AP Psychology: Unit 10- Disorders and Therapy

Deviant Psychological Disorder

Behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that deviate significantly from societal or cultural norms, often seen as abnormal or out of place.

Dysfunctional Psychological Disorder

Behaviors or thoughts that interfere with a person's ability to function in daily life, such as at work, school, or in relationships.

Distressful Psychological Disorder

Behaviors or thoughts that cause significant distress or discomfort to the individual or others around them.

Maladaptive

Behaviors or thoughts that impair a person’s ability to adapt to or cope with normal life demands and are harmful or counterproductive.

Medical Model

A framework for understanding psychological disorders as diseases that have biological causes, symptoms, and potential cures, often treated through medication or surgery.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence, influenced by environmental factors.

Diagnostic & Statistical Manual V (DSM-5)

The 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a comprehensive classification system used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental health disorders.

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning or development.

Anxiety Disorders (Generalized)

A disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about a variety of topics, events, or activities, lasting for at least six months.

Panic Disorder

Recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear or discomfort that include physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating, and shortness of breath.

Phobic Disorder

A type of anxiety disorder marked by persistent, irrational fear of specific objects, situations, or activities.

• leads to avoidance behavior

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)

An intense fear of being judged or scrutinized by others in social or performance situations, leading to avoidance of such situations.

Agoraphobia

A fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable in the event of a panic attack or other symptoms, often leading to avoidance of public spaces.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A disorder involving repetitive, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and/or ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A condition that may develop after exposure to a traumatic event, characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and hypervigilance.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, lasting at least two weeks.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

A chronic form of depression where a person experiences a low mood for at least two years, often with periods of more severe depressive symptoms.

Bipolar Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by extreme mood swings between depressive episodes and manic episodes (elevated, expansive, or irritable mood).

Mania

A state of elevated mood, energy, and activity, often associated with impulsivity, decreased need for sleep, and risky behavior, commonly seen in bipolar disorder.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

A class of medications used to treat depression and anxiety by increasing serotonin levels in the brain by inhibiting its reuptake.

Ruminations

Repetitive, negative thinking or dwelling on distressing thoughts, often contributing to or exacerbating depressive symptoms.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by distorted thinking, perceptions (hallucinations), and emotions, as well as impaired social and occupational functioning.

Hallucinations

False sensory perceptions, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not present.

Delusions

False beliefs that are strongly held despite evidence to the contrary, such as believing one has special powers or is being persecuted.

Chronic Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia that develops gradually and tends to be more resistant to treatment.

Acute Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia that develops suddenly, often with a more rapid onset and sometimes with a better prognosis.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

A condition where an individual has two or more distinct personality states or identities, often as a response to trauma.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by persistent patterns of disregard for the rights of others, lack of empathy, and manipulative or deceitful behavior.

Biopsychosocial Factors

An approach to understanding psychological disorders by considering biological, psychological, and social factors that interact and contribute to the development of mental health conditions.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to self-imposed starvation and extreme weight loss.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or use of laxatives to prevent weight gain.

Placebo Effect

The phenomenon where a person experiences a perceived improvement in their condition due to believing they are receiving treatment, even if the treatment has no active ingredients.

David Rosenhands

A psychologist known for his study 'On Being Sane in Sane Places,' which revealed the difficulties in diagnosing mental disorders and the effects of labeling.

Labeling

The process of classifying and naming a mental disorder, which can sometimes have negative effects, including stigmatization and reinforcement of the disorder.

Psychotherapy

A therapeutic approach to treating psychological disorders through communication and interaction with a trained professional, aimed at changing behavior, thought patterns, and emotions.

Biomedical Therapy

Treatment of psychological disorders using medications or other medical interventions, such as drugs or brain stimulation, to alleviate symptoms.

Psychoanalysis

A therapeutic approach developed by Sigmund Freud that seeks to uncover unconscious thoughts and emotions through methods like free association, dream analysis, and transference.

Sigmund Freud

The founder of psychoanalysis, known for theories of the unconscious mind, defense mechanisms, and the structure of personality.

Free Association

A technique in psychoanalysis where patients say whatever comes to mind, without censorship, to reveal unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Resistance

In psychoanalysis, the unconscious defense mechanisms that prevent a patient from fully engaging in therapy or confronting difficult emotions or memories.

Interpretation

The psychoanalytic process of analyzing and explaining the meaning behind a patient’s thoughts, behaviors, and dreams to uncover unconscious conflicts.

Transference

In psychoanalysis, the projection of feelings and emotions onto the therapist that are linked to past relationships or unresolved conflicts.

Humanistic Therapies

Approaches to therapy that emphasize personal growth, self-actualization, and the inherent goodness of humans.

Client vs Patient

In humanistic therapy, 'client' emphasizes a more equal, non-hierarchical relationship between the therapist and the person receiving therapy.

Carl Rogers

A prominent humanistic psychologist who developed client-centered therapy and emphasized concepts like unconditional positive regard.

Client-Centered Therapy

A therapeutic approach by Carl Rogers focusing on providing a supportive environment with empathy and unconditional positive regard.

Active Listening

A communication technique in therapy where the therapist listens attentively, reflects, and clarifies what the client says.

Unconditional Positive Regard

In Carl Rogers' therapy, the therapist's nonjudgmental acceptance and support of the client, regardless of their actions or feelings.

Behavior Therapies

Psychotherapy approaches focused on changing maladaptive behaviors through techniques based on classical and operant conditioning.

Counterconditioning

A behavioral therapy technique that replaces an unwanted behavior with a more adaptive behavior using classical conditioning methods.

Exposure Therapies

Behavior therapy that gradually exposes a person to feared objects/situations in a controlled way to reduce anxiety or phobia.

Systematic Desensitization

An exposure therapy that gradually exposes a person to a feared stimulus while teaching relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

An exposure therapy using virtual reality simulations to expose individuals to feared situations in a controlled environment.

Aversive Conditioning

Counterconditioning that pairs an unwanted behavior with an unpleasant stimulus to reduce the occurrence of that behavior.

Behavior Modification

The use of operant conditioning techniques to change behavior, often used in institutional or educational settings.

Token Economy

A system of behavior modification where individuals earn tokens for desirable behaviors, exchangeable for rewards.

Cognitive Therapies

Psychotherapy approaches focused on identifying and changing negative thought patterns contributing to emotional distress.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Psychotherapy that combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to help individuals change negative thought patterns and behaviors.

Group Therapy

A form of psychotherapy where a small group with similar issues meets with a therapist for support.

Family Therapy

Therapeutic approach treating families as a unit, addressing communication patterns and dynamics.

Hans Eysenck

A psychologist who studied the effectiveness of psychotherapy and concluded that many therapies have little benefit.

Meta-Analysis

A statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies to identify patterns and overall effects in research.

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

Therapeutic technique used to treat trauma and PTSD involving bilateral stimulation to process distressing memories.

Light Exposure Therapy

Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) involving exposure to bright light to regulate circadian rhythms.

Antipsychotic Drugs

Medications used to manage symptoms of schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders by blocking dopamine receptors.

Antianxiety Drugs

Medications designed to reduce anxiety, often enhancing neurotransmitters like GABA.

Xanax

A brand name for alprazolam, a benzodiazepine medication commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders.

Antidepressant Drugs

Medications used to treat depression and some anxiety disorders by influencing neurotransmitters.

Prozac

A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly used as an antidepressant.

Mood-Stabilizing Drugs

Medications used to treat mood disorders, like bipolar disorder, by stabilizing mood swings.

Lithium

A mood-stabilizing medication primarily used to treat bipolar disorder.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A biomedical treatment for severe depression involving electric currents to induce a brief seizure.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

A non-invasive procedure using magnetic fields to stimulate specific brain areas, used to treat depression.

Psychosurgery

Surgical procedures that alter brain tissue to treat mental disorders, rarely performed today.

Lobotomy

A form of psychosurgery involving removal or disruption of brain parts, historically used for severe mental illnesses.

Resilience

The ability to recover or bounce back from adversity, trauma, or significant stress.

Posttraumatic Growth

Positive psychological change that can occur after a traumatic or stressful event.