Psychological Disorders Overview

Psychological Disorder

Psychological Disorder

A syndrome with significant disturbances in cognition, emotion, or behavior.

Medical Model

Concept treating diseases, including psychological disorders, with physical causes.

Epigenetics

Study of environmental influences on gene expression without DNA change.

DSM-5

American Psychiatric Association's system for classifying psychological disorders.

ADHD

Disorder with extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Anxiety Disorders

Disorders with distressing anxiety or maladaptive behaviors.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Intense fear and avoidance of social situations.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder with continual tension and autonomic arousal.

Panic Disorder

Anxiety disorder with unpredictable episodes of intense dread.

Agoraphobia

Fear or avoidance of situations causing loss of control and panic.

Phobia

Anxiety disorder with irrational fear and avoidance of specific things.

OCD

Disorder with unwanted repetitive thoughts or actions.

PTSD

Disorder with haunting memories and hypervigilance after trauma.

Major Depressive Disorder

Disorder with depressive symptoms lasting two or more weeks.

Bipolar Disorder

Disorder alternating between depression and mania.

Mania

Hyperactive, optimistic state with poor judgment.

Rumination

Compulsive overthinking and fretting.

Schizophrenia

Disorder with delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech.

Psychotic Disorders

Disorders with irrational ideas and distorted perceptions.

Hallucination

False sensory experiences without external stimuli.

Delusion

False belief, often accompanying psychotic disorders.

Chronic Schizophrenia

Form of schizophrenia with symptoms appearing in late adolescence.

Acute Schizophrenia

Form of schizophrenia beginning at any age, often in response to trauma.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Disorder with physical symptoms without apparent cause.

Conversion Disorder

Disorder with physical symptoms not compatible with recognized conditions.

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Disorder interpreting normal sensations as disease symptoms.

Dissociative Disorders

Rare disorders with conscious awareness separation from memories and feelings.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Rare disorder with two or more distinct personalities.

Personality Disorders

Enduring behavior patterns impairing social functioning.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Personality disorder with lack of conscience for wrongdoing.

Anorexia Nervosa

Eating disorder with starvation diet despite being underweight.

Bulimia Nervosa

Eating disorder with binge eating followed by weight-loss behaviors.

Binge-Eating Disorder

Significant binge-eating episodes without compensatory behaviors.

Psychotherapy

Treatment involving psychological techniques for overcoming difficulties or achieving growth

Biomedical therapy

Therapy using medications or procedures affecting physiology directly

Eclectic approach

Therapeutic approach combining techniques from various therapies

Psychoanalysis

Freud's technique using free associations, dreams, and transferences for insight

Resistance

Blocking anxiety-laden material from consciousness in psychoanalysis

Interpretation

Analyst's noting dream meanings and resistances to promote insight

Transference

Patient transferring emotions linked with other relationships to the analyst

Psychodynamic therapy

Derives from psychoanalytic tradition, enhancing self-insight

Insight therapies

Aim to improve psychological functioning by increasing awareness of motives

Client-centered therapy

Therapist uses active listening in an empathic environment for growth

Active listening

Empathic listening where the listener echoes and clarifies

Unconditional positive regard

Nonjudgmental attitude aiding self-awareness and acceptance

Behavior therapy

Applies learning principles to eliminate unwanted behaviors

Counterconditioning

Uses classical conditioning to evoke new responses to triggers

Exposure therapies

Treat anxieties by exposing people to feared situations

Systematic desensitization

Associates relaxation with anxiety-triggering stimuli to treat phobias

Virtual reality exposure therapy

Treats anxiety through simulations of feared situations

Aversive conditioning

Associates unpleasant state with unwanted behavior

Token economy

Operant conditioning where tokens are exchanged for privileges

Cognitive therapy

Teaches adaptive thinking based on thoughts influencing emotions

Rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)

Challenges illogical attitudes and assumptions

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Integrative therapy combining cognitive and behavior therapy

Group therapy

Therapy conducted with groups for interaction benefits

Family therapy

Treats individuals in the context of family dynamics

Meta-analysis

Statistical procedure combining results from different studies

Evidence-based practice

Integrates research, expertise, and patient preferences for clinical decisions

Therapeutic alliance

Trust bond between therapist and client for constructive problem-solving

Psychopharmacology

Study of drug effects on mind and behavior

Antipsychotic drugs

Treat severe thought disorders like schizophrenia

Antianxiety drugs

Control anxiety and agitation

Antidepressant drugs

Treat depression, anxiety, and PTSD

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Brief electric current for severe depression

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Repeated magnetic pulses to stimulate or suppress brain activity

Psychosurgery

Surgery altering brain tissue to change behavior

Lobotomy

Procedure cutting nerves to control emotions

Resilience

Personal strength coping with stress and adversity

Posttraumatic growth

Positive changes from struggling with challenging circumstances