Psych 1200 test 4 exam

What is the definition of a mental disorder?

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

Is there a universal agreement on the definition of a mental disorder?

No, there is no universal agreement on a precise definition.

What is the medical model in psychopathology?

The medical model conceptualizes abnormal psychological experiences as illnesses, similar to physical illnesses.

What are the key components of the medical model?

• Biological and environmental causes

• Defined symptoms

• Possible cures

What are signs in the context of mental disorders?

Objectively observed indicators of a disorder.

What are symptoms in the context of mental disorders?

subjectively reported behaviors, thoughts, and emotions.

What are the three related general medical and classification terms in psychopathology?

• Disorder

• Disease

• Diagnosis

What is the theory of physiognomy in relation to mental disorders?

According to the theory of physiognomy, mental disorders could be diagnosed from facial features.

Is the theory of physiognomy still considered valid today?

No, it is now considered superstition, though it was popular from antiquity until the early 20th century.

What is the purpose of the DSM?

The DSM is a classification system that describes the features used to diagnose each recognized mental disorder and how it can be distinguished from other similar problems.

When was the first version of the DSM published, and what did it aim to do?

The first version, DSM (1952), aimed to classify and describe the features of mental disorders.

What was the significance of DSM-II (1968)?

DSM-II was the first revision of the DSM and provided a common language for talking about mental disorders.

What improvements did DSM-III (1980) and DSM-IV (1994) bring to the classification of mental disorders?

DSM-III and DSM-IV moved from vague disorder descriptions to detailed lists of symptoms and diagnostic criteria for over 200 disorders, improving diagnostic reliability.

What is the DSM-5, and when was it published?

The DSM-5 (2013) is the current edition, which includes revised text, updated diagnostic criteria, and ICD-10-CM insurance codes.

What new features were added to the DSM-5 and DSM-5-TR (2022)?

The DSM-5-TR includes a new disorder, Prolonged Grief Disorder, and codes for suicidal behavior and nonsuicidal self-injury.

What is comorbidity in the context of mental disorders?

Comorbidity refers to the co-occurrence of two or more disorders in a single individual.

What did Kessler and colleagues do in relation to mental disorders?

Kessler and colleagues launched the WHO World Mental Health Surveys to assess the presence of mental disorders in nearly two dozen countries worldwide.

Do major mental disorders seen in North America appear in other countries and cultures?

Yes, major mental disorders seen in North America appear similarly in countries and cultures worldwide.

How does cultural context influence mental disorders?

Cultural context influences how mental disorders are:

• Experienced

• Described

• Assessed

• Treated

How does the DSM-5 address cultural differences in mental disorders?

The DSM-5 provides a framework for thinking about differences in cultural concepts of distress.

What are the three key cultural concepts of distress identified by the DSM-5?

• Cultural syndromes

• Cultural idioms of distress

• Cultural explanations

What does the medical model of mental disorder suggest about diagnoses?

The medical model suggests that knowing a person’s diagnosis is useful because each category of mental illness is likely to have a distinctive cause, with a specific etiology and common prognosis.

What is the biopsychosocial perspective on mental disorders?

mental disorders result from interactions among biological, psychological, and social factors, and different individuals may experience a similar disorder for different reasons.

What does the diathesis-stress model explain about mental disorders?

The diathesis-stress model suggests that a person may be predisposed to a mental disorder that remains unexpressed until triggered by stress.

What is the tendency when oversimplifying mental disorders?

The tendency is to attribute mental disorders to single, internal causes.

How does the interpretation of the brain's role in psychological disorders contribute to oversimplification?

The brain's role is often oversimplified, with brain scans of people with and without disorders giving the impression that psychological problems are internal, permanent, inevitable, and even untreatable.

What is the Research Domain Criteria Project (RDoC)?

RDoC is a new initiative to guide the classification and understanding of mental disorders by revealing the basic processes that give rise to them.

What is the long-term goal of the RDoC?

The long-term goal is to better understand what abnormalities cause different disorders and to classify disorders based on those underlying causes rather than on observed symptoms.

What factors do researchers study in the RDoC framework?

Researchers study the causes of abnormal functioning in:

• Biological factors

• Psychological domains

• Social processes and behavior

What are some negative consequences of psychiatric labels?

Psychiatric labels can be associated with negative stereotypes and stigma, which may prevent individuals from seeking help and create a negative self-view.

How can psychiatric labels impact an individual's self-esteem and mental health?

Psychiatric labels can contribute to lower self-esteem, lower self-efficacy, and higher levels of depressive symptoms.

Why is it important to apply labels to the disorder rather than the person?

It’s important to apply labels to the disorder and not the person with the disorder to avoid negative self-concepts and stigma.

What is an anxiety disorder?

An anxiety disorder is a class of mental disorders in which anxiety is the predominant feature.

How do anxiety disorders often present in individuals?

• People with anxiety disorders usually experience more than one type of anxiety at a time, often comorbid with depression.

What anxiety disorders are recognized by the DSM-5-TR?

• The DSM-5-TR recognizes the following anxiety disorders:

  • Phobic disorders

  • Panic disorder

  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

What are phobic disorders characterized by?

Phobic disorders are characterized by marked, persistent, and excessive fear and avoidance of specific objects, activities, or situations.

What are the two types of phobic disorders?

• Specific phobia

• Social phobia

What is the preparedness theory in relation to phobias?

Preparedness theory suggests that phobias can be classically conditioned, with humans being biologically predisposed to develop fears of certain objects or situations.

What does Preparedness Theory suggest about why we fear certain things?

explains that humans are biologically predisposed to develop fears of certain objects or situations, like spiders or snakes, which is why it might be difficult to get a child to ride on a spider or snake on a merry-go-round, whereas a horse is more commonly accepted.

What is panic disorder?

Panic disorder involves sudden, intense panic attacks with psychological and physiological symptoms, often leading to terror.

What factors contribute to panic disorder?

Panic disorder has a hereditary component, is twice as prevalent in women, and may include hypersensitivity to anxiety signs.

What is agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is a specific phobia involving fear of public places or fear that something terrible will happen.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

GAD is chronic excessive worry, with symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.

What factors contribute to GAD?

Biological and psychological factors, including neurotransmitter imbalances.

Who is more likely to experience GAD?

GAD is more common in people with lower SES, those living in large cities, or in unpredictable environments, and is more prevalent in women.

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

• OCD involves repetitive, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) that significantly interfere with functioning.

How is OCD classified compared to anxiety disorders?

• OCD is classified separately from anxiety disorders, with distinct causes and brain neural circuitry.

How common is OCD and who is more likely to suffer from it?

• Around 2% of the population suffers from OCD, with moderate to strong heritability and a higher rate in women.

What are the symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

• PTSD is characterized by chronic arousal, recurrent unwanted thoughts or images of the trauma, and avoidance of triggers.

How common is PTSD in Canadian Armed Forces members and other countries?

• About 1 in 6 Canadian Armed Forces members serving in Afghanistan received PTSD support, with higher rates in non-Western and developing countries.
  

What brain imaging findings are linked to PTSD?

PTSD shows heightened amygdala activity, decreased medial prefrontal cortex activity, and a smaller hippocampus.

What are mood disorders?

• Mood disorders are mental disorders where mood disturbances are the predominant feature, including depression (unipolar) and bipolar depression.
  

What characterizes Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

 MDD is a severely depressed mood lasting 2 weeks or more, with symptoms like worthlessness, lethargy, and sleep/appetite disturbances.

What is Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)?

PDD has similar cognitive and bodily issues as depression but is less severe and lasts for at least 2 years.

What is Double Depression?

Double depression occurs when MDD and PDD co-occur, with a moderate depressed mood lasting 2+ years and punctuated by major depressive episodes.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

SAD involves recurrent depressive episodes in a seasonal pattern, typically due to reduced light in colder seasons at higher latitudes.

What is the prevalence of depression?

About 1 in 9 people in Canada and the U.S. experience depression. Risk factors include gender, SES, hormones, and treatment willingness.

What neurotransmitters and genetic factors are linked to depression?

Depression may involve low norepinephrine and serotonin. It has moderate heritability, with higher rates in severe cases and stressful life events.

How is Bipolar Disorder related to genetics and life stress?

Bipolar disorder has high heritability (40-70% for identical twins), shared genetic vulnerability with schizophrenia, and is often triggered by stress.

What are the main features of schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia involves distorted perception, altered emotion, and disturbances in thought, motivation, and behavior.

• What are the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Positive: Hallucinations and delusions.
Negative: Emotional/social withdrawal, apathy, and poverty of speech.

What are disorganized symptoms of schizophrenia?

Disorganized symptoms include disorganized speech, grossly disorganized behavior, and catatonic behavior.

What is catatonic schizophrenia?

 Catatonic schizophrenia may cause a person to assume an unusual posture and fail to move for extended periods.

What cognitive symptoms are seen in schizophrenia?

Cognitive symptoms include deficits in executive functioning, attention, and working memory.

How do genetic and environmental factors influence schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia has strong genetic links, with concordance rates increasing with biological relatedness. Environmental factors like prenatal stressors can trigger epigenetic changes that increase susceptibility.

What does the dopamine hypothesis suggest about schizophrenia?

The dopamine hypothesis suggests schizophrenia involves excess dopamine activity, but the hypothesis is considered incomplete due to varying drug responses and involvement of other neurotransmitters.

What characterizes a personality disorder?

 Personality disorders involve ingrained, inflexible patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to others, causing distress or impaired functioning.

How are personality disorders categorized in DSM-5-TR?

Personality disorders are categorized into three clusters: odd/eccentric, dramatic/erratic, and anxious/inhibited.

• What is Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD)?

• APD is a pattern of disregard for others' rights, starting in childhood or adolescence, with a history of conduct disorder and a higher prevalence in men (3.6% of the general population).

What are some brain abnormalities associated with APD

Individuals with APD may show brain abnormalities, but the exact nature of these changes is still under investigation.

What two self-destructive behaviors are included in DSM-5-TR's Section III?

Suicidal behavior disorder and nonsuicidal self-injury disorder

What is suicide, and how common is it among young people in Canada?

• Suicide is intentional self-inflicted death, the second most common cause of death for Canadians aged 15-34.

What is a nonfatal suicide attempt?

A nonfatal suicide attempt involves behavior with some intent to die but does not result in death; it occurs more frequently than suicide deaths

What motivates people to attempt suicide?

Common motives for suicide include escaping an intolerable mental state or an impossible situation

What is nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)?

NSSI is the deliberate destruction of body tissue without intent to die, typically increasing during adolescence and decreasing in adulthood.

How does NSSI relate to emotional responses?

 NSSI is often triggered by strong emotional and physiological reactions to negative events.

What is known about the causes and treatment of NSSI?

Understanding the genetic and neurobiological influences on NSSI, as well as effective medications, remains limited.

How many people with major depression receive adequate treatment?

Only about half of those who need treatment for major depression receive adequate care, and 1 in 3 who do receive treatment still have unmet mental health needs.

How many children in Canada with mental disorders do not access specialized care?

Three-quarters of children in Canada with mental disorders do not receive specialized care.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the need for mental health treatment?

The need for mental health support has dramatically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but available support has not kept up with demand.

Why do many people avoid seeking psychological treatment?

• People often avoid treatment due to stigma, not knowing how to seek help, or lack of awareness about the effectiveness of treatment.

How did Logic's performance of "1-800-273-8255" affect suicide prevention efforts?

After Logic's performance, calls to the National Suicide Prevention Line increased by 50%, and adolescent suicides decreased by 6% over the next month.

What are some reasons people fail to seek mental health treatment?

People may not recognize they have a treatable disorder, face barriers such as stigma, lack of access, or financial constraints preventing treatment.

What is a significant barrier to accessing psychological services in Canada?

• In Canada, evidence-based psychological services are often not publicly funded, and private coverage is usually only available to those with good employment benefits.

What types of mental health professionals exist?

Mental health professionals include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors.

What are the two broad categories of treatment for mental disorders?

• The two broad categories are psychological treatment (therapies) and biological treatment (medications, surgery, etc.).

What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is an interaction between a clinician and a person with a psychological problem, aimed at providing support or relief.

What is eclectic psychotherapy?

Eclectic psychotherapy involves using techniques from different types of therapy based on the client’s needs and the nature of their problem.

What do humanistic and existential therapies have in common?

Both assume psychological problems stem from feelings of alienation and loneliness. Humanistic therapy focuses on failure to reach one’s potential, while existential therapy centers on failure to find life meaning

What is person-centred therapy (also known as client-centred therapy)?

• Person-centred therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, focuses on facilitating growth through acceptance, empathy, and unconditional positive regard from the therapist. The goal is to reflect and understand the client’s experiences to encourage their personal growth.

What is the goal of Gestalt therapy?

• The goal of Gestalt therapy is to help clients become aware of their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, and take responsibility for them. It emphasizes real-time experiences and encourages personal ownership.

What are some techniques used in Gestalt therapy?

• Common techniques in Gestalt therapy include focusing, the empty chair technique, and putting feelings into actions. The therapist is enthusiastic and warm.

What is the effectiveness of psychological treatments compared to medication for depression, panic disorder, and PTSD?

• Depression: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and psychological treatments are as effective as medications, and combining the two is more effective.
  
  

• Panic disorder: Psychological treatments show better long-term results than medications, and both treatments are better than a placebo.
  
  

• PTSD: Psychological treatment is more effective than present-centered therapy for PTSD.

What are the potential harms of CISD, Scared Straight programs, and other similar interventions?

• CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing): Increases the risk of PTSD.
  
  

• Scared Straight programs: Worsen conduct problems in youth.
  
  

• Boot-camp interventions for conduct problems: Increase worsening of conduct issues.
  
  

• DARE programs: Can lead to increased alcohol and drug use.
  

What is iatrogenic illness?

disorders or symptoms that occur as a result of a medical or psychotherapeutic treatment itself, such as when therapy leads clients to develop beliefs that are harmful (e.g., hypnosis or dissociative identity disorder).

What are some psychological treatments that can cause harm?

• CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing): Can increase the risk of PTSD.
  
  

• Scared Straight programs: Can worsen conduct problems in youth.
  
  

• Boot-camp interventions: Can worsen conduct problems.
  
  

• DARE programs: Can increase the use of alcohol and drugs

Do psychological treatments work across different ethnicities?

• Yes, research shows that treatments that work effectively in studies, which often have few ethnic minority participants, also work well with people of different ethnicities.

What are the four ethical standards for the treatment of people with mental illness in Canada?

• Respect for the dignity of persons: Protecting the welfare of vulnerable individuals, ensuring fairness, and avoiding biases.
  
  

• Responsible caring: Benefiting clients and avoiding harm.
  
  

• Integrity in relationships: Promoting honesty, accuracy, and truthfulness.
  
  

• Responsibility to society: Ensuring psychological knowledge benefits society and aligns with the first three principles.
  
  

What are some dangers of psychotherapy?

Some dangers are subtle, such as the development of iatrogenic illness, where therapy leads to the creation of harmful beliefs or worsening conditions