Diagnosis & Therapy Vocab 1

behavioral perspective

An approach to mental disorders that focuses on maladaptive learned associations between or among responses to stimuli. Assumes that people have learned bad conditioning leading to bad behaviors

biological perspective

An approach to mental disorders that focuses on physiological or genetic issues.

cognitive perspective

An approach to mental disorders that focuses on maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or emotions.

evolutionary perspective

An approach to mental disorders that focuses on behaviors and mental processes that reduce the likelihood of survival.

humanistic

An approach to mental disorders that focuses on a lack of social support (unconditional positive regard) and being unable to fulfill one's potential (self-actualization)

sociocultural perspective

An approach to mental disorders that focuses on maladaptive social and cultural relationships

dialectical behavior

A type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on teaching coping skills to manage stress, regulate emotions, and improve relationships. The goal is to help individuals accept the reality of their lives and their own behaviors on the one hand and help them learn to change their lives, including dysfunctional behaviors, on the other. Its underlying emphasis is on helping individuals learn both to regulate and to tolerate their emotions.

rational-emotive behavior

therapy that focuses on identifying and disputing irrational beliefs, attitudes, and cognitive distortions that contribute to emotional distress and maladaptive behaviors. This uses a variety of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral techniques to directly and emphatically interrupt clients' irrational beliefs and encourage them to think and act in more effective, self-enhancing ways

person-centered therapy

An therapy from the humanistic perspective, employs active listening and unconditional positive regard

active listening

a psychotherapeutic technique in which the therapist listens to a client closely, asking questions as needed, in order to fully understand the content of the message and the depth of the client's emotion. The therapist typically restates what has been said to ensure accurate understanding

unconditional positive regard

an attitude of acceptance, respect, and nonjudgmental warmth toward clients in therapy, regardless of their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, promoting a safe and supportive therapeutic environment for self-exploration and growth.

group therapy

a form of psychotherapy that involves a therapist leading a group of individuals with similar mental health concerns in therapeutic discussions, activities, or exercises, to explore emotions, share experiences, and provide mutual support.

hypnosis

a trance-like state of focused attention, concentration, and suggestibility induced by a trained therapist, often used in therapy to treat pain, anxiety and addiction; not effective at retrieving lost memories

lithium

A mood-stabilizing drug made from naturally-occuring salt, commonly used to treat bipolar disorder.

cognitive therapy

a form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing dysfunctional thought patterns, beliefs, and cognitive distortions that contribute to psychological distress and maladaptive behaviors

cognitive restructuring

a technique used in cognitive therapies to help the client identify their self-defeating beliefs or cognitive distortions, refute them, and then modify them so that they are adaptive and reasonable.

cognitive triad

a set of three beliefs thought to characterize major depressive episodes. These are negative beliefs about the self, the world, and the future

fear hierarchies

a list of feared situations or objects ranked in order from least to most distressing, used by therapists in helping clients' face their fears

applied behavior analysis

involves applying principles of conditioning to address mental disorders and developmental disabilities.

exposure therapies

behavior therapy techniques that involve gradual and systematic exposure to feared or anxiety-provoking stimuli or situations, with the goal of reducing fear, anxiety, and avoidance behaviors through habituation and extinction of conditioned responses.

counterconditioning

a behavior therapy technique used to replace or counteract maladaptive responses (such as fear or anxiety) with adaptive ones, by pairing the feared or aversive stimulus with a positive or neutral stimulus to change the emotional response.

biofeedback

A technique that teaches individuals to control physiological processes such as heart rate and muscle tension by providing real-time feedback. For instance, someone would be monitoring their blood pressure and by rewarded when it comes down

fidelity

Ethical guideline for therapists, which insists that they uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify their professional roles and obligations, accept responsibility for their behavior, and seek to manage conflicts of interest that could lead to exploitation or harm. Psychologists cooperate with other professionals to the extent needed to serve the best interests of those with whom they work.

integrity

Ethical guideline for therapists, which insists that they seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology

nonmaleficence

Ethical guideline for therapists, which insists that they do no harm to clients; psychologists seek to safeguard the welfare and rights of those with whom they interact professionally and avoid or minimize harm

respect for people’s rights and dignity

Ethical guideline for therapists, which insists that they respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination

psychodynamic therapies

a range of psychological theories and therapeutic approaches that emphasize the role of unconscious processes, childhood experiences, and interpersonal relationships in shaping personality, behavior, and mental health.

dream interpretation

the therapist's analysis and explanation of the underlying meanings, motives, or conflicts revealed through the client's thoughts, behaviors, dreams, or associations, with the aim of fostering insight into their unconscious

free association

A psychoanalytic technique in which patients say whatever comes to mind without censorship as a way of exploring the unconscious.

american psychiatric association

a national medical and professional organization whose physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders; determines the criteria for diagnoses and creates the DSM

diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM) of mental disorders

a widely used classification system published by the American Psychiatric Association, providing criteria for diagnosing and classifying mental disorders based on symptoms, behaviors, and clinical presentations.

world health organization

The international organization that provides both medical and mental health information for countries around the world

internal classification of mental disorders

A manual identifying and labeling mental disorders found around the world - including diagnostic criteria, research findings and potential treatments

eclectic approach

involves integrating principles, techniques, and strategies from multiple different theoretical perspectives; allows therapists to mix parts of different therapies to best treat the needs of the patient

biopsychosocial model

model that assumes that any psychological problem potentially involves a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

diathesis-stress model

a psychological theory that assumes that psychological disorders develop due to a genetic vulnerability (diathesis) in combination with stressful life experiences (stress).

psychotherapy

also known as talk therapy or counseling, a form of treatment that involves therapeutic communication and interaction between a trained mental health professional (therapist) and an individual or group, aimed at alleviating psychological distress, resolving interpersonal conflicts, and promoting personal growth and well-being.

meta-analytic studies of treatment

a statistical method used to combine and analyze the results of multiple independent studies on a specific topic or research question, to provide a comprehensive summary of the overall findings and evaluate the strength of evidence across studies. The APA bases its diagnoses and treatment recommendations on this type of research, rather than results of a single study.

cultural humility

a process of in which a therapist conducts ongoing self-reflection and self-critique, emphasizing their awareness of their own biases and limitations in understanding diverse cultural backgrounds, while valuing the client's expertise and experiences

therapeutic alliance

a cooperative working relationship between client and therapist, considered by many to be an essential aspect of successful therapy. this relationship has shared bonds, goals, and tasks.

psychotropic medication

any drug that has significant effects on psychological processes, such as thinking, perception, and emotion. These drugs include those deliberately taken to produce an altered state of consciousnes or to treat a mental illness

deinstitutionalization

the movement in mental health care towards discharging individuals from psychiatric hospitals or institutions and providing community-based treatment and support services, aimed at reducing reliance on long-term institutionalization and promoting integration into society.

decentralized treatment

The modern approach to therapy which prefers to treat people outside of an institution, and instead with a combination of medication and psychological therapies

apa ethical principles for therapists

A set of guidelines established for American therapists and psychologists by the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States.

diagnosis

The process of identifying and labeling a disorder based on its symptoms and signs.

psychological disorder

a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and or behaviors that causes significant distress, impairment in functioning, or deviation from cultural norms, leading to disruption in daily life and relationships.

deviation from social norms

a factor in identifying psychological disorders; how much the symptoms of a disorder cause the person to act much differently from those around them

level of dysfunction

a factor in identifying psychological disorders; how much a disorder interferes with a person's job, school, personal relationships and-or daily functioning (feeding, bathing, etc)

perceived distress

a factor in identifying psychological disorders; how much the symptoms of a disorder cause negative emotions for the person with the disorder

stigma

mark of disgrace associated with a particular condition, person, or quality. Unfortunately, many people still hold a stigma associated with mental illness, although this has been shifting

evidence-based practice

the integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and client preferences and values in making informed decisions about treatment and interventions in mental health care, to ensure the effectiveness and appropriateness of interventions.

biological or biomedical therapy

the use of biological or medical interventions, such as medication, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or psychosurgery, to treat mental disorders by targeting underlying biological or neurological mechanisms.

antianxiety drugs

medications used to alleviate symptoms by enhancing the activity of neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has calming effects on the central nervous system.

antidepressants

medications used to treat symptoms of disorders by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine in the brain, which are implicated in mood regulation and emotional well-being.

antipsychotics

medications used to manage symptoms of disorders such as schizophrenia, by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain and reducing hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.

tardive dyskinesia

A side effect of long-term use of antipsychotic medications, characterized by involuntary, repetitive body movements (like arm twitching, facial grimacing)

psychosurgery

a surgical procedure that involves altering or removing specific areas of the brain to treat severe and refractory mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or depression.

lesioning

destruction of a small slice of brain tissue; can be naturally or experimentally caused destruction

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

a medical procedure used to treat severe depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental health conditions, by inducing controlled seizures in the brain through electrical stimulation, to alleviate symptoms and improve mood.

lobotomy

a form of psychosurgery that involves severing or damaging a lobe of the brain cortex, to alleviate symptoms of severe mental illness, it was popular in the mid-20th century but is rarely, if ever, performed today.

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

a non-invasive procedure used to treat depression and other mental health conditions, by delivering magnetic pulses to specific areas of the brain to modulate neural activity and alleviate symptoms.