Psych Disorders

psych disorder

characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

psychopathology

study of psych disorders, including symptoms, etiology, and treatment

APA definition of psych disorder

• significant disturbance in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

• disturbances reflect dysfunction

• lead to distress or disability

• don’t reflect culturally approved responses to events

DSM-5

contains diagnostic features, criteria, prevalence, and risk factors for disorders

comorbidity

the presence of two or more disorders in an individual

International Classification of Diseases

focus more on general population health and monitoring the prevalence of diseases

diathesis-stress model

a psychological theory that explains how predisposition to a disorder interacts with environmental stressors to trigger its onset.

fear

instantaneous reaction to an imminent threat

anxiety

apprehension, avoidance, and cautiousness regarding a potential threata

anxiety disorders

excessive and persistent fear and anxiety with disturbances in behavior (25-30%, more common in women)

phobia

fear

specific phobia

intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that leads to avoidance behavior. (12.5%)

acrophobia

intense fear of heights

aerophobia

intense fear of flying

cynophobia

intense fear of dogs

ophidiophobia

intense fear of snakes

taphophobia

intense fear of being buried alive

trypanophobia

intense fear of needles

agoraphobia

intense fear of open or public spaces.

acquisition of phobias

classical conditioning, modeling, verbal transmission and other learning experiences.

social anxiety disorder

a condition characterized by intense fear or anxiety in social situations, leading to avoidance of interactions.

safety behaviors

actions taken to reduce anxiety in social situations by preventing feared outcomes. b

behavioral inhibition

a temperament characterized by heightened shyness and withdrawal in unfamiliar situations, often leading to anxiety. (risk factor)

generalized anxiety disorder

a chronic condition marked by excessive and uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as restlessness and fatigue. (5.7%, women)

panic disorder

a type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent fear of future attacks, often leading to avoidance behavior.

panic attacks

sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, sweating, and dizziness.

causes of panic disorder

genetics, biological (locus coeruleus/norepinephrine), conditioning, cognitive factors

obsessive-compulsive and related disorders

intrusive, unpleasant thoughts and repetitive behaviors

OCD

a mental health disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that individuals feel driven to perform. o

obsessions

recurrent, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety or distress com

compulsions

repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared event from occurring. c

causes of OCD

genetics, orbitofrontal cortex is hyperactive

PTSD

“exposed to death, threatened death, serious injury, sexual violence, from direct, indirect, exposure”

risk factors for PTSD

for developing PTSD include prior trauma, genetics, and lack of social support."

mood disorders

are psychological disorders characterized by persistent changes in mood, such as depression or bipolar disorder.

depressive disorders

are mood disorders that predominantly feature persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities.

major depressive disorder

is a common and severe form of depression that significantly affects daily functioning, characterized by a persistent low mood, lack of energy, and loss of interest in usual activities. (5 symptoms over 2 weeks, and episodic)

risk factors for major depressive disorder

include genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, trauma, and chronic illness.

seasonal pattern

is a subtype of major depressive disorder where episodes occur at specific times of the year, often in the fall or winter, and improve in the spring and summer.

peripartum/postpartum depression

is a type of major depressive disorder that occurs during pregnancy or within four weeks following childbirth, characterized by severe mood swings, anxiety, and fatigue.

persistent depressive disorder

is a chronic form of depression lasting for at least two years, with symptoms less severe than major depressive disorder but still impacting daily functioning.

bipolar disorder

is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). It affects daily life and requires long-term management.

bipolar 1 disorder

is a more severe form of bipolar disorder characterized by at least one manic episode that may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes.

bipolar 2 disorder

is a form of bipolar disorder characterized by at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, without the full-blown manic episodes typical of bipolar I disorder.

causes for mood disorders

genetics, imbalances in neurotransmitters

causes for depression

elevated amygdala activity, less activation in prefrontal cortex, unusual levels of cortisol

diathesis stress model of causes for major depressive disorder

genetics, cognitive theories, hopelessness theory (self-fulfilling), and rumination

hallucination

a perception without external stimuli, often experienced as hearing voices or seeing things that are not present.

delusion

a false belief that is strongly held despite evidence to the contrary.

positive v negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Positive symptoms refer to the presence of abnormal behaviors, such as hallucinations and delusions, while negative symptoms involve the absence or reduction of normal functions, like emotional expression and motivation.

avolition

a severe lack of motivation to initiate and sustain purposeful activities, often seen in individuals with schizophrenia.

alogia

a lack of speech or reduced speech output, often seen in individuals with certain mental health conditions, particularly schizophrenia.

asociality

a lack of interest in social interactions or relationships, commonly observed in individuals with schizophrenia.

anhedonia

the inability to experience pleasure from activities that are usually enjoyable, frequently seen in individuals with depression and schizophrenia.

causes of schizophrenia

genetics, overabundance in limbic system account for hallucinations, low levels in PFC account for negative symptoms, brain anatomy (enlarged ventricles), events during pregnancy, marijuana, prodromal symptoms

dissociative disorders

a group of psychological conditions characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory. These disorders include dissociative identity disorder and depersonalization/derealization disorder.

dissociative amnesia

a psychological condition where an individual cannot recall important autobiographical information, usually due to trauma or stress.

depersonalization

is a dissociative disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of detachment or estrangement from one's self or surroundings, often accompanied by a sense of unreality.

derealization

is a dissociative experience where one feels detached from their surroundings, perceiving the world as unreal or distorted.

dissociative identity disorder

a complex psychological condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities within a single individual, often resulting from severe trauma during early childhood.

types of personality disorders

Cluster A: odd or eccentric

Cluster B: impulsive, overly dramatic, highly emotional, erratic

Cluster C: nervous and fearful

paranoid

is a mental condition characterized by persistent, irrational thoughts of persecution or mistrust towards others, often leading to significant distress and impairment in functioning.

schizoid

is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression in interpersonal settings.

schizotypical

is a personality disorder characterized by acute discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentric behavior.

antisocial

is a personality disorder marked by a disregard for the rights of others, persistent violation of societal norms, and lack of empathy, often leading to manipulative or deceitful behavior.

histrionic

is a personality disorder characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior, often leading to shallow or rapidly changing emotions.

narcissistic

is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy, often leading to an inflated sense of self-importance and entitlement.

borderline

is a personality disorder characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, often leading to impulsive behaviors and a fear of abandonment.

avoidant

is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive and excessive fear of social situations, leading to feelings of inadequacy, hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, and avoidance of social interaction.

dependent

is a personality disorder characterized by a strong need for approval and support from others, often leading to submissive behavior and difficulty in making decisions without reassurance.

obsessive-compulsive

is a personality disorder marked by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions) performed to alleviate anxiety.

causes of ADHD

smaller frontal lobes

autism spectrum disorder

is a developmental disorder that affects communication, behavior, and social interaction, often characterized by a range of symptoms and varying levels of severity.