Clinical Psychology

Psychological Disorders

Syndromes or clusters of symptoms that tend to occur simultaneously.

Symptom

Physical or mental feature regarded as an indication of a psychological disorder.

Psychopathology

Scientific study of psychological disorders.

Clinical Psychology

Assessment and treatment of psychological disorders.

Point Prevalence

Percentage of people in a given population who have a psychological disorder at a particular point in time.

Lifetime Prevalence

Percentage of people in a population who will have a psychological disorder at any point in their lives.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

An example of an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive worry.

Clinical Assessment

Procedure for gathering information to evaluate an individual's psychological functioning.

Clinical Interview

1:1 interview where clinician asks the client about their problems or concerns.

Self-report Measures

Surveys or reports that measure the severity of client symptoms.

Projective Tests

Tests where clients respond to ambiguous stimuli, revealing unconscious wishes or conflicts.

Trephination

Early therapy involving cutting a hole in the skull to drive out demons.

Moral Treatment

A humane method developed by Phillipe Pinel to provide therapy to psychiatric patients.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A hybrid form of psychotherapy focusing on changing habitual interpretations and behavior.

Third Wave Therapies

Therapies that focus on modifying patterns of thinking, feeling, and behavior while pursuing valued goals.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

A third wave therapy that encourages psychological flexibility and acceptance of thoughts and feelings.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Teaches individuals to fully observe thoughts and feelings nonjudgmentally.

Dodo Bird Verdict

The conclusion that all major forms of psychotherapy are equally effective.

Empirically Supported Treatments (EST)

Treatments that research has shown to be effective for specific disorders.

Cognitive Therapy

Effective in treating mood disorders and often has longer-lasting effects than medication.

Behavioral Therapy

Particularly effective for treating anxiety disorders, especially phobias.

Subsyndromal Disorders

Versions of psychological disorders that don’t meet full DSM-5 criteria but cause significant problems.

Stigma

Social disapproval that can prevent individuals from seeking therapy.