Unit 8: Clinical Psychology

Humanistic school

suggests that disordered behavior is a result of people being too sensitive to the criticisms and judgments of others

• problems arise b/c a client’s goodness have been stifled by external factors

Behavioral approach

aims to change unhealthy behavior patterns tconditioning

Sociocultural approach

psychologists look at an individual's behavior based on the influence of the individual's culture

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

the American Psychiatric Association’s handbook for the identification and classification of behavioral disorders

Intellectual disability

characterized by delayed development in general mental abilities

Autism spectrum disorder

involves persistent challenges in social interaction, speech, nonverbal communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviors

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

ongoing pattern of inattention and/hyperactivity that interferes with functioning

Delusions

falsely held beliefs that persist

Hallucinations

false/distorted perception that seems vividly real to the person experiencing it

Bipolar disorders

a mental disorder involving periods of depression alternating with periods of mania

depressive disorders

depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time

Panic disorder

an anxiety disorder characterized by recurring panic attacks, as well as the constant worry of another panic attack occurring

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

disorder in which people are almost constantly plagued by exaggerated worries

Phobias

persistent, irrational fears of common events or objects, are also anxiety disorders.

Agoraphobia

the fear of being in open/public spaces from which escape is perceived to be difficult

Obsessions

irrational, intrusive thoughts that distresses the person

Compulsions

are repetitive behaviors that one feels compelled to perform

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

triggered by exposure to a highly traumatic event, resulting memories of the event and avoidance of stimuli/situations associated with the event

dissociative amnesia

inability to recall life events that goes far beyond normal forgetting

dissociative identity disorder

presence of two or more distinct personality states

Somatic symptom disorder

extreme, exaggerated anxiety about physical symptoms

Conversion disorder

bodily symptoms that can’t be explained through neurological/medical conditions

Factitious disorder

in which an individual knowingly falsified symptoms in order to get medical care, or sympathy or aid from others.

Anorexia nervosa

eating disorder characterized by distorted body image, with a fear of being overweight

Bulimia nervosa

marked by binging followed by methods to avoid gaining weight (throwing up)

Binge-eating disorder

cycles of binge eating and weight gain

Cluster A

• odd & eccentric

• includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders

Cluster B

• dramatic, overly emotional, & unpredictable thinking

• includes antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders.

Borderline personality disorder

long patterns of unstable/explosive emotions

Histrionic personality disorder

involves a pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking

Narcissistic personality disorder

pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, & lack of empathy

Cluster C

• feelings of anxiousness/fearfulness

• includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

Avoidant personality disorder

characterized by low self-esteem, fear of rejection, and fear of judgement

Dependent personality disorder

is marked by an excessive need to be cared for, leading to clingy and submissive behavior and fears of separation.

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)

troubled by repetition and compulsive thoughts

Psychoanalysis

aims to treat mental disorders by investigating the interaction of conscious and unconscious elements in the mind

Countertransference

when he therapist transfers his or her own feelings onto the patient

Client-centered therapy

the act of a therapist using active listening & unconditional positive regard to gain personal insight on a client

Unconditional positive regard

refers to a therapist’s attitude of acceptance and warmth towards their patient

Accurate empathic understanding

is the ability to accurately understand and identify what someone else is feeling.

Counterconditioning

a behavioral technique used in therapy which involves replacing an unwanted response to a stimulus with a desired response

ex: associating public speaking with positive experiences or rewards to alleviate the fear response

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

a form of treatment in which high voltages of electricity are passed across a patient’s head (brain seizures)

• treats depression

Psychopharmacology

is the treatment of psychological and behavioral maladaptations with drugs.

Antipsychotics

drugs that are used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders

Antidepressants

category of prescribe medication that alleviates symptoms of depression

Lithium carbonate

a salt, is effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder

Group therapy

in which clients meet together with a therapist as an interactive group

Alzheimer’s Disease

causes brain cells to degenerate and die leading to severe cognitive decline

Delirium

abrupt changes in the brain that causes mental confusion or emotional disruption

Schizophrenia

in which the ability to function is impaired by severely distorted beliefs, perceptions, and thought processes

Illness Anxiety Disorder

involves an excessive and irrational fear of having a serious illness

Histrionic Personality Disorder

pattern of excessive emotionality & attention seeking

Antisocial Personality Disorder

lack of conscience/wrongdoing towards others

Systematic Desensitization

a behavioral therapy used to treat phobias by gradually associating feared stimuli with relaxing stimuli

Aversive Conditioning

the use of something unpleasant to stop an unwanted behavior

ex: associating nausea with drinking

Behavior Modification

therapeutic approach designed to change a particular undesirable negative behavior by using a system of rewards and consequences

Token Economy

positive behaviors are reinforced with tokens which can be exchanged for extrinsic rewards

Cognitive Approach/Therapy

designed to find maladaptive and harmful thought patterns and to replace them with healthier ones

Rational Emotive Therapy (RET)

based on the idea that psychological problems are the results of self defeating thoughts

1. Activate: identify the event that caused the anxiety (ex. failing test)

2. Belief: identify the beliefs that result of that event (ex. terrible student)

3. Consequence about the action (won’t get into dream school)

• change in belief=change in consequences

• positive belief=less defeating thoughts

Cognitive Triad Therapy

looks at what a person thinks about their self, their world, and their future

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

therapeutic technique that aims to change a client's maladaptive cognitions and behaviors into more realistic ones

Insight Therapy

a type of therapy that helps clients understand how events in their past are negatively influencing their current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors

Free Association (Psychoanalysis)

a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind

Interpersonal Therapy

a form of psychotherapy that focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and addressing emotional difficulties

Active Listening

technique in which the therapist verbally and communicates interest in what the client is saying in order to encourage openness

Meta Analysis

a procedure for statistically combing the results of many different research studies