Exam Review AbPsyc

1. Considerations for diagnosing children with disorders

developmental norms, environmental context, symptom duration/severity, and potential trauma history. Symptoms may look different in children than adults.

Is childhood anxiety like adult anxiety?

It shares features, but in children it often manifests as specific fears (e.g., separation) rather than generalized worry.

3. Separation Anxiety Disorder

→ An intense fear or anxiety about being apart from major attachment figures. Common in young children.

Children at risk for anxiety disorders

Shy, behaviorally inhibited children or those with controlling parents are at higher risk.

Childhood vs. adult depression/bipolar

children may show more irritability than sadness

. Causal factors for childhood depression

→ Genetics, negative life events, parental depression, and cognitive distortions.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

A pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative behavior, or vindictiveness

Conduct Disorder (CD)

A repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior violating societal norms or others' rights.

. Relation of ODD, CD, and Antisocial Personality Disorder

ODD may develop into CD, which can progress to Antisocial Personality Disorder in adulthood

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Disorders with early onset that affect brain development and functioning (e.g., ADHD, ASD).

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

Characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Brain abnormality in ADHD

Delayed cortical development and abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex and dopamine systems

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors.

Earliest diagnosis of ASD

Signs can be detected as early as 12–18 months.

Four common deficits in ASD

Social reciprocity, nonverbal communication, relationships, and repetitive behaviors

Tic

sudden, rapid movement or vocalization

. Tourette’s

multiple motor and at least one vocal tic.

Tourette’s: biological and psychological basis

Linked to genetic factors, dopamine dysfunction, and environmental stressors.

Specific learning disorders

Difficulties in learning key academic skills, such as reading or math, not due to IQ or instruction quality

Brain abnormality in dyslexia

Reduced activation in left hemisphere language areas, especially the temporoparietal region.

Intellectual Disability Disorder (IDD)

Significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior starting before age 18

Causes of IDD

Genetic conditions (e.g., Down syndrome), prenatal factors, birth complications, and environmental deprivation

Levels of IDD severity

→ Mild: some support needed. Moderate: more support, basic skills. Severe: extensive supervision. Profound: lifelong care.

: Delirium

Acute confusion, fluctuating awareness, disorganized thinking.

Stupor

Unresponsive but not unconscious

Alertness

Normal awareness and response to stimuli.

Mild vs. Major Neurocognitive Disorders

Mild: Modest cognitive decline; independence mostly intact.

Major: Significant decline that interferes with independence.

Parkinson’s Disease

A movement disorder caused by dopamine loss in the substantia nigra; may lead to cognitive decline or dementia over time.

Alzheimer’s Disease — Early Damage

Initially damages the hippocampus, affecting memory formation.

: Alzheimer’s — Late-Onset Associations

Linked to APOE-e4 gene and aging; more common in older adults.

3 Major Brain Abnormalities in Alzheimer’s

Amyloid plaques, Neurofibrillary tangles, Neuronal loss

vascular Dementia

Caused by strokes or restricted blood flow to the brain, leading to brain cell death.

Amnestic Disorder

Severe memory loss (mainly short-term); other functions remain intact.

Korsakoff’s Syndrome

Caused by thiamine deficiency (often from alcohol); memory loss and confabulation; partially reversible with treatment

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs

Brain injuries categorized as closed-head or penetrating; both can cause amnesia, personality changes, or cognitive issues

Retrograde vs. Anterograde Amnesia

Retrograde: Loss of past memories.

Anterograde: Inability to form new memories.

schizophrenia and its hallmark symptom?

A chronic psychotic disorder with a hallmark symptom of psychosis—loss of contact with reality, often with delusions or hallucinations.

When does schizophrenia usually develop and in whom?

Typically late teens to early 30s; earlier in males than females.

What are delusions and common types?

Fixed false beliefs (not based in reality). Common types: persecutory, grandiose, referential, somatic.

What are hallucinations? Most common type?

Sensory perceptions without external stimulus. Most common: auditory—hearing voices.

Disorganized speech examples

Tangentiality, derailment, incoherence (“word salad”).

Positive vs. Negative Symptoms

Positive: Added experiences (hallucinations, delusions).

Negative: Losses (flat affect, alogia, avolition, anhedonia)

Schizophreniform vs. Schizoaffective vs. Delusional vs. Brief Psychotic Disorder

Schizophreniform: Like schizophrenia but 1–6 months.

Schizoaffective: Schizophrenia + mood disorder.

Delusional: Non-bizarre delusions only.

Brief psychotic: <1 month psychotic symptoms.

Visual and auditory deficits in schizophrenia

Trouble filtering sounds, tracking movement, or distinguishing relevant stimuli

Cognitive and social deficits

Poor working memory, attention, social skills, and interpreting facial expressions or social cues.

: Other brain abnormalities in schizophrenia

Reduced gray matter, abnormal prefrontal cortex activity, less brain connectivity.

Main neurotransmitter in schizophrenia

Dopamine

Expressed Emotion (EE) and relapse

High EE (criticism, hostility, overinvolvement) in families increases relapse risk.

Medications for schizophrenia

Antipsychotics (typical and atypical); target dopamine to reduce symptoms.

Estrogen’s role in schizophrenia

May have a protective effect, possibly explaining later onset in females.

Four phases of human sexual arousal

Desire

Excitement (arousal)

Orgasm

Resolution

Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Low or absent sexual thoughts/fantasies and desire for sex, causing distress; may be linked to stress, depression, or hormone levels.

Erectile Disorder

Persistent inability to get or maintain an erection; often caused by anxiety, stress, cardiovascular issues, or substance use.

Premature Ejaculation

Ejaculation within one minute of penetration, earlier than desired; common and often linked to anxiety or low control.

Delayed Ejaculation Disorder

Marked delay or absence of ejaculation despite adequate stimulation; may stem from psychological or medical issues.

Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder

Lack of sexual interest, thoughts, or response; causes include stress, relationship issues, hormonal changes, or trauma

Issue with Stage Model for Women

Women may not experience arousal linearly; emotional connection and context often matter more than physical stages.

Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder

Persistent pain or fear during intercourse, or tensing of pelvic floor muscles; may be caused by trauma, anxiety, or medical issues.

Female Orgasmic Disorder

Delay or absence of orgasm; causes include guilt, anxiety, lack of knowledge, or relationship issues

Gender Dysphoria

Distress from a mismatch between assigned gender and experienced gender. Not all children persist into adulthood

Paraphilic Disorders vs. Paraphilias

Paraphilias: Unusual sexual interests.

Paraphilic Disorders: Cause harm or distress to self/others.

Voyeuristic Disorder

Intense arousal from watching unsuspecting people undress or have sex; can be criminal if acted on.

Exhibitionistic Disorder

Recurrent urge to expose genitals to unsuspecting strangers; related to thrill-seeking and sometimes linked to sexual offenses

Sexual Sadism Disorder

Arousal from inflicting pain or humiliation on others; a disorder if non-consensual or causes distress. Linked to aggressive or antisocial traits

Sexual Masochism Disorder

Arousal from being humiliated or hurt; only a disorder if it causes significant distress or impairment. May not involve actual sadists.

Fetishism

Sexual arousal from non-living objects or body parts. May develop from early associations or conditioning.

Transvestic Disorder

Arousal from cross-dressing; may involve autogynephilia (arousal at the thought of being a woman), but not always.

Pedophilic Disorder

Attraction to prepubescent children; causes may include brain abnormalities, early trauma, or low arousal to adults.

Incest

Sexual relations between close relatives. Most avoid it due to instinctive aversion and social taboos (Westermarck effect).

Substance-related disorders

A group of conditions involving the misuse of alcohol, drugs, or other substances that lead to significant impairment or distress, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet responsibilities.

Substance abuse vs. dependence vs. tolerance vs. withdrawal

Abuse: Repeated use despite negative consequences.

Dependence: Physiological and/or psychological reliance on a substance.

Tolerance: Needing more of a substance to achieve the same effect.

Withdrawal: Physical/mental symptoms after reducing or stopping use

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

A chronic relapsing brain disease involving a strong craving for alcohol, continued use despite problems, and inability to control use.

Mesocorticolimbic Pathway (MCLP)

The brain’s “reward pathway” involving dopamine release; it reinforces behaviors like drug use by associating them with pleasure.

Is AUD genetic?

Yes—there is a genetic predisposition. People with a family history of AUD are at higher risk.

Why is opium addictive?

It mimics endorphins and produces intense euphoria, quickly leading to tolerance and dependence.

Endorphins

Natural neurotransmitters that reduce pain and enhance pleasure; opiates hijack this system.

Dopamine Theory of Addiction

Suggests substances cause surges in dopamine, reinforcing use because it feels rewarding.

Reward Deficiency Syndrome

Some people have underactive reward systems and use substances to “feel normal” or experience pleasure.

Depressants vs. Stimulants

Depressants (alcohol, barbiturates): Slow brain activity.

Stimulants (cocaine, meth): Increase alertness and energy by speeding up the CNS.

Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Caffeine, Nicotine Effects

Cocaine: Euphoria, confidence, energy.

Meth: Long highs, aggression, paranoia; damages brain over time.

Caffeine: Alertness, jitters.

Nicotine: Calming + stimulating effects; highly addictive.

Effects of LSD, Ecstasy (MDMA), Marijuana

LSD: Hallucinations, distorted time.

Ecstasy: Empathy, warmth, sensory enhancement.

Marijuana: Euphoria, relaxation, altered perception.

Side effects of LSD, Ecstasy, Marijuana

LSD: Anxiety, psychosis, flashbacks.

Ecstasy: Depression, dehydration, memory issues.

Marijuana: Impaired attention/memory, anxiety.

Pathological Gambling

A behavioral addiction involving persistent, recurring gambling despite negative life consequences.

How does pathological gambling develop?

Likely through a mix of impulsivity, reward-seeking behavior, and poor decision-making related to brain reward systems.