mental disorders

What are the characteristics of General Anxiety Disorder?

Constant worrying about everything, even small things, caused by stress, brain chemistry, and genetics. Symptoms include trouble relaxing, feeling tense, headaches, and bad sleep.

What defines a phobia?

An extreme fear of something specific, caused by trauma or learned fear. Symptoms include panic, sweating, and avoiding the feared object.

What is Panic Disorder and its symptoms?

Characterized by sudden panic attacks that feel like a heart attack. Symptoms include chest pain, fast heartbeat, and dizziness. Causes include stress and family history.

What are the symptoms and causes of OCD?

Obsessions with scary thoughts and compulsions like excessive hand washing. Causes include brain differences and genetics.

What is PTSD and what are its symptoms?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder involves flashbacks and anxiety after a traumatic event. Symptoms include nightmares, being jumpy, and avoiding reminders.

What is Illness Anxiety Disorder?

Constantly thinking you are sick even when doctors say you're fine. Symptoms include worrying about health and self-diagnosing.

What is Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Experiencing real pain or problems without a medical cause. Symptoms include headaches, stomachaches, and fatigue.

What are Conversion Disorders?

Physical problems like blindness or paralysis caused by stress rather than injury. Symptoms include real symptoms like blindness or paralysis.

What is Dissociative Amnesia?

Forgetting personal information after trauma, with symptoms including memory gaps around bad events.

What is Dissociative Fugue?

Forgetting who you are and suddenly traveling or starting a new life, with symptoms of confusion and memory loss.

What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Presence of two or more distinct personalities within one body, caused by severe childhood trauma. Symptoms include memory gaps and switching identities.

What are the symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Hearing and seeing things that aren't there, mixed-up thoughts. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and trouble thinking clearly.

What is Persistent Depressive Disorder?

A long-term low level of sadness with symptoms including fatigue and lack of motivation, but not as intense as major depression.

What characterizes Major Depressive Disorder?

Deep sadness, no energy, and loss of interest in life. Symptoms include sleeping too much or too little, no appetite, and hopelessness.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Depression that occurs during certain seasons, usually winter, caused by lack of sunlight. Symptoms include low energy and increased sleep.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Characterized by mood swings from very high (mania) to very low (depression). Symptoms include risky behaviors during highs and sadness during lows.

What are the characteristics of Cluster A Personality Disorders?

Includes odd or eccentric behaviors such as Schizoid PD (avoids relationships), Schizotypal PD (weird thoughts), and Paranoid PD (thinks people are out to get them).

What are the traits of Cluster B Personality Disorders?

Includes dramatic or emotional behaviors such as Histrionic PD (needs attention), Narcissistic PD (lacks empathy), Antisocial PD (breaks rules), and Borderline PD (intense emotions).

What are the characteristics of Cluster C Personality Disorders?

Includes anxious or fearful behaviors such as Obsessive Compulsive PD (perfectionist), Avoidant PD (fear of judgment), and Dependent PD (clings to others).

What is Pyromania?

An impulse control disorder characterized by an inability to resist starting fires.

What is Kleptomania?

An impulse control disorder where individuals can't stop stealing, even when they don't need or want the items.

What is Pathological Gambling Disorder?

An impulse control disorder where individuals can't stop gambling, even when it negatively impacts their life.

What is Anorexia?

An eating disorder where individuals starve themselves due to a fear of weight gain.

What is Bulimia?

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging through vomiting or laxatives.

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

An eating disorder where individuals eat excessively in secret and feel guilty afterward.

What defines Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Characterized by difficulties with communication and social interactions, often with strong interests or routines.

What is Asperger's Syndrome?

A milder form of autism with good language skills but struggles in social situations.

What is the eclectic approach to therapy?

A flexible mix of different therapy styles (like talking, behavior change, medications) tailored to what works best for the individual.

How does group therapy help individuals?

It allows individuals to talk with others experiencing similar issues, providing support and reducing feelings of isolation.

What is humanistic (client-centered) therapy?

A therapy approach where the therapist listens without judgment, aiming to help the client grow and learn to trust themselves.

How do behavioral therapies work?

They use conditioning techniques: classical conditioning breaks bad associations, operant conditioning rewards good behavior, exposure therapy faces fears, and aversion therapy pairs bad habits with unpleasant stimuli.

How do REBT and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy work?

REBT challenges negative thoughts to replace them with balanced ones, while CBT combines changing thoughts and behaviors to help individuals recognize thinking traps.

What are the benefits and risks of Anti-Anxiety medications?

They calm individuals quickly but can be addictive and cause drowsiness.

What are the benefits and risks of Antidepressants?

They lift mood over time but take weeks to work and may cause side effects like nausea.

What are the benefits and risks of Anti-Psychotic Drugs?

They help with hallucinations and delusions but may cause weight gain, shaking, and tiredness.

What is Lithium Carbonate used for?

It's used for bipolar disorder to help control mood swings but requires close monitoring due to potential toxicity.

Why is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) controversial?

It has a controversial history due to past practices without anesthesia. The procedure involves inducing a seizure while the patient is asleep to reset the brain.

How does rTMS differ from ECT?

rTMS uses magnets to stimulate the brain without inducing a seizure or causing memory loss, while ECT is more powerful and may cause short-term memory loss.