disorders and treatment

generalized anxiety disorder

-chronic excessive worry, restlessness, muscle tension, serious worry

-source often unknown or constantly changing

-not occasional or situational

social anxiety

fear of social situations, persistent for 6+ months

panic disorder

recurrent sudden onset of intense fear

phobias

irrational fear of specific objects that is persistent and causes dysfunction

OCD

unwanted repetitive thoughts, ritualistic behaviors

PTSD

-haunting memories, flashbacks, hyper vigilance, nightmares, insomnia, avoidance of trauma-related stimuli for longer than 4 weeks

-caused by trauma, maladaptive learned associations, biological predispositions

major depressive disorder

extreme and persistent sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, changes in appetite and sleep, suicidal thoughts

persistent depressive

-symptoms are milder but can last longer

-1 or more years in children, 2 or more years in adults

-loss of interest, fatigue, changes in appetite and sleep, feelings of happiness

bipolar 1

more extreme mania, possible psychosis & depression (similar to MDD)

bipolar 2

hypomania: less intense and shorter duration than full mania & depression

mania

elevated mood, impulsivity, euphoria, delusions, overactivity, wild optimism

somatic symptom disorder

-physical symptoms inconsistent with or unexplained by medical conditions

-excessive distress/anxiety over real physical symptoms

illness anxiety disorder

preoccupation with serious illness despite minimal symptoms

conversion disorder

unexplained extreme neurological symptoms (eg paralysis, blindness)

dissociative identity disorder

two or more distinct identities, memory gaps

dissociative amnesia

partial or total inability to recall important personal info

schizophrenia spectrum disorder

severely distorted thought processes, break from reality

positive symptoms

added to: hallucinations (visual/auditory), delusions (grandeur, persecution), disorganized speech

negative symptoms

typical behavior is not present: flat affect, catatonia, lack of motivation

catatonia

big disturbances to motor behavior

flat affect

a severe reduction in emotional expressiveness

cognitive symptoms

impaired working memory, difficulty concentrating

dopamine hypothesis

excess dopamine activity in some brain areas causes positive symptoms, while reduced dopamine in the prefrontal cortex leads to negative and cognitive symptoms

schizoid

detached from relationships; emotionally cold/flat, indifferent

schizotypal

odd thoughts/behavior; poor social skills; superstitious

paranoid

distrustful; assumes others will deceive or exploit

narcissistic

inflated self-importance; exaggerates abilities, needs admiration

antisocial

violates others’ rights; impulsive; manipulative; no remorse

borderline

unstable relationships, emotions, and self-image; self-destructive

histrionic

overly dramatic; attention seeking; over provocative

avoidant

socially inhibited; feels inadequate; sensitive to criticism

dependent

submissive; clingy; fears separation

obsessive-compulsive PD

preoccupied with order, control, and perfection

ADHD

-inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, can have reduced motivation

-causes: genetic influences, dopamine dysfunction

autism spectrum disorder

-social and communication deficiencies, repetitive behaviors, lacking theory of mind

-causes: genetic links, prenatal factors, neurological differences

biopsychosocial model

disorders result from interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors

medical model

psychological disorders have biological causes and treatments

DSM

provides standardized criteria for diagnosis, includes symptom checklists for each disorder

ICD

global classification of diseases

comorbidity

when a person has two or more disorders simultaneously

stigma

a statement that labels people with disorders based on stereotypes and discrimination

taijin kyofusho

fear of interpersonal relations, a Japanese form of social anxiety characterized by an intense fear of offending or embarrassing others, often through physical characteristics or behavior

ataque de nervios

spanish attack of nerves, a cultural and medical term used to describe a sudden onset of intense anxiety and emotional distress, often accompanied by physical symptoms

hoarding disorder

persistent difficulty discarding possessions, distress in letting go

cognitive triad

negative views of self, world, and future

delusions of grandeur

false beliefs of superior importance, power, wealth, or identity

delusions of persecution

false beliefs of being targeted, harmed, or being gone against

anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder where people try to keep as low of a weight as possible (not eating enough, vomiting, exercising too much)

bulimia nervosa

eating disorder where someone engages in overeating followed by self-induced vomiting, strict dieting

diathesis-stress model

proposes that mental disorders result from a combination of a pre-existing vulnerability and environmental stressors

hypervigilance

an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity and constant environmental scanning for threats, often stemming from a dysregulated nervous system due to trauma

maladaptive learned association

deeply ingrained, automatic connections between stimuli and responses that were once coping mechanisms but now cause harm or inhibit functioning

nonmaleficence

avoiding harm from medications and procedures

antianxiety drugs

reduce nervous system activity, addictive and highlight synergistic

antidepressants

increase access to serotonin by blocking reuptake

antipsychotic medications

manage symptoms blocking dopamine receptors

lithium

a mood-stabilizing drug to treat mania and bipolar disorder

deep brain simulation

-implantation of electrodes in brain regions

-used for severe depression and OCD

-mechanism: alters neural activity in targeted brain region

transcranial magnetic stimulation

-magnetic pulses stimulate brain region

-non-invasive alternative for depression

-advantages: fewer side effects compared to ECT

electroconvulsive therapy

-electrical currents induce controlled seizures

-can be effective for treatment - resistant depression

-side effects: short-term memory loss, confusion

psychosurgery

highly targeted neurosurgical treatment for severe, treatment-refractory mental disorders like OCD and depression

lobotomy

severed the link between the frontal lobes and limbic system

lesioning

modern targeted destruction of small brain areas

evidence-based interventions

treatments supported by proven research

cultural humility

adapting therapy to diverse populations

therapeutic alliance

strong client-therapist relationship predicts treatment success

family/group therapy

addressing family dynamics/peer support and shared experiences

emdr

rapidly moving one’s eyes while recalling traumatic events that were previously frozen

hypnosis

accessing subconscious processes

biofeedback

using psychological feedback to control bodily functions

psychodynamic theory

focus on unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences

free association

patients express thoughts, words, or images exactly as they come to mind

dream interpretation

interpreting the symbols, emotions, and narratives within dreams to uncover unconscious desires, fears, and unresolved conflicts

transference

unconscious redirection of feelings, desires, and expectations from past, significant relationships onto a new person

behavioral therapy

focus on learning-based behavior changes “counterconditioning”

exposure therapies

safely and gradually confronting feared objects, situations, or memories

systematic desensitization

treat phobias and anxiety by pairing relaxation exercises with gradual exposure to fear-inducing stimuli

aversion therapy

conditioning an association between the undesirable behavior and an unpleasant stimulus, such as nausea or mild shock

cognitive therapy

identifies and modifies maladaptive thinking patterns

cognitive restructuring

identify, challenge, and reframe irrational or dysfunctional "automatic thoughts"

cognitive behavioral therapy

a structured, goal-oriented type of psychotherapy that treats mental health conditions by changing negative thought patterns and behaviors

dialectical behavior therapy

emotion regulation through acceptance and change using mindfulness

rational emotive behavior therapy

identifying irrational beliefs and modifying

humanist approach

personal growth and self-actualization

person/client-centered therapy

empowers clients to lead sessions, fostering self-discovery and growth in a supportive environment

unconditional positive regard

help the client learn to accept themselves despite any weaknesses

active listening

full, non-judgmental attention to understand a speaker's intended message, emotions, and nonverbal cues

empty chair

engage in dialogue with an imagined person or a part of themselves seated in an empty chair

flashbacks

vivid re-experiencing of a past traumatic event as if it is happening in the present, commonly associated with PTSD

fear hierarchies

cognitive-behavioral tool used in exposure therapy to treat phobias and anxiety by listing feared situations, ranked from least to most terrifying

flooding

the individual is exposed directly to a maximum-intensity anxiety-producing situation or stimulus, either described or real, without any attempt made to lessen or avoid anxiety or fear during the exposure

token economies

a behavior modification system based on operant conditioning, where individuals earn tokens (e.g., stickers, points) for exhibiting desired behaviors

tardive dyskinesia

a chronic, involuntary movement disorder caused by long-term use of dopamine-receptor blocking medications

psychotropic medication

psychoactive drugs that alter the chemical makeup of the brain and nervous system to treat mental health disorders

psychotherapy

collaborative, evidence-based treatment where a trained professional helps individuals identify and change harmful thoughts, emotions, and behaviors

benzodiapines

depressants prescribed for short-term treatment of antianxiety

biopsychosocial model

integrating medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes

biomedical approach

treats illnesses with medication and surgery