PSYC 151 Mental Health Concepts

Set of flashcards covering key concepts related to mental health from PSYC 151 lecture notes.

Comorbidity

The presence of more than one mental disorder in the same individual at the same time.

Four Ds

Distress, Disability, Deviation, Dysfunction used to define abnormal behavior.

Distress

Subjective emotional discomfort experienced by the individual.

Disability

Impairment in important life areas such as work, school, or relationships.

Deviation

Behavior that violates statistical norms or social/cultural norms.

Dysfunction

Failure of internal mental mechanisms that causes harm to the individual or others.

Rosenhan's Demonstration

Context and labeling strongly influence how behavior is interpreted in mental health settings.

Depersonalization

Attitudes towards mentally ill individuals, comprising fear, distress, horrible expectations, and avoidance.

Powerlessness

Loss of autonomy, privacy, and freedom of movement for patients in institutional settings.

Supernatural Theories

Beliefs that mental disorders were caused by demons, curses, sin, or divine punishment.

Trephination

An ancient surgical practice involving drilling into the skull to release evil spirits.

Thomas Szasz

Argued that societies invented concepts like abnormality to control or silence those who threaten social order.

Patient's Rights Movement

Advocated for the least restrictive environment for mental health treatment.

Community Mental Health Movement

Significantly decreased the number of institutionalized patients from 1955 to 1998.

Stigma in Mental Health

Destructive beliefs and attitudes held by society towards groups considered different.

Impact of Stigma

Increases shame, reduces help-seeking, lowers treatment adherence, contributes to social exclusion.

Hippocrates

The 'father of modern medicine' who linked mental illness to imbalances in bodily humors.

Four Humors

Blood (sanguine), Phlegm (stubborn), Black bile (melancholic), Yellow bile (choleric).

Moral Treatment

A reform movement emphasizing humane care, kindness, and structure in mental health.

Deinstitutionalization

The movement to transfer patients from institutions into the community.

Criticisms of Diagnosis

Rigid categories, stigma, discrimination, and artificial boundaries in mental health.

Structural Brain Models

Abnormalities in brain structure are believed to cause mental disorders.

Biochemical Brain Models

Imbalances in neurotransmitters or hormones are believed to lead to mental disorders.

Genetic Brain Models

Disordered genes are associated with mental disorders.

Action Potential

Triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse to allow communication between neurons.

Neurotransmitter Activity

Imbalances alter brain chemistry, leading to communication issues between neurons.

Serotonin (5-HT)

Key neurotransmitter involved in emotion regulation and implicated in depression and anxiety.

Dopamine (DA)

Key neurotransmitter related to reward and motivation, involved in schizophrenia and addiction.

Norepinephrine (NE)

Key neurotransmitter associated with arousal and attention, linked to depression and anxiety.

GABA

Inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety and aggression.

Neuroendocrine System

Interrelationship between brain activity and glandular functioning via hormones.

HPA Axis

The stress response system involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands.

Behavioral Genetics

Study of individual differences in behavior attributed to genetic endowment.

Genotype vs. Phenotype

Genotype is genetic makeup, phenotype is observable traits influenced by environment.

Molecular Genetics

Study of how specific genes are associated with behaviors and disorders at a molecular level.

Gene-Environment Interaction

The impact of a gene that varies depending on the environment.

Epigenetics

Environmental influences that alter gene expression without changing DNA sequence.

Psychosurgery

Surgical treatment aimed at altering brain structure for severe mental disorders.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

A treatment that uses magnets to stimulate neural activity, often used for depression.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A treatment involving electric currents passed through the brain to reduce severe depressive episodes.

Pharmacotherapy

Use of medications such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics.

Freud's Tripartite Model

Personality structure consisting of Id (pleasure principle), Ego (reality principle), Superego (moral conscience).

Psychodynamic Therapy

Focus on accessing the patient's unconscious conflicts and experiences.

Attachment Theory

Emphasizes impact of early exchanges with caregivers on future relationships.

Social Learning Theory

Emphasizes learning through observation of others.

Client-Centered Therapy

Therapeutic approach emphasizing unconditional positive regard and client support.

Cognitive Models

Address psychological issues by identifying and modifying thought patterns.

Learned Helplessness

A psychological condition where individuals feel unable to control their circumstances.

Negative Triad

Negative thoughts about self, the world, and future propounded by Aaron Beck.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to treat psychological issues.

Assessment in Psychology

Gathering information about symptoms and causes for accurate diagnosis.

Mood Disorder

Mental disorders characterized by periods dominated by depressed or manic mood.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Disorder with five or more symptoms present nearly every day for a two-week period.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Milder symptoms of depression lasting for at least two years with no symptom-free period longer than two months.

Bipolar I Disorder

Characterized by at least one manic episode; major depressive episode likely but not required.

Bipolar II Disorder

Characterized by at least one major depressive episode and one episode of hypomania.

Cyclothymia

Chronic mood disorder with less severe symptoms for at least two years.

Gender Differences in Depression

Depressive disorders are more common in women while bipolar disorders have equal rates across genders.

Cultural Factors in Depression Reporting

Asian cultures report lower depression levels but higher somatic complaints.

Learned Helplessness Theory

The belief that one cannot change their situation due to uncontrollable negative events.

Cognitive Errors in Depression

Errors such as arbitrary inference, selective abstraction, and overgeneralization that fuel depressive thoughts.

Antidepressants

Medications used in treatment of depression with various types and potential side effects.

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

Block serotonin reuptake, offering quicker therapeutic effects in depression.

Lithium

Used in mood stabilization, more effective for controlling mania than depression.