AP Psych Chapter 15 Terms

psychological disorder

a syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior

medical model

the concept that diseases, in this case psychological disorders, have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and, in most cases, cured, often through treatment in a hospital

epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

DSM-5

the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; a widely used system for classifying psychological disorders

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

a psychological disorder marked by extreme inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity

anxiety disorders

psychological disorders characterized by distressing persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety

generalized anxiety disorder

an anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal

panic disorder

an anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of intense dread in which a person may experience terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations; often followed by worry over a possible next attack

phobia

an anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

a disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions), actions (compulsions), or both

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

a disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience

major depressive disorder

a disorder in which a person experiences, in the absence of drugs or another medical condition, two or more weeks with five or more symptoms, at least one of which must be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure

bipolar disorder

a disorder in which a person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania. (Formerly called manic-depressive disorder.)

mania

a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state in which dangerously poor judgement is common

rumination

compulsive fretting; overthinking our problems and their causes

schizophrenia

a disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished, inappropriate emotional expression

psychotic disorders

a group of disorders marked by irrational ideas, distorted perceptions, and a loss of contact with reality

delusion

a false belief, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders

chronic schizophrenia

(also called process schizophrenia) a form of schizophrenia in which symptoms usually appear by late adolescence or early adulthood. As people age, psychotic episodes last longer and recovery periods shorten

acute schizophrenia

(also called reactive schizophrenia) a form of schizophrenia that can begin at any age, frequently occurs in response to an emotionally traumatic event, and has extended recovery periods

dissociative disorders

controversial, rare disorders in which conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

a rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities. (Formerly called multiple personality disorder.)

personality disorders

inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning

antisocial personality disorder

a personality disorder in which a person (usually a man) exhibits a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members; may be aggressive and ruthless or a clever con artist

anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder in which a person (usually an adolescent female) maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly underweight; sometimes accompanied by excessive exercise

bulimia nervosa

an eating disorder in which a person’s binge eating (usually of high-calorie foods) is followed by inappropriate weight-loss promoting behavior, such as vomiting, laxative use, fasting, or excessive exercise

binge-eating disorder

significant binge-eating episodes, followed by distress, disgust, or guild, but without the compensatory behavior that marks bulimia nervosa

obsessions

persistent and repetitive thoughts

compulsions

persistent and repetitive actions

norepinephrine

a neurotransmitter/hormone/chemical that creates energy, arousing the sympathetic nervous system

seratonin

a neurotransmitter/hormone that acts as a mood regulator and makes one feel happy

learned helplessness

a psychological state where an individual stops trying to change a negative situation, even when opportunities for change are available, because previous experiences have taught them that they have no control.

self-focused rumination

the repetitive, passive, and obsessive focus on one's own negative emotions, symptoms of distress, and their causes/consequences rather than solutions

hallucinations

false perceptions

flat affect

no emotion (common in schizophrenics)

catatonia

frozen, no body movement

body dysmorphic disorder

disordered view of one’s body

somatoform disorders (stress disorders)

experiencing physical symptoms of a disease for which there is no apparent physical cause

Hypochondriasis

Preoccupied with imaginary ailments; unrealistically interpret normal aches and pains as symptoms of more serious illnesses

etiology: personality, life experiences, upbringing

onset: most often early adulthood

treatment: CBT and antidepressants

Conversion Disorder

Psychological loss of a specific voluntary body function; to avoid conflict or stressful situations

etiology: reaction to a stressful event

onset: more females

treatment: psychotherapy, physical therapy

munchausen’s syndrome

feign physical or emotional illness in order to assume the role as patient

difficult to diagnose and often requires being “caught” in the act

etiology: unknown but linked to past severe illness or abuse

onset: hard to tell

treatment: no standard therapies

autism spectrum disorder

significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction

rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors

etiology: genetic predisposition

prevalence: more males

onset: childhood

treatment: behavioral therapies and speech/occupational therapy