Theoretical Perspectives on Psychological Disorders – Flashcards

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards covering biological, genetic, developmental, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, sociocultural, and integrative perspectives, plus common treatments and methodological concepts from the lecture notes.

What is the Biological Perspective?

A theoretical view that deviations in functioning are produced by biological processes, focusing on the nervous system, physiology, and genetics.

What is a neurotransmitter?

A chemical substance released from a neuron into the synapse that can be absorbed by the receiving neuron.

What is the Default Mode Network (DMN)?

Connections of cortical areas involved in processing internally generated stimuli.

Norepinephrine is related to which disorders?

Depressive disorders and anxiety disorders (panic disorder).

Serotonin is related to which disorders?

Depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, and substance use disorders.

GABA is related to which disorders?

Anxiety disorders and substance use disorders.

Dopamine is related to which disorders?

Neurocognitive disorder due to Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.

Acetylcholine is related to which disorder?

Neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer's disease.

Opioid peptides are related to which disorders?

Substance use disorders.

What is Genotype?

Genetic makeup of an organism.

What is Phenotype?

Expression of genetic program in an individual’s physical and psychological attributes.

What is Endophenotype?

Expression of a heritable trait that is not outwardly visible but can be detected in laboratory tasks.

How can inherited disorders arise?

Through inheritance of gene combinations, faulty copying during cell reproduction, or mutations acquired over life.

What does the Pattern of Dominant-Recessive Trait Inheritance illustrate?

How dominant and recessive alleles influence trait expression (as shown in the figure).

What does Polygenic inheritance mean?

A trait that is determined by more than one gene.

What is an Allele?

One of two or more variations of a gene.

What is niche-picking?

Children selecting environments that match their interests and abilities.

What is assortative mating?

Entry into a long-term relationship with a partner who has the same psychological disorder.

What is the Diathesis-Stress Model?

People are born with a predisposition that puts them at risk for developing a disorder if exposed to extreme stress.

What is Epigenesis?

The process of inheriting alterations in gene regulation and expression.

What is DNA methylation?

Attachment of a methyl group to a gene that can turn off gene expression.

What are Family Inheritance Studies?

Studies comparing disorder rates across relatives with varying genetic relatedness.

What is a Concordance Rate?

The agreement ratio of a disorder between diagnosed individuals and their relatives.

What are Cross-Fostering Studies?

Adoption studies examining disorder frequency in children with biological parents without a disorder but adoptive parents with one.

What is a Genome-Wide Linkage Study?

A genetic method studying families to find regions linked to specific traits or disorders.

What is a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS)?

A study scanning the entire genome of unrelated individuals to find genetic variations associated with a disease.

What is a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)?

A small genetic variation in a DNA sequence that can contribute to disease.

What are Psychotropic Medications?

Medications intended to reduce symptoms by altering neurotransmitter levels believed to be involved in the disorder.

Ketamine targets which system?

The glutamate system.

Psilocybin is being tested as a treatment for which condition?

Major depressive disorder in individuals who do not respond to other medications.

What are Typical (First-Generation) Antipsychotics?

Antipsychotics such as Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, Perphenazine, Fluphenazine.

What are Atypical (Second-Generation) Antipsychotics?

Antipsychotics such as Risperidone, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Ziprasidone, Aripiprazole, Paliperidone, Lurasidone.

What is a Third-Generation Antipsychotic?

Cariprazine.

What are major categories of Antidepressants?

SSRIs, SNRIs, Bupropion, Tricyclics (TCAs), Tetracyclics, MAO inhibitors (MAOIs).

What are Antianxiety Medications?

Benzodiazepines and Buspirone.

What are Stimulants used for in treatment?

Methylphenidate, Amphetamine, Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate.

What are Mood Stabilizers?

Lithium, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Oxcarbazepine.

What is Psychosurgery?

Brain surgery intended to reduce psychological disturbance (e.g., prefrontal lobotomy, deep brain stimulation, ECT).

What is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)?

A neurosurgical procedure that implants a microelectrode delivering constant low electrical stimulation to a brain region.

What is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?

Electrical shock to the head to induce therapeutically beneficial seizures.

What are forms of psychosurgery for severe OCD beyond standard treatment?

Cingulotomy, Capsulotomy, Deep Brain Stimulation, Gamma Knife surgery.

What is the Five-Factor Model (Big Five) of personality?

Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism.

What is the HEXACO model?

Honesty-Humility, Emotional Stability, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness.

What is an Attachment Style?

The way a person relates to a caregiver figure.

What characterizes Secure Attachment?

Children who tolerate caregiver separation and are happy upon return.

What characterizes Insecure Attachment?

Children who become frantic or distant when separated from caregiver.

What are Object Relations in psychodynamics?

Theory focusing on relationships with others as inner frameworks for all relationships.

What did Ainsworth study regarding attachment?

Infant attachment styles and figures; secure vs. insecure attachment.

What is Client-Centered Therapy?

Therapy focusing on the client’s needs with parameters like unconditional positive regard.

What is Unconditional Positive Regard?

Total acceptance of the client’s thoughts, feelings, and actions in client-centered therapy.

What is Motivational Interviewing (MI)?

A technique using empathic understanding to promote behavioral change.

What is Free Association?

Freud’s technique where the client speaks freely, revealing unconscious material.

What is Transference?

Clients transfer feelings for important others onto the therapist.

What is Core Conflictual Relationship Theme (CCRT)?

Clinician assesses a client’s wishes, others’ expected responses, and how the client responds.

What is the Oedipus Complex?

Freud’s idea that a child’s feelings toward the opposite-sex parent peak in early childhood.

What are Archetypes in Jungian psychology?

Images common to all human experience in the collective unconscious.

What is Ego Psychology?

A psychodynamic approach emphasizing the ego as the main force in personality.

What is Adler’s contribution to psychodynamics?

The concept of the inferiority complex as a driver of psychopathology.

What did Karen Horney propose about neurotic individuals?

They develop a false, idealized front to protect their fragile true self.

What was Erikson’s view of the ego?

The ego undergoes transformations across the lifespan, enabling growth.

What are Defense Mechanisms?

Unconscious strategies to guard the ego from anxiety; can be adaptive or maladaptive.

What is Displacement?

Shifting unacceptable feelings from a threatening target to a less threatening one.

What is Intellectualization?

Focusing on abstract thinking to avoid upsetting emotions.

What is Reaction Formation?

Transforming an unacceptable impulse into its opposite.

What is Repression?

Unconsciously excluding disturbing wishes or thoughts from awareness.

What is Denial?

Refusing to acknowledge painful aspects of reality.

What is Projection?

Attributing undesirable personal traits to others.

What is Sublimation?

Redirecting unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.

What is Regression?

Revisiting childish behaviors to cope with stress.

What are Psychosexual Stages?

Normal development stages where libido focuses on different erogenous zones.

What is the Oedipus Complex in Freud’s theory?

A child’s early-stage feelings toward the opposite-sex parent that are typically resolved with normal development.

What are the major themes of Humanistic Perspective?

Motivation for self-fulfillment and meaning; emphasizes personal growth and authenticity.

What is Existential Psychology?

Focus on fully appreciating each moment and the meaning of existence.

What is Person-Centered Theory (Rogers)?

Emphasizes the uniqueness of individuals and self-actualization through unconditional acceptance.

What are Conditions of Worth?

Parental demands that love is contingent on meeting certain criteria.

What is Self-Actualization (Maslow)?

Maximal realization of an individual’s potential.

What is the Client-Centered approach’s stance on therapist guidance?

Therapists focus on client needs rather than imposing their own solutions.

What is Multicultural Approach in therapy?

Treatment that accounts for the client’s sociocultural context.

What is the Biopsychosocial Perspective?

An integrative approach combining biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding disorders and treatments.

What is Evidence-Based Practice in psychology?

Using current research, clinical expertise, and patient values to guide treatment decisions.