AP Psychology- Clinical Psych

Anti-anxiety medication

these suppress tension, nervousness, and apprehension

client-centered therapy

a humanistic therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, in which the therapist uses techniques such as genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy

systematic desensitization

A type of counterconditioning that associates a pleasant relaxed state with gradually increasing anxiety-triggering stimuli

rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)

Albert Ellis's brand of cognitive therapy, based on the idea that irrational thoughts and behaviors are the cause of mental disorders.

Dorothea Dix

woman who pushed for changes in the treatment of the mentally ill and founded 32 state mental hospitals

Deinstutionalization

The practice begun in the 1960s, of releasing hundreds of patients from public mental hospitals.

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

a biomedical treatment in which electric shock is used to reduce depressive symptoms

Anti-psychotics

decrease dopamine, treats schizophrenia

Anti-depressive meds (SSRIs)

increase the binding of serotonin to neurons by blocking the process of reuptake

mood stabilizing medications

used to stabilize manic episodes in bipolar disorders. It moderates the levels of norepinephrine and glutamate neurotransmitters. Lithium is one type.

psychoanalysis

type of insight therapy that emphasis is on resolving unconscious conflicts

resistance

an unconscious defensive maneuver to hinder the process of therapy

transferance

Patient projects attributess onto doctor because they remind them of someone

cognitive-behavioral therapy

a popular integrative therapy that combines cognitive therapy (changing self-defeating thinking) with behavior therapy (changing behavior)

anti-social personality disorder

violating the rights of others, failing to accept social norms, to form attachments with others, exploitive and reckless

borderline personality disorder

unstable self-image, mood, and interpersonal relationships, impulsive & unpredictable

narcissistic personality disorder

characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with fantasies of success or power, and a need for constant attention or admiration

Histronic Personality Disorder

overly dramatic, tending to exaggerated expressions of emotion, egocentric, seeking attention

Paranoid personality disorder

type of personality disorder characterized by extreme suspiciousness or mistrust of others

schizoid personality disorder

Person is a loner with little interest or involvement in close relationships with anyone

schizotypal personality disorder

Cluster A (odd or eccentric) personality disorder involving a pervasive pattern of interpersonal deficits featuring acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships, as well as cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior.

avoidant personality disorder

A personality disorder characterized by consistent discomfort and restraint in social situations, overwhelming feelings of inadequacy, and extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation.

obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

a personality disorder characterized by preoccupation with orderliness, perfection, and control

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

a high level of constant anxiety not associated with any specific object or event

OCD

uncontrollable unwanted thoughts that lead a person to senseless rituals usually related to cleaning, checking, & counting

conversion disorder

changing emotional difficulties into a loss of a specific voluntary body function

somatic disorders

Marked by somatic (bodily) symptoms that cause significant stress or impairment.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Conversion Disorder

illness anxiety disorder

condition marked by intense preoccupation with the possibility of a serious undiagnosed illness

social anxiety disorder

an anxiety disorder involving the extreme and irrational fear of being embarrassed, judged, or scrutinized by others in social situations

agoraphobia

fear or avoidance of situations, such as crowds or wide open places, where one has felt loss of control and panic

specific phobia disorder

unrealistic fear of some object
-fear is disproportionate to object/event

Schizophrenia

a group of severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions (positive symptoms), and inappropriate emotions and actions (negative symptoms)

anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder in which an irrational fear of weight gain leads people to starve themselves

bulimia nervosa

an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging

bipolar disorder

mood disorder in one experiences both manic and depressed episodes (highs and lows)

manic episode

experience marked by dramatically elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, increased energy, inflated self-esteem, increased talkativeness, and irresponsible behavior

Dissociative identity disorder

disorder occurring when a person seems to have two or more distinct personalities within one body

major depression

A very serious mood disorder in which people lose interest in life and can no longer find enjoyment in anything

dissociative amnesia

a sudden loss of memory for important personal information that is too extensive to be due to normal forgetting

fugue state

psychological memory loss combined with moving to a new environment

Autism Spectrum Disorder

a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors

ADHD

a psychological disorder marked by the appearance by age 7 of one or more of three key symptoms: extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

PTSD

an anxiety disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience

Medical Model

Approach to mental health that views psychological disorders as medical diseases with biological origins, often treated with medication or medical interventions

Abnormal Behavior Criteria

4 D’s: distress, dysfunction, deviance, and danger.

Diagnosis

Process of identifying a specific disorder or condition based on symptoms, signs, and other relevant information

Prognosis

Prediction or forecast of the likely course and outcome of a disorder or condition, including the chances of recovery or recurrence.

Etiology

Study of the causes or origins of a disorder or condition, including biological, psychological, and environmental factors

DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

Standard classification system published by the American Psychiatric Association used by clinicians and researchers to diagnose and classify mental disorders.

Comorbidity

Presence of two or more co-occurring disorders or conditions within the same individual.

Prevalence

Measure of how common a particular disorder or condition is within a population at a specific point in time

Agoraphobia

Anxiety disorder involving fear or avoidance of situations or places where escape may be difficult or embarrassing

Concordance rate

Probability that a given trait or disorder will be present in both members of a pair of individuals, often used in genetics to study heritability

Anhedonia

Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure or enjoyment in activities that are typically enjoyable. It is a common symptom of depression and other mental health disorders.

Expressed emotion

Family communication pattern characterized by high levels of criticism, hostility, or emotional overinvolvement, often associated with increased risk of relapse in individuals with mental illness.

Insanity

Legal term indicating a mental state in which an individual is unable to distinguish right from wrong or lacks the capacity to understand the consequences of their actions, often relevant in criminal law

Involuntary commitment

Legal process in which individuals with mental illness are hospitalized or detained against their will due to the risk of harm to themselves or others

free association

Psychoanalytic technique in which clients spontaneously express their thoughts and feelings without censorship, allowing unconscious material to emerge

Dream analysis

Psychoanalytic technique involving the interpretation of dreams to uncover unconscious thoughts, wishes, and conflicts

Interpretation

Psychoanalytic technique used by therapists to explain the meaning of a client's thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, often in the context of unconscious processes

Resistance

Psychoanalytic concept referring to a client's unconscious attempts to avoid or block the exploration of painful or threatening material in therapy

Tardive dyskinesia

Neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements of the face, tongue, or other body parts, often a side effect of long-term antipsychotic medication use.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Non-invasive procedure involving the use of magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, often used to treat depression

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Surgical procedure involving the implantation of electrodes in specific brain regions and the delivery of electrical impulses to modulate neural activity, used to treat severe psychiatric disorders.

Spontaneous remission

Natural improvement or resolution of symptoms without formal treatment, often observed in some mental health conditions

Positive psychology

Branch of psychology focusing on strengths, virtues, and factors that contribute to a fulfilling life and optimal functioning

Culture-bound disorders

Mental health conditions that are specific to certain cultures or regions, often reflecting cultural beliefs and norms