Unit 5 Mental and Physical Health

Acrophobia

An intense fear of heights that can lead to anxiety and avoidance behavior.

Active Listening

A communication technique involving fully focusing, understanding, responding, and remembering what the other person is saying.

Agoraphobia

An anxiety disorder characterized by an intense fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, often leading to avoidance of open or public spaces.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder marked by extreme weight loss, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image.

Antianxiety Drugs

Medications prescribed to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, often by depressing the central nervous system.

Antidepressants

Medications used to treat depressive disorders, often working by balancing chemicals in the brain that affect mood and emotions.

Antipsychotic Medications

Drugs used to treat psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, by altering neurotransmitter activity in the brain.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of disregard for the rights of others, lack of empathy, and often criminal behavior.

Anxiety Disorders

A category of mental disorders characterized by excessive fear or anxiety that interferes with daily functioning.

Applied Behavior Analysis

A therapeutic approach that uses principles of behaviorism to modify behavior and improve specific skills, often used with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Arachnophobia

An intense fear of spiders, often leading to avoidance behaviors.

Ataque de Nervios

A culturally specific syndrome often seen in Latin American cultures, characterized by intense emotional distress and physical symptoms.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges in social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors.

Aversion Therapy

A behavioral therapy that uses punishment or unpleasant stimuli to discourage unwanted behaviors.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by feelings of extreme shyness, inadequacy, and sensitivity to negative evaluation.

Biofeedback

A technique that teaches individuals to control physiological processes by providing real-time feedback on their bodily functions.

Bipolar I Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by one or more manic episodes, which may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes.

Bipolar II Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, without a full manic episode.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A personality disorder marked by instability in relationships, self-image, and emotions, along with impulsive behavior.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging.

Catatonia

A state of unresponsiveness and immobility, often associated with severe mental illness.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

A group of personality disorders characterized by odd or eccentric behavior, including paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

A group of personality disorders characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior, including antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

A group of personality disorders characterized by anxious or fearful behavior, including avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

Cognitive Restructuring

A therapeutic process aimed at identifying and challenging negative thought patterns to change maladaptive behaviors.

Cognitive Techniques

Strategies used in therapy to help individuals recognize and alter distorted thinking patterns.

Cognitive Triad

A concept in cognitive therapy that involves the interplay between negative thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A widely used therapeutic approach that combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to address maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to obsessive thoughts.

Cultural Humility

An approach to cultural competency that emphasizes lifelong learning and self-reflection regarding one's own biases and the impact of culture on behavior.

Cycling

Referring to the alternation between manic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder.

Deinstitutionalization

The process of closing large psychiatric hospitals and transitioning individuals with mental illness to community-based care.

Delusions

Strongly held false beliefs that are resistant to reason or confrontation with actual facts.

Delusions of Grandeur

A type of delusion where an individual believes they have extraordinary abilities, fame, or wealth.

Delusions of Persecution

A belief that one is being targeted or harmed by others, often associated with paranoia.

Dependent Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by excessive reliance on others for emotional support and decision-making.

Depressive Disorders

A group of mood disorders characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities.

Deviation

Departure from the norm or what is typical, often used in the context of behavior or psychological functioning.

Diagnosis

The process of identifying a disorder based on symptoms, history, and assessment tools.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

A manual published by the American Psychiatric Association that categorizes and defines mental disorders.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

A type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on teaching skills to manage emotions, improve relationships, and reduce self-destructive behaviors.

Diathesis-Stress Model (Interaction Model)

A psychological theory that explains the development of disorders as the result of an interaction between predispositional vulnerabilities and stressors.

Disorganized Motor Behavior

A symptom of schizophrenia characterized by erratic movements or behaviors that are not purposeful.

Disorganized Speech

A symptom of schizophrenia involving incoherent or illogical speech patterns.

Disorganized Thinking

A cognitive disturbance where a person's thoughts are disorganized, leading to difficulty in communicating clearly.

Dissociation

A psychological phenomenon where a person feels disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, or sense of identity.

Dissociative Amnesia

A condition characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, typically following a traumatic event.

Dissociative Disorder

A category of mental disorders characterized by a disruption in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

A severe form of dissociation where an individual has two or more distinct identities or personality states.

Distress

A state of emotional suffering characterized by anxiety, sadness, or pain.

Dopamine Hypothesis

A theory suggesting that an imbalance of dopamine in the brain is involved in the development of schizophrenia.

Dream Analysis

A therapeutic technique used to interpret the content of dreams to gain insight into unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Dysfunction

Impairment in the normal functioning of an individual, often leading to distress or impairment in daily life.

Eclectic Approach

A therapeutic method that draws on multiple theories and techniques to best address the needs of the client.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A medical treatment for severe depression that involves applying electrical stimulation to the brain.

Evidence-Based Interventions

Therapeutic practices that are supported by empirical research and shown to be effective.

Exposure Therapy

A behavioral therapy that involves the gradual exposure to feared stimuli to reduce anxiety responses.

Fear Hierarchies

A tool used in exposure therapy that ranks fears from least to most distressing, guiding gradual exposure.

Flat Affect

A lack of emotional expression, often seen in individuals with certain mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia.

Free Association

A psychoanalytic technique where the patient speaks freely about their thoughts, feelings, and associations to uncover unconscious processes.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A chronic anxiety disorder characterized by excessive worry about various aspects of life.

Group Therapy

A therapeutic approach where a small group of individuals meets regularly to discuss their issues and support each other.

Hallucinations

Perceptual experiences that occur without an external stimulus, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not there.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors.

Hoarding Disorder

A mental health disorder characterized by persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, leading to clutter and distress.

Hostility

An attitude marked by anger, aggression, or a tendency to provoke conflict.

Hypervigilance

An enhanced state of sensory sensitivity often associated with anxiety disorders, leading to excessive alertness to potential threats.

Hypnosis

A trance-like state of focused attention and increased suggestibility, often used in therapeutic settings.

Individual Therapy

A form of psychotherapy in which a therapist works with an individual to address personal issues.

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

A global classification system for diseases and health-related conditions, including mental disorders.

Lithium

A medication commonly used to treat bipolar disorder, particularly for managing manic episodes.

Lobotomy

A surgical procedure that involves severing connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex, historically used to treat severe mental disorders.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in most activities.

Maladaptive Learned Associations

Learned responses that are harmful or counterproductive, often contributing to psychological disorders.

Mania

A state of elevated mood and energy, often characterized by impulsive behavior and hyperactivity, commonly seen in bipolar disorder.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance and a lack of empathy for others.

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms that reflect a decrease in emotional expressiveness and motivation, such as flat affect and social withdrawal.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A group of disorders that affect brain development, often impacting cognitive, social, and emotional functioning.

Obsessions

Intrusive and unwanted thoughts or images that cause significant anxiety or distress.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

An anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions).

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control.

Panic Attack

A sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath.

Panic Disorder

An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks and persistent concern about future attacks.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by pervasive distrust and suspicion of others.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

A chronic form of depression characterized by long-term, low-grade depressive symptoms.

Person-Centered Therapy

A therapeutic approach developed by Carl Rogers that emphasizes the client's perspective and fosters a supportive environment.

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms that reflect an excess or distortion of normal functions, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, characterized by flashbacks, avoidance, and hyperarousal.

Psychoactive Medication

Drugs that affect mood, perception, and behavior by altering brain chemistry.

Psychodynamic Techniques

Therapeutic methods based on psychoanalysis that explore unconscious processes and early life experiences.

Psychosurgery

Surgical interventions aimed at altering brain function to treat severe mental disorders.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

A cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on changing irrational beliefs to alter emotional responses.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression.

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

A group of disorders that include schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders characterized by disruptions in thought processes and perceptions.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by eccentric behaviors, social anxiety, and cognitive distortions.

Social Anxiety Disorder

An anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear or anxiety in social situations, leading to avoidance behaviors.

Specific Phobia

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation, leading to avoidance behavior.

Stigma

Negative attitudes and beliefs about a group of people, often leading to discrimination and social exclusion.

Stupor

A state of near-unconsciousness or lack of responsiveness, often seen in severe mental health conditions.