chapter 15: psychological disorders (psychopathology)

what is Agoraphobia

Anxiety disorder, characterized by intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance of situations in which it might be difficult to escape if one experience, the symptoms of a panic attack

what is Antisocial personality disorder

Characterized by a lack of regard of others, rights, impulsivity, deceitfulness, irresponsibility, and lack of remorse or misdeeds

what is Anxiety disorder

Characterized by excessive and persistent fear of anxiety, and by related disturbances in behavior

what is Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Childhood disorder, characterized by inattentiveness and/or hyperactive, impulse behavior

what is Atypical

Describes behaviors or feelings that deviate from the norm

what is Autism spectrum disorder

Childhood disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, and repetitive patterns of behavior are interests

what is Bipolar and related disorders

Group of mood disorders in which mania is the defining feature

what is Bipolar disorder

Mood disorder, characterized by mood states that vacillate between depression and mania

what is Bodied dysmorphic disorder

Involves excessive preoccupation with an imagined defect and physical appearance

what is Borderline personality disorder

Instability and interpersonal relationships, self image, and mood, as well as impulsivity; key features include intolerance of being alone and fear of abandonment, unstable, relationships, unpredictable, behavior, and moods, and intense and inappropriate anger

what is Catatonic behavior

Decrease reactivity to the environment; includes posturing catatonic stupor

what is Comorbidity

Co-occurrence of two disorders in the same individual

what is Delusion

Believe that is contrary to reality and is firmly held, despite contradictory evidence

what is Depersonalization/derealization disorder

Dissociative disorder in which people feel detached from the self (depersonalization), and the world feels artificial and unreal (derealization)

what is Depressive disorder

One of a group of mood disorders in which depression is the defining feature

what is Diagnosis

Determination of which disorder a set of symptoms represent represents

what is the DSM-5

Authoritative index of mental disorders and the criteria for their diagnosis; published by the American psychiatric Association (APA)

what is the Diathesis-stress model

Suggest that people were predisposition for a disorder (a diathesis) are more likely to develop the disorder when faced with stress; model of psychopathology

what is Disorganized thinking

Disjointed and incoherent thought processes, usually detected by what a person says

what is Disorganized/abnormal motor behavior

Highly unusual behaviors and movements (such as childlike behaviors), repeated and purpose, less movements, and displaying odd facial expressions and gestures

what is Disassociative amnesia

dissociative disorder, characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, usually following an extremely stressful or traumatic experience

what are Dissociative disorders

Group of DSM-5 disorders in which the primary feature is that a person become dissociated, or split off, from their corse sense of self, resulting in disturbances in identity and memory

what is Dissociative fugue

Symptom of dissociative amnesia in which a person suddenly wanders away from one’s home and experiences confusion about their identity

Dissociative identity disorder

Dissociative disorder (formerly known as as multiple personality disorder) in which a person exhibits two or more distinct, well-defined personalities or identities and experiences memory gaps for the time during which another identity emerged

what is Dopamine hypothesis

Theory of schizophrenia that proposes that an overabundance of dopamine or dopamine receptors is responsible for the onset and maintenance of schizophrenia

what is Etiology

Cause or causes of psychological disorder

what is Flashback

Psychological state from a few seconds to several days, during which one relives a traumatic event and behaves as though the event were occurring at the moment

what is Flight of ideas

Symptom of mania that involves an abruptly switching in conversation from one topic to another

what is Generalized anxiety disorder

a chronic mental health condition characterized by excessive, uncontrollable, and persistent worry about everyday things—such as health, finances, or family—lasting for at least six months

what is grandiose delusion

Characterized by beliefs that one holds special power, unique knowledge, or is extremely important

what is Hallucination

Perceptual experience that occurs in the absence of external stimulation, such as the auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) common to schizophrenia

what is Harmful dysfunction

Model of psychological disorders resulting from the inability of an internal mechanism to perform its natural function

what is Hoarding disorder

Characterized by persistent difficulty in parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value of usefulness

what is Hopelessness theory

Cognitive theory of depression proposing that a style of thinking that perceives negative life events as having stable and global causes leads to a sense of hopelessness and then to depression

what is International classification of diseases (ICD)

Authoritative index of mental and physical disease, including infectious diseases, and the criteria for their diagnosis; publishes by the World Health Organization (WHO)

what is Locus coeruleus

Area of the brainstem that contains norepinephrine, neurotransmitter that triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response; has been implicated in panic disorder

what is Major depressive disorder

Commonly referred to as “depression” or “major depression,” characterized by sadness or loss of pleasure in usual activities, as well other symptoms

what is mania

state of extreme elation and agitation

what is manic episode

period in which an individual experiences mania, characterized by extremely cheerful and euphoric mood, excessive talkativeness, irritability, increased activity levels, and other symptoms

what is mood disorder

one of a group of disorders characterized by severe disturbances in mood and emotions; the categories of mood disorders listed in the DSM-5 are bipolar and related disorders and depressive disorders

what is negative symptoms

characterized by decreases and absences in certain normal behaviors, emotions, or drives, such as an expressionless face, lack of motivation to engage in activities, reduced speech, lack of social engagement, and inability to experience pleasure

what is neurodevelopment disorder

one of the disorders that are first diagnosed in childhood and involve developmental problems in academic, intellectual, social functioning

what are obsessive-compulsive and related disorders

group of overlapping disorders listed in the DSM-5 that involves intrusive, unpleasant thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors

what is obsessive-compulsive disorder

characterized by the tendency to experience intrusive and unwanted thoughts and urges (obsession) and/or the need to engage in repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) in response to the unwanted thoughts and urges

what is orbitofrontal cortex

area of the frontal lobe involved in learning and decision-making

what is panic attack

period of extreme fear or discomfort that develops abruptly; symptoms of panic attacks are both physiological and psychological

what is panic disorder

anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected panic attacks, along with at least one month of worry about panic attacks or self-defeating behavior related to the attacks

what is paranoid delusion

characterized by beliefs that others are out to harm them

what is peripartum onset

subtype of depression that applies to people who experience an episode of major depression either during pregnancy or in the four weeks following childbirth

what is persistent depressive disorder

depressive disorder characterized by a chronically sad and melancholy mood

personality disorder

group of DSM-5 disorders characterized by an inflexible and pervasive personality style that differs markedly from the expectations of one’s culture and causes distress and impairment; people with these disorders have a personality style that frequently brings them into conflict with others and disrupts their ability to develop and maintain social relationships

what is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

experiencing a profoundly traumatic event leads to a constellation of symptoms that include intrusive and distressing memories of the event, avoidance of stimuli connected to the event, negative emotional states, feelings of detachment from others, irritability, proneness toward outbursts, hypervigilance, and a tendency to startle easily; these symptoms must occur for at least one month

what is prodromal symptom

in schizophrenia, one of the early minor symptoms of psychosis

• are early, subtle changes in behavior, mood, and cognition that occur before the first acute psychotic episode, often months or years prior

what is psychological disorder

condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

what is psychopathology

study of psychological disorders, including their symptoms, causes, and treatment; manifestation of a psychological disorder

what is rumination

in depression, tendency to repetitively and passively dwell on one’s depressed symptoms, their meanings, and their consequences

what is safety behavior

mental and behavior acts designed to reduce anxiety in social situations by reducing the chance of negative social outcomes; common in social anxiety disorder

what is schizophrenia

severe disorder characterized by major disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior with symptoms that include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and behavior, and negative symptoms

what is seasonal pattern

subtype of depression in which a person experiences the symptoms of major depressive disorder only during a particular time of year

what is social anxiety disorder

characterized by extreme and persistent fear or anxiety and avoidance of social situations in which one could potentially be evaluated negatively by others

what is somatic delusion

belief that something highly unusual is happening to one’s body or internal organs

what is specific phobia

anxiety disorder characterized by excessive, distressing, and persistent fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation

what is suicidal ideation

thoughts of death by suicide, thinking about or planning suicide, or making a suicide attempt

what is suicide

death caused by intentional, self-directed injurious behavior

what is supernatural

describes a force beyond scientific understanding

what is ventricle

one of the fluid-filled cavities within the brain

what is trephining?

In ancient times, holes were cut in an ill person’s head
to let out evil spirits in a process called trephining

what did Hippocrates believe?

that mental illness came from an
imbalance in the body’s vital fluids, or humor

what did the Middle Ages believe?

In the Middle Ages, the mentally ill were the cause of
spirit possession and required an exorcism

what did the renaissance believe?

During the Renaissance, people experiencing Psychological disorders were most likely called witches and put to death

how is mental illness viewed now?

Today, psychological disorders are often viewed from a medical model
o They are diagnosed according to symptoms, and have:

• An etiology: origin, cause, or set of causes

• A course: a path, or way in which a disorder develops or progresses

• A prognosis: likely course, duration, and outcomes

• Disorders are treated; some are “cured,” some require intermittent or lifelong attention

how is defining psychological disorders done

Statistical definitions: depend on

• Statistical rarity

• Deviation from social norms

• Can depend on situational context: the social or environmental setting of a person’s behavior

• Subjective discomfort

• Emotional distress or emotional pain

• Inability to function normally

what is maladaptive/dysfunctional

anything that does not allow a person to function within or adapt to the stresses and everyday demands of life

what are the top 4 criteria for diagnosing a psychological disorders

1. Is the thinking or behavior deviant?

2. Does the thinking or behavior cause the person distress?

3. Is the thought process or behavior maladaptive, or does it result in an inability to function?

4. Does the thought process or behavior cause the person to be a danger to themselves or others?

AND THEY MUST MEET TWO IN ORDER TO BE DIAGNOSED

Who can diagnosis?

Only psychological and medical professionals can diagnose disorders and determine the best treatment for someone who experiences mental illness.

what does law say about psychological disorders?

• Lawyers and judges are sometimes charged with determining how the law should address crimes committed under the influence of mental illness.

• Note that insanity is not a psychological term

• Insanity considered a legal term in the United States

what is the biological method to diagnosing mental illness?

Psychological disorders have biological or medical causes
or Biological changes in the chemical, structural, or genetic systems of the body

what is the psychodynamic view to diagnosing mental illness?

disordered thinking and behavior stems from
repressed conflicts and urges that are fighting to become conscious

what is the behaviorism method to diagnosing mental illness?

disordered behavior is learned

what is the cognitive perspective method to diagnosing mental illness?

Maladaptive functioning comes from irrational beliefs and illogical patterns of thought

• Cognitive psychologists: psychologists who study the way people think, remember, and mentally organize information

what is the sociocultural perspective method to diagnosing mental illness?

thinking or behavior is the product of family, social, and cultural influences

what is the cultural relatively method to diagnosing mental illness?

the need to consider unique characteristics of culture in which behavior takes place

what is the cultural syndromes method to diagnosing mental illness?

sets of particular symptoms of distress found in particular cultures, which may or may not be recognized as an illness within the culture

what is the biopsychosocial model method to diagnosing mental illness?

perspective in which both mental health and psychopathology are seen as the result of the combined and interacting forces of biological, psychological, social, and cultural influences

what is the international classification of diseases (ICD)?

an international resource published by the World Health Organization (WHO)

• Currently in its eleventh editio

what is Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2022)?

manual of psychological disorders and their symptoms

• The DSM-5-TR describes about 300 different psychological disorders

what is the RDoC Research Matrix Example

Hypothetical application of the RDoC approach. Individuals with a variety of symptom-based anxiety disorders are examined with different methods and across different areas of investigation to identify specific data-based clusters and categories for diagnosis.

are psychological disorders uncommon?

no they aren’t

what are the stats for psychological disorder?

• Roughly 22.8 percent of Americans reported experiencing some kind of mental illness in 2021

  • Around 1 in 5 American adults in a given year

    • Only about 5.5 percent suffer from a severe mental disorder

• Comorbidity, the presence of more than one mental disorder in an individual at the same time, is common

what are pros to diagnostic labels?

• Provide a common language to professionals

• Establish distinct categories of diagnosis for treatment and understanding

• Can be timesaving and lifesaving tools

what are cons to diagnostic labels?

• overly prejudicial

• Bias

• “Psychology student’s syndrome”

what is affect

in psychology, a term indicating “emotion” or “mood”

how do most people experience emotions?

Most people experience a range of emotions over the course of a day or several days, such as mild sadness, calm contentment, or mild elation and happiness. A person with a disorder of mood experiences emotions that regularly vary from expected ranges or are maladaptive or dysfunctional in some way.

What is true about MDD

• MDD is the most common of the diagnosed disorders of mood

• Twice as likely to be diagnosed in women than it is in men

what are causes of mood disorders?

• Behavioral theories link depression to learned helplessness

• Cognitive theories see depression as the result of negative, distorted, illogical thinking

• Biological explanations of mood disorders look at the function of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine systems in the brain

• Genetic origins may play a role in these disorders

what is phobia

an irrational, persistent fear of an object, situation, or social activity

what is claustrophobia

fear of being in a small, enclosed space

what is acrophobia

fear of heights

what is acute stress disorder (ASD)

a disorder resulting from exposure to a major stressor

• Symptoms include anxiety, dissociation, recurring nightmares, sleep disturbances, problems in concentration, and moments in which people seem to “relive” the event in dreams and flashbacks

• Lasting as long as 1 month after the event

what is adjustment disorders

disorders resulting from exposure to a stressor