Chapter 10 - Psychological Disorders and Treatment

psychopathology

psychological or mental disorder

continuum

a spectrum [of behavior] ranging from mild to severe, infrequent to constant, controllable to uncontrollable, with no clear dividing line to indicate when normal becomes abnormal

psychological disorder

classification of pattern of behavior marked by personal distress and/or functional impairment

biopsychosocial approach

viewpoint that considers biological, psychological, and social factors to explain behavior

B = f (P + E + PE)

behavior is best understood as a function of things about the person (inside), things about the environment (outside), and the complex interaction of person and environment

classification

process of describing and categorizing [behavior]

epidemiology

study of the frequency and distribution of disorders within specific populations over a specified period of time

psychosis

loss of contact with reality marked by severe disturbances in thought, language, sensory perception, emotion regulation, and behavior

biological diathesis

predispositions arising from genetic and/or physiological mechanisms

sociocultural factors

diatheses and stressors that originate from social and cultural norms, beliefs, and practices

mania

state of unrealistically happy mood, with overactivity, distractibility, racing thoughts, and little need for sleep

depression

an abnormally low mood state characterized by feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, and guilt

pathological anxiety and fear

irrational, persistent, maladaptive, and uncontrollable, may strike without a specific threat and cause significant personal distress and functional impairment

biomedical therapy

treatment approach that attempts to correct specific biological defects that are thought to contribute to psychopathology, in order to alleviate or prevent symptoms (often using drugs)

psychotherapy

treatment process during which a trained clinician interacts with a client to help her/him feel, think, and behave differently in order to alleviate or prevent distress

psychotherapeutic perspectives

various approaches to treating psychological disorders based in one or more historical perspectives in psychology

risk of suicide

likelihood that a person will commit suicide, varies according to diagnosis, gender, age, and warning signs

diathesis-stress model

model that explains how psychological disorders can develop; a predisposition (vulnerability) and stress are both necessary elements

clinical psychology

an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge to understand, treat, and prevent psychological disorders

deviation from statistical norm

occurring very infrequently

deviation from social norm

culturally different

personal distress

subjective state characterized by emotional pain and suffering

functional impairment

dysfunctional state occurring when a person is unable to fulfill school or work obligations, sustain social relationships, or take care of oneself or children

internal dysfunction

origin of psychological problem is within the person, not an expected response to an event

etiology

the origin or cause (of abnormal behavior)

medical model

biological approach to psychological problems, considers psychopathology as disease with specific etiology, symptoms, and prognosis

symptoms

common set of behavioral indicators

prognosis

predictable course over time, likely outcome of a disorder

diathesis

biological and/or psychological predisposition that increases a person's chance of developing a disorder [or disease]

stressor

stressful life experience or event

DSM-5

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, classification system for psychopathologies

stigma

negative attitudes and beliefs [about psychopathology]

culture-specific disorders

disorders that have a set of symptoms found only in a particular culture

prevalence

how common or rare something is in a given population over a given period of time

biological-behavioral spectrum

range along which disorders can fall, with some having a stronger genetic influence and others having a stronger environmental influence

schizophrenia

a severe psychiatric disorder with symptoms of emotional instability, detachment from reality, and withdrawal into the self

hallucinations

false sensory perceptions

delusions

false beliefs that are firmly held

disorganized thinking

difficulties organizing thoughts and focusing attention

grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior

behavior not following a logical pattern

positive and negative symptoms

excess or distortion of normal function

diminished emotional expression

a reduction in the expression of emotions

dopamine hypothesis

theory that symptoms of schizophrenia result from excessive dopamine activity

functional and structural brain abnormalities

diminished activity in the frontal lobes, enlarged ventricles, and shrinkage of the cerebral cortex, all associated with schizophrenia

perinatal stressors

environmental factors during pregnancy and childbirth that affect health

poverty

sociocultural risk factor associated with schizophrenia

unhealthy family environment

home environments that may be characterized as highly critical and with large amounts of conflict

development

pattern of symptom onset

prognosis

predictable course over time, likely outcome of a disorder

manic episode

mania that lasts for at least a week

hypomanic episode

mania that lasts for a few days

major depressive episode

when symptoms of depression are experienced for at least two weeks

genetics

a biological diathesis, the role that genes play in the etiology of a mental disorder

functional brain abnormalities

imbalance in neurotransmitters linked with psychological disorders

rapid cycling

a severe condition characterized by four or more episodes of mania or major depression every year

cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

type of psychotherapy, focuses on recognizing automatic, biased ways of thinking that lead to anxiety and other negative emotions, and interpreting information in more realistic and healthy ways

emotional disclosure

revealing how one's life has changed since the onset of a disease, expressing grief and loss

psychoeducation

learning skills that improve daily functioning

major depressive disorder

mood disorder characterized by symptoms of depressed mood that persist for at least two weeks

anhedonia

a loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities of daily life

somatic symptoms

symptoms associated with the body, such as changes in appetite or sleep

cognitive symptoms

symptoms associated with thoughts, such as believing that one is worthless

heritability

a biological, specifically genetic diathesis or predisposition for developing a psychological disorder or any other condition

abnormal brain activity

irregular or atypical patterns of brain functioning

neurochemical deficiencies

(hypothesized) deficits in neurotransmitters

psychological diatheses

predispositions arising from stressful events, learning theory, or dysfunctional core beliefs

cognitive distortion

way of thinking that misrepresents and misinterprets events and feelings

negative triad

diminution or absence of normal function

attributional style

way people explain the causes of events, one's own behavior, and the behavior of others

ruminative coping

cognitive pattern of dwelling on the reasons for and consequences of an event

sociocultural factors

diatheses and stressors that originate from social and cultural norms, beliefs, and practices

stress

response to and interpretation of stressors

low socioeconomic status

low social and economic standing based on one's job, education, and income

spontaneous remission

symptoms improve or return to a normal level simply with the passage of time

gender difference

dissimilarities in males and females with regard to rates of psychological disorders

dysthymia

mood disorder characterized by chronic, low-grade depression

specific phobia

disorder characterized by excessive irrational fear of a specific object or situation that interferes with a person's everyday functioning

social phobia

disorder characterized by severe and persistent fear of being embarrassed, humiliated, or negatively evaluated in social or performance situations

panic attacks

episode of terror that strikes suddenly and escalates rapidly into a minutes-long period of frightening physical symptoms accompanied by feelings of impending doom

panic disorder

disorder characterized by frequent and recurring panic attacks

agoraphobia

intense fear and anxiety about becoming trapped in a particular situation with no means of escape

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

disorder characterized by constant worry about anything and everything

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

disorder characterized by intrusive and uncontrollable thoughts or mental images and repetitive, ritualized behaviors that the person feels driven to perform

obsessions

intrusive and uncontrollable thoughts or mental images

compulsions

repetitive, ritualized behaviors that the person feels driven to perform to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

disorder characterized by chronic anxiety that has developed after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event

behavioral factors

experience and learned responses that contribute to the cause of a disorder

trauma

an extremely distressing experience that is unpredictable and uncontrollable

classical conditioning

learning to associate a meaningless stimulus with a meaningful stimulus that is important to us because of its ability to elicit a response

stimulus generalization

things that are similar to the conditioned stimulus also produce the CR

operant conditioning

learning process based on consequences of behavior, may explain how avoidance behavior and compulsions are maintained

modeling

occurs when a noticeable, easy-to-copy, and useful behavior is imitated

psychological diatheses

predispositions arising from stressful events, learning theory, or dysfunctional core beliefs

cognitive bias

error in thinking that involves processing threatening information or interpreting ambiguous information negatively

heightened physiological arousal

physical state characterized by rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, sweaty palms, and dizziness

high-strung temperament

personality trait characterized by nervousness, sensitivity, and excitability

neurochemical imbalance

abnormal proportions of brain chemicals, such as serotonin or GABA

evidence-based practice

treatment that combines the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and knowledge of the client's sociocultural background, preferences, and values

psychopharmacotherapy

using prescription medicine to target the function of various neurotransmitters involved in mood, arousal, and thought

traditional antipsychotic drugs

medicines that lower dopamine activity in the brain