Intro To Psychology- Chapter 15: Psychological Disorders

Mental Disorder

A persistent disturbance or dysfunction in behavior, thoughts, or emotions that causes significant distress or impairment

Medical Model

Abnormal psychological experiences are conceptualized as illnesses that, like physical illnesses, have biological and environmental causes, defined symptoms, & possible cures

Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

A classification system that describes the features used to diagnose each recognized mental disorder and indicates how the disorder can be distinguished from other, similar problems

Comorbidity

The co-occurrence of two or more disorders in a single individual

Biopsychosocial Perspective

Explains mental disorders as the result of interactions among biological, psychological, and social factors

What are the 3 related general medical and classification terms?

1) Disorder: refers to a common set of signs and symptoms

2) Disease: a known pathological process affecting the body

3) Diagnosis: A determination as to whether a disorder or disease is present

Diathesis-Stress Model

Suggests that a person may be predisposed for a psychological disorder that remains unexpressed until triggered by stress

Research Domain Criteria Project (RDoC)

A new initiative that aims to guide the classification and understanding of mental disorders by revealing the basic processes that give rise to them

Anxiety Disorder

The class of mental disorder in which anxiety is the predominant feauture

Phobic Disorders

Disorders characterized by marked, persistent, and excessive fear and avoidance of specific objects, activities, or situations

Specific Phobia

A disorder that involves an irrational fear of a particular object or situation that markedly interferes with an individual's ability to function

Social Phobia

A disorder that involves an irrational fear of being publicly humiliated or embarrassed

Preparedness Theory

The idea that people are instinctively predisposed toward certain fears

Panic Disorder

A disorder characterized by the sudden occurrence of multiple physiological symptoms that contribute to a feeling of stark terror

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A disorder characterized by chronic excessive worry accompanied by three or more of the following symptoms: restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance

OCD

A disorder in which repetitive, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) designed to fend off those thoughts interfere significantly with an individual's functioning

PTSD

A disorder characterized by chronic physiological arousal, recurrent unwanted thoughts or images of the trauma, and avoidance of things that call the traumatic event to mind

Mood disorders

Mental disorders that have mood disturbance as their predominant feauture

Major Depressive Disorder/ Unipolar Depression

A disorder characterized by a severely depressed mood and/or inability to experience pleasure that lasts 2 or more weeks and is accompanied by feelings of worthlessness, lethargy, and sleep & appetite disturbance

Dysthymia

Same cognitive and bodily problems as in depression are present, but they are less severe and last longer, persisting for at least 2 years

Double Depression

A moderately depressed mood that persists for at least 2 years and is punctuated by periods of major depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Recurrent depressive episodes in a seasonal pattern

Helplessness Theory

The idea that individuals who are prone to depression automatically attribute negative experiences to causes that are internal , stable, and global

Bipolar disorder

A condition characterized by cycles of abnormal, persistent high mood (mania) and low mood (depression)

Expressed Emotion

A measure of how much hostility, criticism, and emotional overinvolvement are used when speaking about a family member with a mental disorder

Schizophrenia

Disorder characterized by the profound disruption of basic psychological processes; a distorted perception of reality; altered or blunted emotion; and disturbances in thought, motivation, and behavior

Catatonic Behavior

A marked decrease in all movement or an increase in muscular rigidity and overactivity

Cognitive symptoms

Deficits in cognitive abilities, specifically executive functioning, attention, and working memory

Autism Spectrum Disorder

A condition beginning in early childhood in which a person shows persistent communication deficits as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities

ADHD

Persistent pattern of severe problems with inattention and/or hyperactivity or impulsiveness that cause significant impairments in functioning

Conduct Disorder

Persistent pattern of deviant behavior involving aggression to people or animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness or theft, or serious rule violations