Psychology of Mental Illness: Exam III

Restricting behaviors

Severely limiting calorie intake through extreme dieting, fasting, or cutting out major food groups.

Restricting behaviors negative impacts

Extreme weight loss, muscle wasting, osteoporosis, heart failure, and amenorrhea.

Bingeing

Episodes of uncontrollable eating in a discrete period, often in secret, involving high-calorie or sweet foods.

Bingeing negative impacts

Intense guilt, depression, stomach pain, weight gain, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.

Compensatory behaviors (Purging)

Actions to prevent weight gain after eating, such as vomiting, misusing laxatives/diuretics, or excessive exercise.

Compensatory behaviors negative impacts

Severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, heart attacks, tooth enamel erosion, and chronic digestive problems.

Anorexia Nervosa symptoms

Extreme restricting, significantly low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and distorted body image.

Anorexia Nervosa causes

Genetic predisposition, perfectionism, cultural pressure for thinness, and family enmeshment.

Anorexia Nervosa treatments

Medical stabilization and weight restoration first, followed by Family-Based Therapy (FBT) and CBT.

Bulimia Nervosa symptoms

Recurrent bingeing followed by compensatory behaviors at least once a week for 3 months; normal or slightly overweight.

Bulimia Nervosa causes

Low self-esteem, poor emotional regulation, dieting culture, and serotonin imbalances.

Bulimia Nervosa treatments

CBT (CBT-E), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and antidepressants (SSRIs like fluoxetine).

Binge-Eating Disorder symptoms

Recurrent bingeing with marked distress, eating rapidly or uncomfortably full, without regular compensatory behaviors.

Binge-Eating Disorder causes

Using food to cope with trauma or negative emotions, genetics, and impulsivity.

Binge-Eating Disorder treatments

CBT, Interpersonal Therapy, Behavioral Weight Loss therapy, and medications (SSRIs or Lisdexamfetamine).

Body Dissatisfaction definition

Negative thoughts, feelings, and evaluations a person has about their physical appearance, weight, or body shape.

Body Dissatisfaction prevalence

Very common across modern societies ('normative discontents'), affecting the vast majority of women and a growing percentage of men starting in childhood.

Factitious Disorder (Munchausen Syndrome)

Consciously falsifying, exaggerating, or inducing physical/psychological symptoms in oneself or another to assume the sick role for attention.

Functional Neurological Disorder (Conversion Disorder)

Neurological symptoms (paralysis, blindness, seizures) not explained by any medical condition, often triggered by severe psychological stress.

Somatic Symptom Disorder (Somatization Disorder, Briquet Syndrome)

One or more distressing physical symptoms accompanied by excessive anxiety, thoughts, and time spent focusing on symptoms.

Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondriasis)

Intense fear and preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, despite having no or very mild physical symptoms.

Psychological factors affecting other medical conditions

A diagnosed general medical condition (asthma, ulcers, heart disease) directly worsened or delayed in recovery by stress, traits, or behaviors.

Biofeedback definition

A mind-body technique using sensors to provide real-time feedback on involuntary bodily functions to learn conscious control.

Biofeedback treats

Chronic pain, tension headaches, migraines, hypertension, anxiety disorders, and somatic or stress-related medical conditions.

Drug definition

Any chemical substance other than food or water that alters a person's mood, perception, consciousness, or physiological functioning.

Intoxication definition

A temporary, reversible state of maladaptive behavioral or psychological changes caused by a substance's direct effect on the CNS.

Tolerance definition

The need for increasingly larger amounts of a substance to achieve the desired effect, or a noticeably diminished effect with the same amount.

Withdrawal definition

Unpleasant physical and psychological symptoms that occur when stopping or sharply reducing heavy, prolonged substance use.

Substance Use Disorder diagnosis categories

Impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological criteria.

Childhood vs adult disorders difference & importance

Children are developing; normal behaviors at age 3 may indicate a disorder at age 10. Children also express distress through physical complaints or acting out.

Child/Adolescent additional stressors

Academic pressure, bullying, peer rejection, parental divorce, family conflict, abuse, and developmental transitions like puberty.

Separation Anxiety Disorder symptoms

Excessive, developmentally inappropriate fear or distress when separated from attachment figures, refusal to go to school, or nightmares.

Selective Mutism

Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations where speaking is expected, despite speaking normally in other settings.

Major Depressive Disorder in youth

Persistent sadness, sleep/appetite changes, low energy, and key difference of chronic irritability and anger rather than overt sadness.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)

Severe, recurrent temper outbursts 3+ times per week paired with a persistently irritable or angry mood nearly every day.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, argumentative or defiant behavior toward authority figures, and vindictiveness without severe rule violations.

Conduct Disorder (CD)

A repetitive, persistent pattern of violating basic rights of others or major societal rules (aggression, destruction, theft, truancy).

Enuresis

Repeated voiding of urine into bed or clothes (involuntary or intentional) at age 5 or older.

Encopresis

Repeated passage of feces into inappropriate places at age 4 or older.

ADHD definition & symptoms

A persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity present before age 12 across multiple settings.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) core clusters

Persistent deficits in social communication/interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

Intellectual Disability (ID)

Deficits in both intellectual functioning (IQ around 70 or below) and adaptive functioning, with onset during the developmental period.

Functional Neurological Disorder vs Somatic Symptom Disorder

FND involves dramatic, unexplainable neurological symptoms without required health anxiety; SSD involves general physical complaints with excessive health anxiety.

Societal pressures supporting thinness obsession

Media and advertising of unrealistic thin bodies, social media 'What I Eat in a Day' videos, and family/peer diet culture and weight-stigma.

Encouraging body positivity

Following accounts with unedited images or videos and educating oneself on healthy fueling based on activity level.