Chapter 15 - Psychological Disorders

Psychological disorders

Patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that are deviant, distressing, dysfunctional, and sometimes dangerous to oneself or others

Psychopathology

The scientific study of mental disorders, including their causes, symptoms, development, and treatment

Etiology

The cause or origin of a disease or disorder. It refers to the factors that contribute to the developoment of a mental disorder

Atypical

Not typical, or deviating from the norm

Cultural expectations

The shared beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors that a specific society or group considers acceptable or appropriate

Harmful dysfunction

A concept used to define a psychological disorder more precisely

Diagnosis

The process of identifying and labeling a mental disorder based on a person’s symptoms, behavior, and history, using established criteria

Comorbidity

Refers to the presence of two or more psychological disorders in the same person at the same time

Trephination

Drilling holes in the skull to let out evil spirits, was used in the Stone Ages, as evidenced in the fossil record

Anxiety disorders

A group of psychological disorders that involve excessive fear, worry, or nervousness that is persistent, overwhelming, and interferes with daily life

Specific phobia

An intense, irrational fear or a particular object, situation, or activity that poses little to no actual danger, but causes extreme anxiety and avoidance behavior

Social anxiety disorder

A mental health condition where a person has an intense, persistent fear of being judged, embarrassed or rejected in social or performance situations

Safety behaviors

Actions people take to prevent or reduce feared outcomes, especially in anxiety disorders

Panic disorder

An anxiety disorder characterized by repeated, unexpected panic attacks, followed by ongoing fear of having more attacks or changing behavior to avoid them

Panic attack

A sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that peaks within (?) and includes physical and psychological symptoms

Generalized anxiety disorders

Marked by chronic, excessive, and uncontrollable worry about a variety of everyday things

OCD

A mental health condition characterized by obsessions and compulsions

Obsessions

Intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images or urges that cause anxiety

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce that anxiety

PTSD

A mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event

Mood disorders

Intense sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, and loss of interest lasting at least 2 weeks

Bipolar disorder

A mood disorder characterized by extreme mood swings that include episodes of mania and depression

Manic episode

A period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, along with increased energy, or activity that lasts at least 1 week

Flight of ideas

A symptom often seen during a manic episode, where a person’s thoughts rapidly shift from one topic to another, but the ideas are usually loosely connected

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers in the brain that allow neurons to communicate with each other

Hopelessness theory

A cognitive theory of depression that suggests people are more likely to become depressed when they believe that negative events are caused by stable, global, internal factors

Rumination

Dwelling on symptoms of depression

Distracting style

Men tend to do something to lift themselves out of a depressed mood

Schizophrenia

A chronic and severe psychotic disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences that appear real but are created by the mind—they occur without any external stimulus

Delusions

Strongly held false beliefs that are resistant to logic or contrary evidence, and not explained by cultural or religious norms

Paranoid delusions

Involve intense, irrational suspicions or beliefs that others are out to harm, deceive, or persecute the individual

Grandiose delusions

Type of false belief in which a person is convinced they have exceptional abilities, wealth, fame or power

Catatonic behaviors

A group of symptoms that involve abnormalities in movement and behavior

Dissociative amnesia

A person cannot recall important personal information, usually related to a traumatic or stressful event

Dissociative fugue

A rare and severe form of dissociative amnesia in which a person suddenly and unexpectedly travels away from their home or usual surroundings

Depersonalization/derealization disorder

A feeling of being detached from oneself/ a sense that the world around you isn’t real

Schizotypal personality disorder

Severe social anxiety, odd thinking and behavior, and distorted perceptions

Borderline personality disorder

Intense emotional instability, distorted self-image, impulsive behaviors, and unstable relationships

Antisocial personality disorder

Long-term pattern of disregard for the rights of others, violation of social norms and laws, and a lack of remorse

Avoidant personality disorder

Extreme social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to criticism or rejection