Psychological Disorders and Treatments

A set of flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to psychological disorders and their treatments.

Anti-anxiety medications

Medications like benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium, Xanax) which raise GABA levels to affect nerve impulses.

Antipsychotics

Medications that impact dopamine and serotonin levels; can cause side effects like tardive dyskinesia.

Lithium

A common treatment for bipolar disorder and depression that requires monitoring due to potential toxicity.

ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)

A treatment for major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia that involves inducing a brief seizure through electrical currents.

Lobotomy

A last-resort surgical procedure that was banned after being performed extensively between 1939 and 1951.

OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

A condition characterized by intrusive thoughts leading to compulsive actions, causing significant distress.

Cognitive therapy

A psychological approach focusing on changing negative thought patterns into more realistic and effective thinking.

Behavioral therapy

A type of therapy that emphasizes changing maladaptive behaviors through learning and unlearning.

Panic disorder

A condition involving powerful feelings of anxiety, with symptoms like heart palpitations and shortness of breath.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

An anxiety disorder that develops after exposure to extreme physical or psychological trauma.

DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder)

A severe condition involving the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities in an individual.

Major depression

A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, changes in sleep and appetite, and lack of interest in activities.