Untitled Flashcards Set

Mental Disorder

A syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbances in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects dysfunction in psychological, biological, or developmental processes.

Key Criteria for Identifying a Disorder

Deviance, Disability, Discomfort, Danger.

Deviance

Behaviors that deviate significantly from societal norms considering context and culture.

Disability (Impairment)

Significant impairment in daily functioning affecting work, relationships, and self-care.

Discomfort (Distress)

Substantial emotional or physical distress that interferes with well-being.

Danger (Risk of Harm)

Behaviors posing threats to self or others.

Mental Health (WHO Definition)

A state of well-being where individuals realize their potential, cope with stress, work productively, and contribute to the community.

Freud's Summary of Mental Health

The ability 'to love and to work'.

Epidemiology

The study of the distribution and determinants of mental disorders in populations.

Statistical Significance

Results unlikely to occur by chance, typically with a p-value < 0.05.

Clinical Significance

Practical importance of treatment effects showing meaningful symptom improvement.

Symptom Reduction

Evaluates how well interventions reduce symptoms, with terms like partial and complete remission.

Placebo Effect

Improvement due to belief in treatment rather than the treatment itself.

Meta-Analysis

Combines results from multiple studies for stronger conclusions about treatment efficacy.

Heritability

Estimates the genetic contribution to trait variation.

Family History Studies

Examining disorders among relatives to assess genetic influence.

Twin Studies

Comparing identical and fraternal twins to assess genetic influence.

Adoption Studies

Evaluating adopted individuals to distinguish genetic from environmental influences.

Epigenetics

Studies how environmental factors affect gene expression without altering DNA.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Important for memory and muscle movement; deficiencies linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Norepinephrine (NE)

Involved in stress responses and mood regulation; low levels associated with depression.

Dopamine (DA)

Regulates pleasure and reward; linked to schizophrenia (excess) and Parkinson’s disease (deficiency).

Serotonin (5HT)

Influences mood and emotional regulation; low levels associated with depression and anxiety disorders.

Glutamate (Glu)

Main excitatory neurotransmitter; excess linked to schizophrenia.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

Main inhibitory neurotransmitter; regulates anxiety.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through association; e.g., conditioned emotional responses.

Stimulus Generalization

Responding similarly to similar stimuli.

Stimulus Discrimination

Learning to distinguish between different stimuli.

Operant Conditioning

Learning through consequences; behaviors are influenced by reinforcement and punishment.

Reinforcement

Increases likelihood of behavior; can be positive or negative.

Punishment

Decreases likelihood of behavior; can be positive or negative.

Schedules of Reinforcement

Patterns dictating reinforcement frequency (fixed/variable ratio or interval).

Abnormality

Behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that deviate significantly from what is considered normal or typical.

Interviews (Structured vs. Unstructured)

Structured interviews use a set list of questions, while unstructured interviews allow flexible open-ended conversations.

Neuropsych Batteries Purpose

Collections of tests designed to assess various cognitive functions like memory and attention.

Projective Tests

Psychological assessments that encourage individuals to express thoughts and feelings through ambiguous stimuli.

Aptitude Test

Measurement of the accumulated effects of educational/training experiences, forecasting future performances.

Attitude and Interest Tests

Measure range and strength of an individual's interests, attitudes, preferences, and values.

Intelligence Test

Measures of general mental ability and specific intellectual abilities.

Neuropsychological Test

Measures deficits in behavior, cognition, and emotions related to brain dysfunction.

Personality Tests

Tools designed to understand individual traits, preferences, and behaviors.

Objective Test

Requires specific answers/rating to questions that are scored quantitatively.

Cross Cultural Validation

Whether tests from one culture are applicable and valid for another culture.

DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

Provides standardized criteria for diagnosing mental health conditions.

Co-morbidity

The presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient at the same time.

Classical (Monothetic) Method

Requires a fixed set of symptoms for diagnosis; missing one symptom excludes diagnosis.

Polythetic Method

Allows flexibility; only requires a subset of multiple possible symptoms for diagnosis.

Who can do therapy?

Licensed professionals like clinical psychologists, counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists.

Who prescribes psychiatric medications?

Psychiatrists and, in some cases, psychiatric nurse practitioners.

Famous Psychologists

Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, B.F. Skinner, John Watson, Jean Piaget, Wilhelm Wundt.

Rosenhans Study

1973 experiment revealing flaws in psychiatric diagnosis through healthy individuals faking symptoms.

Hysteria

An old diagnosis for unexplained physical and emotional symptoms, now understood as part of conversion disorder.

1st Biological Revolution

Shift from psychological explanations of mental illness to biological ones.

Types of Hallucinations

Auditory, Visual, Olfactory, Somatic, Tactile, and Gustatory.

Hallucinations vs Delusions

Hallucinations are false sensory experiences; delusions are false beliefs.

Psychotic Disorders Symptoms

Schizophreniform, Schizoaffective Disorder, Delusional Disorder, Brief Psychotic Disorder.

Antipsychotic Medications

1st Generation (D2 blockers) and 2nd Generation (5HT-2 blockers) medications for schizophrenia.

Stages of Schizophrenia

Premorbid, Prodromal, Active (Psychotic), Residual.

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Hallucinations, Delusions, Bizarre behavior.

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Reduced speech, poor grooming, limited emotional responsiveness.

Neurotransmitters in Schizophrenia

Dopamine (excess and deficiency), Glutamate, Serotonin.

Stimulus Overload

Difficulty filtering irrelevant information, leading to hallucinations and paranoia.

Development of Schizophrenia

Typically occurs in late teens to early 30s.

Diathesis-Stress Model

Genetic predisposition + environmental stress = mental illness.

Biopsychosocial Model

Mental illness results from biological, psychological, and social factors.

Diagnostic Specificity

Correctly ruling out people without the disorder.

Diagnostic Sensitivity

Correctly identifying people with the disorder.

Prevalence vs Incidence

Prevalence is total cases at a given time; incidence is new cases within a specific timeframe.

Prenatal Factors in Schizophrenia

Maternal infections, malnutrition, and stress increase risk.

Heritability Studies

Twin and adoption studies showing risks related to familial links.

Degeneration Theory

Steady decline in mental functioning across generations.

Eugenics

Improving the human species by breeding individuals with desirable traits.

Dangerousness in Mental Illness

Most individuals with schizophrenia are not violent; small increased risk only with substance abuse.

Cultural Impact on Psychosis

Symptoms vary across cultures; Western symptoms may be more paranoid.

Side Effects of Antipsychotics

Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), tardive dyskinesia, metabolic syndrome.

Brain Circuits in Schizophrenia

Involve dopamine pathways; mesolimbic for positive symptoms, mesocortical for negative symptoms.

New Treatments for Schizophrenia

Third-Gen antipsychotics, psychedelic research, rTMS, digital therapeutics.

Abnormality

Behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that deviate significantly from what is considered normal or typical.

Reliability

The consistency of a measure, indicating its ability to produce stable and consistent results over time.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure, ensuring accurate and applicable outcomes.

Structured Interviews

Interviews with predetermined questions, providing consistency and reliability in responses.

Unstructured Interviews

Flexible interviews that allow open-ended questions, fostering a more natural conversation.

Purpose of Neuropsych Batteries

To assess various cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities.

Projective Tests

Psychological assessments that encourage individuals to express thoughts and feelings through ambiguous stimuli, revealing underlying emotions.

Personality Tests

Tools designed to understand individual traits, preferences, and behavioral patterns.

DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) Purpose

Provides standardized criteria for diagnosing mental health conditions and includes classifications of disorders.

Co-morbidity

The presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient at the same time.

Polythetic Method

Allows flexibility in diagnosis; only requires a subset of multiple possible symptoms for diagnosis.

Classical Method

Requires a fixed set of symptoms for diagnosis; missing one symptom excludes diagnosis.

Who can do Therapy?

Licensed professionals like clinical psychologists, counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists provide therapeutic services.

Who Prescribes Psychiatric Medications?

Psychiatrists and, in some cases, psychiatric nurse practitioners are authorized to prescribe medications.

Famous People in Psychology

Notable figures include Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, B.F. Skinner, and Jean Piaget.

Rosenhans Study (1973)

Experiment showcasing flaws in psychiatric diagnosis by having healthy individuals fake symptoms and get admitted to psychiatric hospitals.

Hysteria

Historical diagnosis for unexplained physical and emotional symptoms, now understood as part of conversion disorder.

1st Biological Revolution

A shift from psychological explanations of mental illness to biological explanations.

Types of Hallucinations

Include auditory, visual, olfactory, somatic, tactile, and gustatory hallucinations.

Common Types of Hallucinations and Delusions

Hallucinations: auditory (hearing voices), visual (seeing things); Delusions: paranoid or grandiose beliefs.

Psychotic Disorders Symptoms

Symptoms of disorders like Schizophreniform, Schizoaffective Disorder, and Delusional Disorder include delusions and hallucinations.

Antipsychotic Medications

Include 1st Generation (D2 blockers) and 2nd Generation (5HT-2 blockers) medications effective for schizophrenia.

Stages of Schizophrenia

Include Premorbid, Prodromal, Active (Psychotic), and Residual stages.