M-2: Mental Health

vulnerability

panic disorder

an anxiety disorder marked by recurrent and unpredictable panic attacks

generalized anxiety disorder

a disorder marked by persistent and excessive feelings of anxiety and worry about numerous events and activities

separation anxiety disorder

a disorder marked by excessive anxiety, even panic, whenever the person is separated from home, a parent, or another attachment figure

social anxiety disorder

a psychological disorder in which people fear social situations

body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

a disorder in which individuals become preoccupied with the belief that they have certain defects or flaws in their physical appearance. Such defects or flaws are imagined or greatly exaggerated

trichotillomania

a disorder in which people repeatedly pull out hair from their scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other parts of the body. Also called hair-pulling disorder

excoriation disorder

a disorder in which people repeatedly pick at their skin, resulting in significant sores or wounds. Also called skin-picking disorder

pyromania

fascination with fires and associated events; deliberate + intentional setting of fires for pleasure

vicarious learning

learning through observations

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

a disorder in which a person has recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both

post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

a disorder in which a person experiences fear and related symptoms long after a traumatic event

obsession

a persistent thought, idea, impulse, or image that is experienced repeatedly, feels intrusive, and causes anxiety

compulsion

a repetitive and rigid behavior or mental act that a person feels driven to perform in order to prevent or reduce anxiety

positive reinforcement

negative reinforcement

sympathetic nervous system

the nerve fibers of the autonomic nervous system that quicken the heartbeat and produce other changes experienced as arousal

parasympathetic nervous system

the nerve fibers of the autonomic nervous system that help return bodily processes to their usual state

systematic desensitization

an exposure treatment that uses relaxation training and a fear hierarchy to help clients with phobias react calmly to the objects or situations they dread

agoraphobia

an anxiety disorder in which a person is afraid to be in public situations from which escape might be difficult or help unavailable if panic-like or embarrassing symptoms were to occur

cortisol

a hormone released by the adrenal glands when a person is under stress

what is the time frame that the emotion of anxiety focuses on?

it ends when the event causing the anxiety ends

what are common behavioral expressions of anxiety?

avoidance or escape

what are inherited and genetic components of anxiety disorders?

• they run in families

• rate for anxiety in identical (monozygotic) twins 2x as high as fraternal (dizygotic) twins

• heritability estimates high for some anxiety disorders, but not 100%

• general vulnerability factor

what are panic attacks?

periodic, short bouts of panic that occur suddenly, reach a peak within minutes, and gradually pass

what are expected panic attacks?

sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort that occur in response to a known, specific, or anticipated trigger

what are unexpected panic attacks?

a sudden, intense surge of overwhelming fear, terror, or discomfort that peaks within minutes and triggers a strong physical "fight-or-flight" response

how are panic attacks experienced by people?

• develops abruptly 

• symptoms peak within minutes

• somatic + cognitive symptoms

what is the nature of obsessions?

involuntary, persistent, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts, images, impulses, or doubts that cause deep distress, anxiety, or disgust

what are the most common obsession themes of OCD?

• dirt

• germs 

• aggression 

• failing to perform adequately 

• sex

• religion

what are behavioral treatments of OCD?

• biological: medication; psychosurgery

• psychological: exposure and response prevention

• mindfulness

• acceptance and commitment therapy

what brain areas are active when emotionally stressed or under anxiety?

what is the cognitive theory of fear acquisition?

fear develops not just from simple reflex pairings, but from higher-order cognitive processes such as causal reasoning, threat interpretation, and harm expectancies

what is the difference between normal anxiety and abnormal anxiety?

Normal: temporary, helpful response to a specific stressor that fades once the event passes
Abnormal: excessive, long-lasting, and disrupts daily life

how can virtual reality be used in treatment of anxiety disorders and what is the main ingredient shown in other treatments of anxiety disorders?

alternative means of exposure; exposure therapy and combating it head-on

what is the gender difference of symptoms of people with body dysmorphic disorder?

• women: skin, hips, breasts, legs 

• men: height, penis size, body hair, muscularity

what are the concerns of people with body dysmorphic disorder?

physical appearance and being perceived as ugly/monstrous

what are treatment interventions for PTSD?

what is the difference between acute stress disorder and chronic stress disorder in terms of diagnosis criteria?

• Acute stress disorder (ASD): formal, short-term trauma- and stressor-related

• chronic stress disorder: persistent long-term stress, generally corresponds to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorders, or other stress-related conditions

what are the DSM-5 clusters for PTSD

• criterion A: trauma exposure 

• criterion B: intrusion symptoms (distressing memories, nightmares, flashbacks, psychological distress to trauma cues) 

• criterion C: avoidance (avoiding trauma-related thoughts, feelings, external reminders) 

• criterion D: negative alterations in cognition and mood (persistent negative beliefs, distorted blame, persistent negative emotions, detachment) 

• criterion E: hyperarousal (hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, sleep disturbances, irritability) 

what is the most common emotion people with PTSD experience?

fear; anxiety

what are the comorbidities of PTSD and the frequency of comorbid disorder with PTSD?

how has the frequency of comorbid disorder with PTSD help expand the definition of it?

how do people develop PTSD?

occurs in people who have experienced/witnessed a traumatic event