Unit 8a - Clinical Psychology - AP Psychology

psychological disorder

A condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

medical model

A framework for understanding psychopathy as a disease that can be diagnosed and treated.

DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; a classification system for mental disorders.

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

A globally used coding system for diseases and related health issues, including mental disorders.

Eclectic Approach

Therapeutic approach that combines various psychological theories and techniques.

Maladaptive

Behaviors or thought patterns that inhibit a person's ability to adjust healthily to the current environment.

Learned Associations

Connections made between stimuli and responses based on previous experiences.

Diathesis-Stress Model

A theory that explains the onset of psychological disorders as the result of a predispositional vulnerability and stress from life experiences.

Neurodevelopmental disorders

A group of disorders that cause disruptions in the normal development of the nervous system.

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A disorder characterized by ongoing patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity.

Autism spectrum disorder

A range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and communication.

anxiety disorders

Mental health disorders that involve excessive anxiety or fear.

social anxiety disorder

A disorder characterized by intense fear of social situations.

generalized anxiety disorder

A disorder characterized by chronic and excessive worry about various aspects of life.

panic disorder

An anxiety disorder marked by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks.

Agoraphobia

An intense fear or avoidance of places or situations where escape might be difficult.

Specific Phobia

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

A mental health disorder characterized by persistent obsessions and compulsions.

Hoarding disorders

A disorder where individuals excessively accumulate items and struggle to part with them.

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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

major depressive disorder

A mood disorder that causes persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.

Persistent depressive disorder

A long-term form of depression that lasts for at least two years.

Bipolar disorders

Mental health conditions characterized by extreme mood swings including manic and depressive episodes.

Bipolar I

A type of bipolar disorder characterized by manic episodes that last at least 7 days.

Bipolar II

A milder form of bipolar disorder characterized by at least one major depressive episode and one hypomanic episode.

Mania

A state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, arousal, and energy level.

Rumination

The focused attention on the symptoms of one's distress, and on its possible causes and consequences.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and other cognitive difficulties.

Chronic Schizophrenia

A long-term, severe form of schizophrenia that increases in frequency and intensity.

acute schizophrenia

A form of schizophrenia with sudden onset and severe symptoms.

Hallucination

A perceptual experience where an individual sees, hears, or feels something that is not present.

Delusion

A false belief that is firmly held despite being contradicted by reality.

somatic symptom disorder

A disorder characterized by an intense focus on physical symptoms that causes significant distress or impairment.

conversion disorder

A condition where a person experiences neurological symptoms without a neurological diagnosis.

illness anxiety disorder

Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness.

Factitious disorder

A condition in which someone deceives others by appearing sick, by purposely getting sick or by self-injury.

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

A severe form of dissociation involving the presence of two or more distinct personality states.

Dissociative amnesia

A disorder characterized by the inability to recall important personal information.

Dissociative fugue

A form of dissociative amnesia where a person travels away from home and is unable to recall their past.

personality disorders

A class of mental disorders characterized by enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior.

Cluster A

Cluster of personality disorders characterized by odd or eccentric behaviors.

Cluster B

Cluster of personality disorders characterized by dramatic, overly emotional, or erratic behaviors.

Cluster C

Cluster of personality disorders characterized by anxious and fearful behaviors.

anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by an obsessive fear of gaining weight and subsequent weight loss.

bulimia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by purging.

binge-eating disorder

An eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food.

Biopsychosocial Clinical Approach

An integrative approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in diagnosing and treating patients.

Cognitive Approach

A psychological perspective that focuses on mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, and how they influence behavior.

Biological Approach

A perspective in psychology that emphasizes the influence of biological processes, such as genetics, brain structure, and neurochemistry, on behavior and mental disorders.

Psychodynamic Approach

A psychological perspective that emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind, childhood experiences, and interpersonal relationships on behavior and mental disorders.

Humanistic Approach

A perspective in psychology that emphasizes human potential, personal growth, and self-actualization, focusing on individuals' subjective experiences.

Behaviorist Approach

A perspective in psychology that focuses on observable behaviors and the ways they're learned through interaction with the environment, emphasizing conditioning as a key process.

Sociocultural Approach

A perspective in psychology that examines how social and cultural factors influence behavior, thoughts, and emotions.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

A type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, typically worsening in winter months due to reduced sunlight exposure.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by a disregard for others’ rights, impulsivity, and lack of remorse.

Cyclothymic Disorder

A mood disorder involving chronic fluctuations between hypomanic and depressive symptoms that are not severe enough to meet the criteria for bipolar disorder.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

A disorder involving social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to criticism.