Health & Abnormal Psych

decreased health

What is increased stress associated with?
(Hint: immune suppression, headaches, hypertension)

eustress

positive and motivating stress (ex: exercise, starting a new job)

distress

debilitating and negative stress (ex: financial difficulties, failing a test)

traumatic stress

type of stress that comes from a major life event

ex: death of a loved one

daily stress

type of stress that comes from daily life and can build up

ex: tight deadlines from work

general adaptation syndrome

identified by Hans Selye; our stress response system defends then fatigues

alarm reaction

Phase 1 of GAS - stressor occurs, stress resistance briefly lowers then increases

resistance phase

Phase 2 of GAS - stress resistance remains high (fight, flight, freeze)

exhaustion

Phase 3 of GAS - stress resistance decreases

tend and befriend theory

under stress, people support and bond with others

problem-focused coping

type of coping - actually solving the problem that stresses you out

ex: work on time management, asks for support, etc.

emotion-focused coping

type of coping - dealing with or distracting yourself from the stress

ex: exercise, listening to music, journaling

psychological disorder

a syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation or behavior

• must be maladaptive

  • must cause distress

Dysfunction, distress, and deviation

Psychologists often use three key criteria to determine if a behavior is considered a psychological disorder:

• _____ – When thoughts, feelings, or behaviors interfere with daily functioning (like school, relationships, or basic tasks).

• _____ – When a person experiences significant emotional suffering (such as anxiety, sadness, or pain).

• _____ – When behavior or thinking differs greatly from societal norms or expectations.

International Classification of Diseases/ICD

a regularly updated and comprehensive system used to classify and code various medical conditions, including psychological disorders. It serves as a standardized diagnostic tool for healthcare professionals worldwide, providing a common language to identify, study, and treat different types of disorders.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders/DSM

Made by the American Psychiatric Association; national diagnostic tool which describes disorders, discusses possible causes, predicts prognosis, and implies appropriate treatment

biopsychosocial model

focuses on the combination of factors (biological, social-cultural, psychological) that leads to psych. disorders

diathesis stress model

this model focuses on how the combination of predispositional factors (inherited biology and early environmental), stress and neurological changes leads to disorders

psychodynamic perspective

unresolved childhood conflicts and unconscious thoughts

humanistic perspective

lack of social support and the inability to fulfill one’s potential

behavioral perspective

maladaptive learned associations

cognitive perspective

maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or emotions

biological perspective

genetic or physiological predispositions

evolutionary perspective

maladaptive forms of behaviors that enabled human survival

sociocultural perspective

problematic social and cultural contexts

self-fulfilling prophecies

dangers of labeling; what we think will happen can change the way we act

risk factors

characteristics that may increase the likelihood of experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

protective factors

characteristics that may decrease the likelihood of experiencing adverse childhood experiences.

neurodevelopmental disorders

Autism Spectrum disorder, ADHD, Tourettes

causes of neurodevelopmental disorders

environmental, physiological, genetic

anxiety disorders

psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety, or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety (such as vaping)

phobias

a person is intensely and irrationally afraid of an object or situations

agoraphobia

fear of open or crowded places, being trapped and not able to get to safety

panic disorder

a person experiences sudden episodes of intense dread

example of cultural bound anxiety disorder: ataque de nervios, which is present in Latin & Carribbean cultures

social anxiety disorder

distinct disorder but can include agoraphobia; everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness and embarrassment because you fear being scrutinized or judged negatively by others

Taijin Kyofusho - Japanese; fear others are judging one’s body as undesirable/offensive

generalized anxiety disorder

person is unexplainably and continually tense and uneasy

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder/OCD

a disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts and actions

related disorders: hoarding, body dysmorphic disorder. body focused repetitive behavior disorders

causes of OCD

learned associations, maladaptive thinking or emotion, genetic/biological

PTSD/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

a disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, anxiety, numbness, and/or insomnia that lingers after traumatic experience

intensity of trauma, stress, catastrophic thinking

causes of PTSD

major depressive disorder/MDD

need at least 5 signs of depression lasting two weeks or more (includes problems regulating appetite and sleep, low energy, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, feelings of hopelessness)

pervasive depressive disorder/PDD

at least 2 symptoms of depression lasting 2 yrs or more; longer period of depression but less intense symptoms

bipolar 1

(type of bipolar disorder) characterized by mania and depression

bipolar 2

(type of bipolar disorder) characterized by hypomania (less severe mania) and more frequent & debilitating depressive episodes

suicidal warning signs

• isolation/feeling alone

• aggressiveness and irritability

• giving things away

• substance abuse

• engaging in risky behaviors

• frequently talking about death

  • drastic changes in mood and behavior

schizophrenia

a psychological disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and/or diminished or inappropriate emotional expression. also can include catatonia.

psychosis

When losing contact with reality → experiencing irrational ideas and distorted perceptions. This is part of schizophrenia as well as other disorders/medical conditions 

positive symptoms of schizophrenia

• hallucinations

• delusions

  • paranoia

• disorganized speech/thinking

  • word salad

• catatonic exper

  • increased repetitive movements

  • agitated behaviors

negative symptoms of schizophrenia

• flat affect

  • lack of emotion or emotional expression

• catatonic stupor

  • lack of movement/speech

causes of schizophrenia

high genetic linkage, flu during 2nd trimester of pregnancy, excess dopamine receptors

paranoid

Cluster A - suspicious, hypersensitive, secretive

schizoid

Cluster A - reclusive, indifferent, passive

schizotypal

Cluster A - odd thinking, bizarre fantasies, peculiar language

antisocial

Cluster B - rule breaker, aggressive, callous, lack of empathy

borderline

Cluster B - impulsive, self-mutilative, manipulative

narcissistic

Cluster B - excessive self-admiration, egocentric, sense of grandiose importance

histrionic

Cluster B - attention seeker, flamboyant, provocative

avoidant

Cluster C - withdrawn, fears, criticism, overly serious

dependent

Cluster C - clingy, indecisive, submissive

obsessive-compulsive

Cluster C - compulsive, perfectionist, passive aggressive

causes of personality disorders

genetic predispositions, family instability, abuse, poverty, adaptive value of fearlessness

dissociative amnesia

loss of memory of a traumatic event

dissociative fugue

loss of identity and travel to a new location (with a new identity)

dissociative identity disorder

two or more distinct personalities

causes of dissociative disorders

trauma and stress

anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder in which a person (in most cases, an adolescent female) maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly (15% or more) underweight

bulimia nervosa

an eating disorder in which a person alternates binge eating