Clinical Psychology Study Outline

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to clinical psychology, including various psychological perspectives and disorders.

Three D’s of diagnosis

• Delirium:

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  A state of altered consciousness characterized by confusion, disorientation, and changes in attention and awareness. 

• Dementia:

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  A progressive decline in cognitive abilities, such as memory, language, and reasoning. 

• Depression:

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  A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest. 

• changes a lot

Medical model / biological perspective

A perspective that views psychological disorders primarily as medical diseases.

Sociocultural model

A perspective that emphasizes the impact of social and cultural factors on psychological disorders.

Psychodynamic perspective

A view that focuses on unconscious processes and past experiences in the development of psychological disorders.

Behaviorist / Learning perspective

A viewpoint that focuses on learned behaviors and environmental influences on psychological disorders.

Cognitive perspective

A perspective that emphasizes the role of thoughts and beliefs in the development of psychological disorders.

Biopsychosocial model

A comprehensive perspective that involves biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding psychological disorders.

Insanity

A legal term that refers to a person's inability to understand right from wrong, not a psychological diagnosis.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A psychological disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of everyday life.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A disorder characterized by obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors) that individuals feel compelled to perform.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymic Disorder)

A chronic form of depression that lasts for at least two years, characterized by a low mood.

Major Depressive Disorder

A severe form of depression that interferes with daily life, characterized by feelings of hopelessness.

Bipolar Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by extreme mood swings, including manic episodes and depressive episodes.

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms that add behavior, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms that reflect a decrease in functioning, such as lack of motivation or social withdrawal.

Antipsychotic medications

Medications used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders, can cause side effects like tardive dyskinesia.

Dissociative Amnesia

A disorder characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, usually related to trauma.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or an experience of possession.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A therapeutic approach that aims to change patterns of thinking or behavior that contribute to problems.

Agonists vs. Antagonists

Agonists are substances that enhance the action of neurotransmitters, while antagonists block their action.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A psychiatric treatment that involves electrically inducing seizures to relieve severe depression.