate symptoms.

Neuroleptics (major tranquilizers)

Antipsychotic drugs that reduce hallucinations and delusions (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol).

Benzodiazepines

Minor tranquilizers used to sedate; limited effectiveness for psychotic disorders.

Diathesis-stress model

Idea that mental disorders arise from a predisposition (diathesis) plus environmental stress.

Diathesis

Genetic or biological vulnerability to a disorder.

Stress

Environmental pressures that can trigger or worsen symptoms in vulnerable individuals.

DSM-III

Third edition of the DSM; introduced subtypes for schizophrenia that influenced later classifications.

Kraepelin

Emil Kraepelin; early classification linking schizophrenia to dementia praecox.

Bleuler

Eugen Bleuler; coined the term schizophrenia and described positive vs. negative symptoms.

Positive symptoms

Added symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech.

Negative symptoms

Affective or behavioral deficits such as flat affect, avolition, anhedonia.

Hallucinations

Perceptions without external stimuli (e.g., hearing voices).

Delusions

Fixed, false beliefs not amenable to reason (e.g., persecutory, grandiose).

Catatonia

A schizophrenia subtype with motor disturbances: stupor, rigidity, mutism, or excessive motor activity.

Paranoid schizophrenia

Subtype characterized by prominent delusions or auditory hallucinations with organized theme.

Disorganized speech

Incoherent or illogical speech (neologisms, clang speech).

Schizophrenia DSM-5 criteria

Diagnosis requires core symptoms for at least 6 months; subtypes eliminated in DSM-5; at least one active symptom.

Mania

Abnormally elevated/irritable mood with increased energy, lasting at least 1 week; grandiosity and decreased need for sleep may occur.

Hypomania

Milder form of mania lasting at least 4 days; no marked impairment or psychosis.

Bipolar I disorder

Mood disorder with manic (or mixed) episodes and usually depressive episodes; mania may include psychosis.

Bipolar II disorder

Episodes of major depression with hypomanic episodes; no full manic episode.

Cyclothymia

Chronic fluctuating mood disturbance with hypomanic and depressive symptoms that do not meet full criteria for mania/depression.

BD-NOS (Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified)

Sub-threshold or atypical bipolar presentation that does not meet full BD‑I/BD‑II criteria.

Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)

Clinician-rated scale assessing the severity of manic symptoms.

Beck/Rafaelsen mania scale (Beck-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale)

Clinician instrument to rate mania severity (Bech-Rafaelsen).

SCID

Structured Clinical Interview for DSM disorders; semi-structured diagnostic interview.

SADS

Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia; reliability for mania and other diagnoses.

Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)

Self-report screening tool for bipolar spectrum disorders.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Depressive symptoms lasting at least 2 weeks with diminished function; episodic and recurrent.

Dysthymia

Chronic depressive disorder with persistent low mood for at least 2 years.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Mood symptoms occurring in the final week before menses and improving after onset.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)

Severe temper outbursts with persistent irritable mood; onset in childhood.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Excessive fear of separation from attachment figures; persistent distress and impairment.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive worry about multiple topics for at least 6 months with physical/cognitive symptoms.

Panic Disorder

Recurrent unexpected panic attacks with intense fear and physical symptoms.

Specific Phobia

Marked fear of a specific object or situation lasting 6+ months.

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape might be difficult; lasting 6+ months with avoidance.

Selective Mutism

Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations, despite speaking elsewhere.

Learned Helplessness

Seligman’s theory: people become anxious/depressed when they believe they have no control over stress.

Black dog (depression metaphor)

Metaphor used to describe depressive experience and its impact on life.

Bedlam

Term for chaotic asylums; public spectacle of patients in Bedlam (London) during reform era.

Moral treatment

Humane, respectful treatment of the mentally ill; linked to Pinel, Tuke, Rush efforts.

Lithium

Mood stabilizer used as a primary treatment for bipolar disorder, especially manic episodes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Therapy focusing on the interaction of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; treats depression and supports bipolar management.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Therapy teaching mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Family-focused therapy

Therapy involving family to create supportive environments that reduce relapse risk.