psych 212 8-10 flash cards

factitious disorder imposed on self

A disorder in which persons feign or induce physical symptoms on themselves, typically for the purpose of assuming the role of a sick person.

conversion disorder

A disorder in which bodily symptoms affect voluntary motor and sensory functions but the symptoms are inconsistent with known medical diseases.

somatic symptom disorder

A disorder in which people become excessively distressed and anxious about bodily symptoms they are experiencing and their lives are disproportionately disrupted by the symptoms.

primary gain

In psychodynamic theory, the gain people derive when their somatic symptoms keep their internal conflicts out of awareness.

secondary gain

In psychodynamic theory, the gain people derive when their somatic symptoms elicit kindness from others or provide an excuse to avoid unpleasant activities.

illness anxiety disorder

A disorder in which people are chronically anxious about and preoccupied with the notion that they have or are developing a serious medical illness despite the absence of somatic symptoms.

psychophysio-logical disorders

Disorders in which biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors interact to cause or worsen a physical illness. Also known as psychological factors affecting other medical conditions.

ulcer

A lesion that forms in the wall of the stomach or of the duodenum.

insomnia

Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

asthma

A disease marked by narrowing of the trachea and bronchi, resulting in shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and a choking sensation.

muscle contraction headache

A headache caused by a narrowing of muscles surrounding the skull. Also known as tension headache.

migraine headache

A very severe headache that occurs on one side of the head, often preceded by a warning sensation and sometimes accompanied by dizziness, nausea, or vomiting

hypertension

Chronic high blood pressure.

coronary heart disease

Illness of the heart caused by a blockage in the coronary arteries.

Type A personality style

A personality pattern characterized by hostility, cynicism, drivenness, impatience, competitiveness, and ambition

Type B personality style

A personality pattern in which a person is more relaxed and less aggressive.

Type D personality style

A personality style in which persons repeatedly experience strong negative emotions and reactions (worrying and ruminating, anxiety, sadness, pessimism) while, at the same time, feeling too inhibited and unsupported socially to express or test their feelings of distress.

psychoneuro-immunology

The study of the connections between stress, the body’s immune system, and illness.

immune system

The body’s network of activities and cells that identify and destroy antigens and cancer cells.

antigen

A foreign invader of the body, such as a bacterium or a virus.

lymphocytes

White blood cells that circulate through the lymph system and bloodstream, helping the body identify and destroy antigens and cancer cells.

behavioral medicine

A field that combines psychological and physical interventions to treat or prevent medical problems.

relaxation training

A treatment procedure that teaches clients to relax at will so they can calm themselves in stressful situations.

biofeedback

A technique in which a client is given information about physiological reactions as they occur and learns to control the reactions voluntarily.

electromyograph (EMG)

A device that provides feedback about the level of muscular tension in the body.

anorexia nervosa

A disorder marked by the pursuit of extreme thinness and by extreme weight loss.

amenorrhea

The absence of menstrual cycles.

bulimia nervosa

A disorder marked by frequent eating binges followed by forced vomiting or other extreme compensatory behaviors to avoid gaining weight. Also known as binge-purge syndrome.

binge

An episode of uncontrollable eating during which a person ingests a very large quantity of food.

binge-eating disorder

A disorder marked by frequent binges without extreme compensatory acts.

hypothalamus

A brain structure that helps regulate various bodily functions, including eating and hunger.

lateral hypothalamus (LH)

A brain region that produces hunger when activated.

ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)

A brain region that depresses hunger when activated

weight set point

The weight level that a person is predisposed to maintain, controlled in part by the hypothalamus.

enmeshed family pattern

A family system in which members are overinvolved with each other’s affairs and overly concerned about each other’s welfare.

motivational interviewing

A treatment that uses empathy and inquiring review to help motivate clients to recognize they have a serious psychological problem and commit to making constructive choices and behavior changes.

substance intoxication

A cluster of temporary undesirable behavioral or psychological changes that develop during or shortly after the ingestion of a substance

substance use disorder

A pattern of long-term maladaptive behaviors and reactions brought about by repeated use of a substance.

tolerance

The brain's and body’s need for ever-larger doses of a drug to produce desired effects.

withdrawal

Unpleasant, sometimes dangerous reactions that may occur when people who use a drug regularly stop using it or reduce the dosage.

alcohol

Any beverage containing ethyl alcohol, including beer, wine, and liquor.

binge drinking

Consuming five or more alcoholic drinks in a single episode.

delirium tremens (DTs)

A dramatic alcohol withdrawal reaction that consists of confusion, clouded consciousness, and visual hallucinations.

fetal alcohol syndrome

A cluster of problems in a child, including irregularities in the head and face and intellectual deficits, caused by an excessive alcohol intake during pregnancy.

sedative-hypnotic drug

A drug used to reduce anxiety and to help people sleep. Also called an anxiolytic drug.

barbiturates

Addictive sedative-hypnotic drugs that reduce anxiety and help people sleep.

benzodiazepines

The most common group of antianxiety drugs; includes Xanax.

opioid

Opium, drugs derived from opium, and similar synthetic drugs.

opium

A highly addictive substance made from the sap of the opium poppy.

morphine

A highly addictive substance derived from opium that is particularly effective in relieving pain.

heroin

One of the most addictive substances derived from opium.

endorphins

Neurotransmitters that help relieve pain and reduce emotional tension.

cocaine

An addictive stimulant obtained from the coca plant. It is the most powerful natural stimulant known.

freebasing

A technique for ingesting cocaine in which the pure cocaine basic alkaloid is chemically separated from processed cocaine, vaporized by heat from a flame, and inhaled with a pipe.

crack

A powerful, ready-to-smoke freebase cocaine.

amphetamine

A stimulant drug that is manufactured in the laboratory.

methampheta-mine

A powerful amphetamine drug that has surged in popularity in recent years, posing major health and law enforcement problems.

hallucinogen

A substance that causes powerful changes primarily in sensory perception. Also called a psychedelic drug.

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

A hallucinogen derived from ergot alkaloids.

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methampheta-mine)

A stimulant drug that also produces hallucinogenic effects and so is typically viewed as a hallucinogenic drug. Also called Ecstasy.

cannabis

Drugs produced from the varieties of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. They cause a mixture of hallucinogenic, depressant, and stimulant effects.

marijuana

One of the cannabis drugs, derived from the buds, leaves, and flowering tops of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa.

tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC)

The main active ingredient of cannabis substances.

reward circuit

A dopamine-rich circuit in the brain that produces feelings of pleasure when activated.

aversion therapy

A treatment in which clients are repeatedly presented with unpleasant stimuli while they are performing undesirable behaviors, such as taking a drug.

relapse-prevention training

An approach to treating alcohol use disorder in which clients are taught to plan ahead and to apply coping strategies in situations that typically trigger excessive drinking

detoxification

Systematic and medically supervised withdrawal from a drug.

antagonist drugs

Drugs that block or change the effects of an addictive drug.

naloxone

A widely used opioid antagonist.

methadone maintenance program

A treatment in which clients are given legally and medically supervised doses of methadone—a heroin substitute—to treat opioid use disorder.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

A self-help organization that provides support and guidance for people with alcohol use disorder.

residential treatment center

A place where people who were formerly addicted to drugs live, work, and socialize in a drug-free environment. Also called a therapeutic community.

gambling disorder

A disorder marked by persistent and recurrent gambling behavior, leading to a range of life problems.