AP PSYCH UNIT 5 PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Stress

The body’s response to any demand or challenge; can be positive or negative depending on context

Distress

Negative stress that causes anxiety, worry, and harm to health

Eustress

Positive stress that motivates behavior and promotes growth or performance

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

A three-stage physiological response to stress consisting of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion

Alarm Stage (GAS)

The initial reaction to stress where the sympathetic nervous system activates and releases epinephrine (fight-or-flight)

Resistance Stage (GAS)

The body remains physiologically aroused to cope with stress; resistance increases but resources are being used up

Exhaustion Stage (GAS)

The body’s resources are depleted, leading to decreased ability to resist stress and possible illness

Sympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body and mobilizes energy during stress

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body and restores energy

Psychoneuroimmunology

The study of how psychological factors (like stress) affect the immune and nervous systems

Chronic Stress

Prolonged stress that can increase risk of diseases such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes

Job Stress

Stress related to work conditions, including pay, workload, and job security

Poverty

A condition of lacking basic resources (food, shelter, healthcare) that contributes to chronic stress

Tend-and-Befriend Response

A stress response (more common in females) involving nurturing others and seeking social support

Coping

Efforts to manage, reduce, or tolerate stress

Problem-Focused Coping

Addressing the cause of stress directly to eliminate or reduce it

Emotion-Focused Coping

Managing emotional responses to stress rather than the stressor itself

Psychological Disorder

A pattern of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that causes significant distress or impairment

Trephining

Ancient practice of drilling holes in the skull to release evil spirits

Humoral Theory

Hippocrates’ idea that mental illness is caused by imbalances in bodily fluids (blood, bile, phlegm)

Exorcism

Religious practice used in the Middle Ages to remove evil spirits believed to cause mental illness

Four D’s of Abnormal Behavior

Deviance, dysfunction, distress, and danger used to define psychological disorders

Deviance

Behavior that differs significantly from societal norms

Dysfunction

Impaired ability to carry out daily activities

Distress (Psychological)

Emotional suffering or discomfort

Danger

Behavior that poses risk to self or others

Biological Model

Perspective that disorders are caused by physical factors like genetics, brain structure, or neurotransmitters

Behavioral Model

Perspective that disorders are learned through conditioning and reinforcement

Cognitive Model

Perspective that disorders result from irrational or distorted thinking patterns

Psychodynamic Model

Perspective that disorders stem from unconscious conflicts and early experiences

Sociocultural Perspective

View that social and cultural factors influence behavior and mental disorders

Cultural Relativity

The idea that behavior must be judged based on cultural context

Cultural Syndromes

Disorders that appear only within specific cultures

Biopsychosocial Model

Integrated approach combining biological, psychological, and social factors

DSM-5

Diagnostic manual used to classify mental disorders with specific criteria

Interrater Reliability

Consistency of diagnoses across different clinicians

Psychiatrist

Medical doctor who can prescribe medication and treat mental disorders

Psychologist

Professional who studies behavior and mental processes but cannot prescribe medication

Anxiety Disorders

Disorders involving excessive fear or worry that interferes with functioning

Specific Phobia

Irrational fear of a specific object or situation

Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear of social situations and being judged or embarrassed

Panic Disorder

Disorder marked by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape might be difficult (e.g., crowds, open spaces)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Persistent and excessive worry about many aspects of life

Free-Floating Anxiety

Anxiety not linked to a specific object or situation

Magnification

Cognitive distortion where problems are exaggerated

Minimization

Cognitive distortion where positive aspects are downplayed

All-or-Nothing Thinking

Viewing situations in black-and-white terms with no middle ground

Overgeneralization

Drawing broad negative conclusions from a single event

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Disorder with intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions)

Obsession

Persistent, unwanted thought that causes anxiety

Compulsion

Repetitive behavior performed to reduce anxiety caused by obsessions

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Preoccupation with perceived physical flaws

Hoarding Disorder

Persistent difficulty discarding possessions regardless of value

Trichotillomania

Disorder involving compulsive hair pulling

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

Short-term stress response occurring immediately after trauma

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Long-term stress disorder with delayed symptoms following trauma

Major Depressive Disorder

Persistent depressed mood without clear cause or disproportionate to situation

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Depression linked to seasonal changes (often winter)

Bipolar II Disorder

Disorder characterized by alternating episodes of depression and hypomania

Mania

Period of extreme elevated mood, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior

Bipolar I Disorder

Disorder involving behavior spaning from normal to full manic episodes (may not include depression)

Bipolar II Disorder

Disorder involving hypomania and major depressive episodes

Anorexia Nervosa

Eating disorder involving extreme restriction of food intake and low body weight

Bulimia Nervosa

Eating disorder involving binge eating followed by purging

Binge Eating Disorder

Disorder involving binge eating without purging

Dissociative Disorders

Disorders involving disruption of memory, identity, or consciousness

Dissociative Amnesia

Inability to recall important personal information

Dissociative Fugue

State where a person travels away and forgets their identity

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Disorder with two or more distinct personalities

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Feeling detached from oneself or reality

Psychotic Disorders

Disorders involving a break from reality

Schizophrenia

Severe disorder involving delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking

Delusions

False beliefs that are firmly held despite evidence

Delusions of Persecution

Belief that others are trying to harm you

Delusions of Reference

Belief that external messages are directed at you

Delusions of Influence

Belief that external forces control your actions

Delusions of Grandeur

Belief that they are a powerful and special person who is on a mission to save the world

Hallucinations

False sensory perceptions (seeing or hearing things not present)

Disorganized Speech

Incoherent or illogical speech patterns

Clanging

Linking words based on sound rather than meaning

Word Salad

Completely disorganized speech with no logical structure

Flat Affect

Lack of emotional expression

Catatonia

State of immobility or excessive movement

Positive Symptoms

Excesses or distortions of normal behavior (e.g., hallucinations)

Negative Symptoms

Absence or reduction of normal behavior (e.g., lack of emotion,immoblity)

Dopamine Hypothesis

Theory that schizophrenia is linked to excess dopamine activity

Stress-Vulnerability Model

The theory that examines the influences of Nature and Nurture on psychological disorders (in reference to schizophrenia)

Personality Disorders

Persistent patterns of maladaptive behavior and inner experience

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Odd or eccentric behaviors (paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal)

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Disregard for others’ rights, lack of empathy or remorse

Borderline Personality Disorder

Instability in relationships, mood, and self-image

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Grandiosity and need for admiration

Cluster C Personality Disorders

Anxious or fearful behaviors

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Social inhibition and fear of criticism

Dependent Personality Disorder

Excessive reliance on others for support and decision-making