Clinical Psychology Study Outline

These flashcards cover key concepts in clinical psychology, including different models of psychological disorders, specific disorders, their symptoms, and therapies.

Three D’s of Diagnosis

DEVIANT

• Atypical behavior-Behavior that deviates from what is considered socially or culturally normal.

DSYFUNCTIONAL or maladapdive behavior

• Maladaptive behavior-Behavior that causes harm by making it difficult to fulfill the normal functions of everyday life.

DISTRESSFUL

• Personal distress-A person's individual perception of his or her own emotional distress.

Medical Model

The medical model, also referred to as the biological approach, presupposes that psychological disorders have a biological cause. These models see such disorders as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia as being caused by genetics, brain damage, dysfunction of the brain's neurotransmitter system, or a combination of these neurobiological factors. The medical/biological model has become the predominant model, as evidenced by the common language used to describe psychological disorders: mental illness, patient, mental hospital, therapy, and symptoms.

Sociocultural Model

In this model, psychological disorders can only be fully understood within the context of the culture in which they occur. Sociocultural factors include gender, socioeconomic conditions, age, and the values, traditions, and societal expectations that contribute to the cultural context. The sociocultural context can help determine what is and is not considered abnormal. Cultural factors can influence not only the dimensions and severity of the disorder but also the treatment strategy.

Psychodynamic Perspective

The psychodynamic model for explaining mental disorders is based on the Freudian belief that all psychological problems or disorders stem from repressing past trauma, memories, or thoughts in the unconscious mind to avoid anxiety. When thes anxiety-producing thoughts try to break through to conscious awareness, they may cause mental distress and maladaptive behavior. The psychodynamic approach, therefore, sees all human functioning as stemming from forces within the individuals themselves, particularly in their unconscious.

Behaviorist Learning Perspective

The behavioral model of psychological disorders is based wholly on the theory that all behavior, whether adaptive or maladaptive, is learned. These theories try to explain how behaviors are acquired and maintained.

Cognitive Perspective

The cognitive approach sees psychological disorders as illogical, irrational, or maladaptive thought processes. The cognitive model focuses on examining someone's way of thinking to understand his or her behavior. The person's perceptions, attitudes, areas of focus or directed attention, memories, and information-processing are evaluated in order to make an accurate diagnosis of a mental disorder.

Biopsychosocial Model

an integrated model that combines the biological (medical), psychological, and sociocultural models and is believed by most professionals to be a more thorough approach to use when explaining, diagnosing, and treating psychological disorders. All three approaches are helpful to consider in order to best understand the etiology of psychological disorders and to improve treatment.

Neurotic Disorders vs Psychotic Disorders

Neurotic disorders involve distress without loss of contact with reality, while psychotic disorders include such a loss.

Insanity

A legal term that describes a person's inability to understand right from wrong.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about everyday issues.

Simple Phobias

Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations that our ancestors would have avoided.

Agoraphobia

An anxiety disorder where individuals fear situations where escape might be difficult.

Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear of social situations where one may be judged or embarrassed.

Panic Disorder

A disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks and fear of future attacks.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A disorder featuring unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

A chronic form of depression lasting for at least two years.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by persistently low mood and loss of interest.

Bipolar Disorder

A mental disorder marked by extreme mood swings including manic and depressive episodes.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

Includes Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymic Disorder, differing in severity and frequency of episodes.

Neurological Explanations for Major Depressive Disorder

Focus on neurotransmitter activity, particularly serotonin and norepinephrine.

Antidepressants

Medications that help relieve symptoms of depression, often acting as agonists. They typically work by increasing levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder marked by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, and sense of self.

Chronic vs Acute Schizophrenia

Chronic schizophrenia develops slowly and persistently, while acute schizophrenia has a rapid onset.

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms that add to the person's experience, such as hallucinations and delusions. These symptoms represent an excess or distortion of normal functions, including hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and disorganized behavior.

Personality Disorders

A group of mental disorders characterized by enduring patterns of behavior and inner experience.

Dissociative Disorders

Conditions involving disruptions in consciousness, memory, and identity.

Eating Disorders

Mental disorders characterized by abnormal eating habits, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A psychotherapeutic approach that seeks to improve mental health by changing maladaptive thinking.

Agonists vs. Antagonists

Agonists enhance the activity of neurotransmitters and mimic them well, while antagonists inhibit their functions and block their receptors.

Antipsychotic Medications

Drugs used to manage psychosis, particularly in schizophrenia, often with side effects like tardive dyskinesia. These medications work by modulating neurotransmitters in the brain, primarily dopamine, to reduce symptoms of hallucinations and delusions.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A treatment for severe depression that involves inducing seizures through electrical stimulation.