Psych 111 - Unit 5

Comorbidity

The occurrence of at least two psychological disorders at the same time.

Lifetime Prevalence Rate

The likelihood of developing a psychological disorder at any point in one's lifetime.

Etiology

The apparent cause and developmental history of a psychological disorder.

Epidemiology

The study of the distribution of a disorder in a given population.

Insanity Defense

A legal term referring to the idea that a person is unable to distinguish between good and bad actions at the time of committing a crime.

Violence Rates

The myth that individuals with psychological disorders are more likely to be violent, when in reality they are more likely to be victims of violent crimes.

Abnormal Behavior

Behavior that deviates from what is considered typical or average.

Deviance

The extent to which behavior differs from the average person.

Maladaptive

Behavior that interferes with a person's ability to lead a normal life.

Personal Distress

The level of distress a person feels related to a particular behavior.

Value Judgements

The subjective assessment of what is considered abnormal based on personal distress.

Symptoms

The accompanying features or signs that are used to diagnose a specific disorder.

DSM

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychological Disorders, a book used to diagnose psychological disorders.

Neuro-Developmental Disorders

Disorders that originate in childhood and affect neurological development.

Intellectual Disabilities

A condition where a person's IQ falls below the mean and they experience difficulties in everyday life.

Learning Disorders

Disorders such as dyslexia that affect a person's ability to learn.

ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, characterized by difficulty focusing attention and high impulsivity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

A disorder characterized by issues with social interaction and communication.

Major Depressive Disorder

A high level of depression that lasts over an extended period of time.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Depression that occurs at specific times of the year, particularly during winter.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

A long-lasting but less severe form of depression.

Anhedonia

An inability to feel joy or pleasure.

Helplessness Theory

A thought pattern that traps individuals in their depression by attributing negative events to internal, stable, and global factors.

Depression Realism

The idea that individuals with depression have a more realistic view of the world compared to those without depression.

Bipolar Disorders

Disorders characterized by episodes of both depression and mania.

Mania

A state of high energy, impulsivity, and elevated mood.

Bipolar I

A type of bipolar disorder characterized by high levels of mania and depression.

Bipolar II

A type of bipolar disorder characterized by less severe mania but still experiencing depression.

Cyclothymia

A milder form of bipolar disorder with medium highs and lows.

Anxiety

A state of strong negative emotions and physical apprehension.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A general feeling of dread or anxiety.

Phobias

Anxiety tied to specific triggers or situations.

OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

An unrealistic perception of one's physical flaws.

PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, caused by a traumatic event and characterized by hypervigilance and reliving the event.

Learning

The process by which individuals acquire anxiety triggers from their parents or environment.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex

A brain region that is overactive in individuals with anxiety disorders.

GABA

A neurotransmitter that is deficient in individuals with anxiety disorders.

Schizophrenia

A disorder characterized by a misperception of reality, hallucinations, and delusions.

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences without external stimuli.

Delusion

A false belief or exaggeration that is distant from reality.

Catatonia

A state of immobility or lack of movement.

Acute vs Chronic

Acute schizophrenia develops quickly, while chronic schizophrenia develops slowly.

Genetics

Genetic factors play a strong role in the development of schizophrenia.

Personality Disorders

Disorders relating to patterns of behavior and personality.

Odd-Eccentric Cluster

Personality disorders characterized by feeling different from others and difficulty relating to others.

Dramatic-Emotional/Erratic Cluster

Personality disorders characterized by impulsivity and attention-seeking behaviors.

Anxious-Fearful Cluster

Personality disorders characterized by high levels of anxiety and restricted behavior.

Somatic Disorders

Disorders focusing on bodily awareness and illness.

Dissociative Disorders

Disorders marked by extreme issues with memory and/or identity.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The idea that cognitions affect behaviors, behaviors affect emotions, and emotions affect behaviors.

Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy

A therapy approach that is combative and confrontive, challenging the client's thought processes explicitly.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy

A form of CBT that incorporates mindfulness techniques, such as meditation, to change disordered cognitions.

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)

A therapy that focuses on applying learned techniques, usually operant conditioning, to change behaviors and associated negative cognitions.

Flooding

A therapy technique where a patient is exposed to a phobic stimulus in a controlled manner to show that no harm will occur. Not particularly effective.

Systematic Desensitization

A therapy technique used for phobias, starting with less triggering aspects and gradually building up to more triggering aspects.

Social Skills Training

Primarily used for individuals with social phobias or autism, teaching social skills through modeling and behavioral rehearsal.

Shaping

Taking practiced techniques and using them in real-world situations, starting with small actions and progressing to more complex ones.

Unconditional Positive Regard

The therapist unconditionally accepts the patient's worth as a person.

Stress Inoculation Training

Teaching individuals to change their thought processes during specific stressful times, commonly used for professions like nurses and doctors.

Virtual Reality

A therapy technique that uses virtual environments to expose individuals with phobias to their fears in a safe setting.

Group Therapy

A form of therapy where individuals with similar problems come together to solve them, providing social support and acceptance.

Therapeutic Analysis

The therapist provides external insight into the patient's thoughts or behavioral patterns.

Providing Emotional Support/Empathy

The therapist offers emotional support and validation, creating a safe space for the patient to make changes.

Hope and Positive Expectation

Therapists dispel the notion that change is futile and provide concrete steps for positive growth.

Rationale

Therapists provide reasoning to alleviate irrational thoughts and anxieties.

Opportunity for Expression

Therapy allows individuals to express emotions they may not be able to express externally.

Lack of Insurance

The absence of mental health coverage in traditional health insurance, making therapy unaffordable for many.

Cost Concerns

Even with insurance, therapy can still be expensive, especially with multiple sessions per week.

Time Concerns

The time commitment required for therapy sessions and related activities can be a barrier for some individuals.

Stigma

The societal stigma around seeking help, particularly for men, can discourage individuals from pursuing therapy.

Medication

The use of medication, prescribed by psychiatrists, to cause psychological changes.

Joint Treatment

Combining therapy with medication for a comprehensive approach to treatment.

Anti-Depressants

Medications used for depression and anxiety disorders, such as SSRIs, tricyclics, and MAOIs.

Treatment Time

It takes about a month to see the effects of therapy and medication in the brain.

Anti-psychotics

Medications commonly prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, targeting positive symptoms like hallucinations.

Adherence

The act of taking medication as prescribed, which can be challenging for various reasons.

Tardive Dyskinesia

A side effect of some antipsychotics, characterized by uncontrollable movements or ticks.

Stimulants

Medications primarily used for ADHD, working in opposition to the symptoms of ADHD.

Lithium

A mood stabilizer medication that was historically the only effective option, but can be potentially dangerous.

Prevalence Rate

Any given time, the percentage/prevalence rate meets the criteria of diagnosis.

Falsifiability

the logical possibility that an assertion, hypothesis, or theory can be shown to be false by an observation or experiment.

Reaction Formation

a defense mechanism in which people express the opposite of their true feelings, sometimes to an exaggerated extent

Free association

Psychological technique where a person spontaneously expresses thoughts, feelings, and ideas without censorship or judgment. Often used in therapy to explore unconscious thoughts and emotions.

Person-situation

whether the person or the situation is more influential in determining a person's behavior.

Latency

The time delay between the initiation of a request and the receipt of a response. It can be affected by factors like network congestion and distance.

Puberty

The stage of development when a child's body undergoes physical changes to become sexually mature and capable of reproduction. It typically occurs during adolescence and is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics, such as breast development in females and facial hair growth in males.

Genital

the growing adolescent shakes off old dependencies and learns to deal maturely with the opposite sex.

Incongruence

difference between someone’s self concept and how they think about themselves and reality.

Cognitive Restructuring

a patient is going to start replacing their irrational beliefs with more rational beliefs + tools to restructure those thoughts.

Creativity

people with bipolar disorder tend to have this trait.

Birth order

theory claims order in which the child is born shapes their development and personality, freud thought first-borns were the most well-adjusted

Culture

affects personality

Origins of anxiety

Genetics, learning, interior cingulate cortex, GABA

Physiognomy

a person’s face shape affects how they are.

regression

unconscious defense mechanism, which causes the temporary or long-term reversion of the ego to an earlier stage of development

the big five

openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism.

disordered cognitions

Misinterpreting harmless situations as harmful, overfocusing on perceive threats, recall info that fits with their anxious cognitions.

DIGFAST

Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increased, Sleeplessness, Talkativeness.