AP Psych 8.4 - Dissociative, Schizophrenic & Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Dissociative Disorders

loss of contact with portions of their consciousness or memory, resulting in disruptions in their sense of identity

Dissociative Amnesia

sudden loss of memory for important personal info

(too extensive to be due to normal forgetting and not due to physical damage to the brain)

Dissociative Fugue

loss of memory of entire life/identity; often found in a new location

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

coexistence in one person of two or more different personalities (each identity has own name, memories, traits, & physical mannerisms)

Etiology of Dissociative Disorders

excessive stress

severe emotional trauma in childhood (DID, specifically)

severe repression -- psychoanalytic approach

lack of coping mechanisms

Schizophrenia

a disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized motor behavior, and/or diminished, inappropriate emotional expression (affect)

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

presence of problematic behaviors

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

absence of healthy behaviors

Delusions

false beliefs (positive symptoms) that are maintained even though they are clearly out of touch with reality (general paranoia)

Delusions of persecution

delusions that others are trying to cause harm

Delusions of grandeur

delusions that that one has special powers, wealth, knowledge, or a special identity

Hallucinations

false sensory perceptions that occur in the absence of real, external stimuli or are gross distortions of perceptual input (positive symptom); involves one or more senses

Deterioration of Adaptive Behavior

deterioration of routine functioning in work, social relations, and personal care

Disturbed Emotion

little emotional responsiveness (blunted/flat affect) or inappropriate emotional responses (neg. symptom)

Word Salad

mix of real words/phrases that don't make sense when put together

Catatonia

disordered movement, may be experienced as excitement (a positive symptom) or stupor (a negative symptom)

Etiology of Schizophrenia

genetic vulnerability

biological: excess dopamine

prenatal virus exposure

diathesis stress (key role in triggering; high stress can trigger relapse)

Autism Spectrum Disorder

lacking theory of mind; persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts; restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities & inflexibility

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

persistent pattern of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity