Exam 4: Health Psychology, Psychological Disorders, and Therapy Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering health psychology, stress management, psychopathology criteria, specific psychological disorders, and various therapeutic modalities as outlined in the Exam 4 learning objectives.

Health Psychology

A field of study focused on understanding how psychological factors influence health, the types of stressors people experience, and the physiological effects of stress.

Stressors

Specific events or types of demands that lead to the psychological and physiological experience of stress.

Problem-focused coping

A form of coping that involves addressing the source of stress directly to reduce or eliminate it.

Emotion-focused coping

A form of coping that involves managing the emotional response or distress associated with a stressor.

Psychopathology

The scientific study of psychological disorders, including their symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Abnormal behavior

Behavior that meets specific diagnostic criteria identifying it as maladaptive or symptomatic of a psychological disorder.

DSM V

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; a tool used by clinicians to identify categories of psychological disorders and their unifying symptoms.

Schizophrenia

A severe psychological disorder characterized by specific symptoms and a complex etiology involving biological, social, and cognitive roots.

Anxiety disorders

A category of psychological disorders characterized by unifying symptoms of excessive fear, worry, or apprehension.

Mood disorders

A category of psychological disorders involving primary disturbances in emotional state, such as depression or bipolar disorder.

Major depressive episode

A period of intense depressive symptoms defined by specific prevalence rates and clinical symptoms.

Dissociative Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception.

Psychotherapy

A form of treatment for psychological disorders with the goal of improving an individual's well-being and mental health through clinical interaction.

Biomedical therapies

An approach to psychotherapy that uses biological treatments, such as medication or other medical interventions.

Psychoanalytic therapy

An approach to psychotherapy that focuses on unconscious processes and early childhood experiences.

Behavioral therapy

A treatment approach focused on changing maladaptive behaviors through the application of learning principles.

RET

Rational Emotive Therapy; a specific type of cognitive therapy.

CBT

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; an approach to psychotherapy that integrates cognitive and behavioral techniques.

Humanistic therapy

An approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and the individual's inherent potential.