Abnormal Psychology: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and definitions related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as discussed in the course.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Diagnostic Criteria

Set of guidelines that determine whether a person has PTSD based on symptoms.

Epidemiology

The study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people.

Intrusion Symptoms

Unwanted recurrent memories, distressing dreams, and flashbacks related to the trauma.

Avoidance Symptoms

Efforts to avoid distressing thoughts, memories, or reminders of the trauma.

Negative Alterations in Cognitions and Mood

Distorted beliefs and negative feelings related to oneself or the world after a traumatic event.

Hypervigilance

Heightened state of sensory sensitivity and an exaggerated response to perceived threats.

Comorbid Psychopathology

The presence of one or more additional disorders co-occurring with PTSD.

Cognitive Restructuring

Therapeutic process aimed at changing negative thought patterns.

Antidepressants

Medications used to treat depression that may also help alleviate PTSD symptoms.

Conditioned Response

A learned reaction to a previously neutral stimulus after it has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Generalization

The tendency for stimuli similar to a conditioned stimulus to trigger similar responses.

Cognitive Defusion

A technique used in therapy to help individuals detach from unhelpful thoughts.