Psychological Disorders & Therapies Flashcards

Flashcards based on lecture notes covering psychological disorders, therapies, and related concepts.

Psychological Disorder

A syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A disorder marked by extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Medical Model

Concept that psychological disorders have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and often cured.

Diagnosis

Identifying and labeling a disorder based on symptoms.

Symptom

A physical or mental feature indicating a condition.

DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) - the standard classification of mental disorders.

Anxiety Disorders

Disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Continual tension and unease without specific cause.

Panic Disorder

Sudden, unpredictable episodes of intense fear (panic attacks).

Phobia

Persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Intense fear of social situations, leading to avoidance.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions).

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Haunting memories, nightmares, and social withdrawal after a traumatic event.

Major Depressive Disorder

Persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.

Mania

A hyperactive, wildly optimistic state.

Bipolar Disorder

Alternating periods of depression and mania.

Rumination

Compulsive fretting; overthinking problems and their causes.

Schizophrenia

A disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.

Psychosis

A break from reality; disorders where a person loses contact with reality.

Delusion

False beliefs (e.g., paranoia, grandeur).

Hallucination

False sensory experiences (e.g., hearing voices).

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Physical symptoms without a clear physical cause.

Conversion Disorder

Neurological symptoms (e.g., paralysis) without medical cause.

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Preoccupation with having a serious illness despite medical reassurance.

Dissociation

Separation from self, often after trauma.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Existence of two or more distinct personalities in one individual.

Anorexia Nervosa

Starvation diet despite being underweight.

Bulimia Nervosa

Binge eating followed by purging.

Binge-Eating Disorder

Significant binge-eating episodes without purging.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Odd, eccentric (e.g., paranoid personality disorder).

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Dramatic, emotional, erratic (e.g., antisocial personality disorder).

Cluster C Personality Disorders

Anxious, fearful (e.g., avoidant personality disorder).

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family.

Psychotherapy

Treatment involving psychological techniques.

Biomedical Therapy

Prescribed medications or medical procedures.

Eclectic Approach

Combining different therapeutic approaches.

Resistance

Blocking anxiety-laden material during therapy.

Transference

Patient's transfer of emotions linked with other relationships.

Client-Centered Therapy

Carl Rogers' therapy focusing on active listening within a genuine, accepting environment.

Active Listening

Empathic listening where the therapist echoes, restates, and clarifies.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Total acceptance toward another person.

Counterconditioning

Conditioning new responses to stimuli that trigger unwanted behaviors.

Exposure Therapy

Treats anxieties by exposing people to fears in a safe environment.

Systematic Desensitization

Gradual exposure combined with relaxation.

Aversive Conditioning

Associates unpleasant state with unwanted behavior (e.g., nausea with alcohol).

Token Economy

Rewards desirable behaviors with tokens.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

Confrontational therapy that challenges irrational thoughts.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Combines cognitive (thinking) and behavioral (action) therapy.

Group Therapy

Therapy conducted with groups.

Family Therapy

Treats family as a system to improve communication.

Trauma

Emotional responses to terrible events.

Meta-Analysis

Combining results of many studies to reach a conclusion.

Evidence-Based Practice

Clinical decisions based on research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient characteristics.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Therapy involving eye movements to process trauma.

Light Exposure Therapy

Exposure to bright light to treat depression (especially seasonal).

Therapeutic Alliance

Bond of trust between therapist and client.

Resilience

Ability to cope with stress and recover from adversity.

Psychopharmacology

Study of drug effects on mind and behavior.

Antipsychotic Drugs

Used to treat schizophrenia and psychosis.

Antianxiety Drugs

Reduce anxiety and stress (e.g., Xanax).

Antidepressant Drugs

Treat depression (often SSRIs).

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Electric current sent through the brain to treat depression.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

Magnetic fields stimulate brain areas.

Deep Brain Stimulation

Electrodes implanted in the brain; treats depression or Parkinson's.

Lobotomy

Surgical operation involving cutting brain nerves, historically used to treat uncontrollable patients (now obsolete).