Lecture Notes Flashcards

Flashcards on Abnormal Psychology, Anxiety & Mood Disorders, Eating Disorders, Personality Disorders, Developmental Disorders, Schizophrenia & Other Disorders, Treatments

Abnormal psychology

The scientific study of abnormal behaviour undertaken to describe, predict, explain and change abnormal patterns of functioning

The Four D's of Abnormal Psychology

Deviant, Distressing, Dysfunctional, Dangerous

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is the primary symptom or the primary cause of other symptoms for all anxiety disorders

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Selective mutism, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, panic disorders, phobias

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Experience excessive anxiety under most circumstances and worry about practically anything; feeling of “free-floating anxiety.”

Panic Disorder

Anxiety disorder marked by recurrent and unpredictable panic attacks

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Compound disorder of thought and behaviour involving obsessions (persistent, intrusive, unwanted thoughts) and compulsions (ritualistic behaviours performed repeatedly)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Result of some trauma experienced by the victim, where victims re-experience the traumatic event in nightmares or flashbacks

Bipolar Disorder

Mood swings alternating between periods of major depression and mania

Bipolar I Disorder

Characterised by manic episodes that last for at least seven days or are severe enough to require hospitalisation, also involves depressive episodes

Major Depressive Disorder

Involves intense depressed mood, reduced interest or pleasure in activities, loss of energy, and problems in making decisions for a minimum of 2 weeks

Eating or Feeding Disorders

Mental disorders defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual’s physical and mental health

Anorexia Nervosa (Anorexia)

Life-threatening eating disorder that involves intense fear of weight gain or becoming overweight, distorted perception of one’s weight/body shape, persistent restriction of caloric intake

Bulimia Nervosa (Bulimia)

Recurrent binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours for the intake of food, such as purging

Personality disorders

Longstanding, maladaptive thought and behaviour patterns that are troublesome to others, harmful, or illegal

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Characterised by a general pattern of disregard for and violation of other people’s rights

Borderline Personality Disorder

Characterised by repeated instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood and by impulsive behaviours

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

Characterised by an intense focus on orderliness, perfectionism, and control that the person loses flexibility, openness, and efficiency

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Groups of disabilities in the functioning of the brain that emerge at birth or during very early childhood and affect the individual’s behaviour, memory, concentration and/or making ability to learn

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Marked by extreme unresponsiveness to others, severe communication deficits, and highly repetitive and rigid behaviours, interest and activities

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Marked by the ability to focus attention or the inability to focus attention, or overactive and impulsive behaviour, or both

Schizophrenia

Psychotic disorder in which personal, social, and occupational functioning deteriorates as a result of unusual perceptions, odd thoughts, disturbed emotions, and motor abnormalities

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Characteristics of Schizophrenia that are adding to a person’s personality, such as hallucinations, inappropriate emotions, delusions

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Characteristics are taking away from a person’s personality, things that the individual does not do (out-of-character)

Dissociatve Identity Disorder (DID)

Rare mental disorder characterised by at least two distinct and relatively enduring identities or dissociated personality states that recurrently control a person’s behaviour

Humanistic Therapy

Therapeutic approach that emphasises personal growth, self-acceptance, and finding meaning in life

Psychodynamic Therapy

Therapeutic approach that focuses on unconscious processes and past experiences that shape current behaviour

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

Widely used form of psychotherapy that helps individuals recognise and change negative thought patterns and behaviours

Group therapy

Therapeutic approach where a small group of individuals with similar issues meet together with a trained therapist

Antidepressants

Medications designed to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety

Anxiolytics

A drug used to treat symptoms of anxiety, such as feelings of fear, dread, uneasiness and muscle tightness, that may occur as a reaction to stress

Antipsychotics

Medications used to treat symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions

Mood stabilizers

Medications used to control mood swings

Brain Stimulation Therapy

Use electrical or magnetic stimulation to alter brain activity