PSYC 101 - Loeb Final Exam

Criteria to Determine Psychopathology

3 D's: Deviance, Dysfunction, Distress

Deviance

behavior deviates from what society deems acceptable

Dysfunction

(maladaptive behavior); everyday behavior is impaired

Distress

individual's report of greater personal distress

Criterion for Someone Mentally Ill

1 criterion is insufficient - everyone can display 1 of the 3 D's at various times

it is difficult to draw a line between normal and abnormals

Subjectivity

can cause disagreements between clinicians because not everyone views normal and abnormal the same way

there is less disagreement with diagnoses whose symptoms are more obvious

DSM-V

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

a classification system for psychological issues

DSM-V and Diagnoses

it's a comprehensive list of symptoms and causes of disorders so to make diagnoses easier

clinicians should use a dimensional approaches instead of categorical approaches since symptoms can overlap

Prevalence

how common the disorder is in the population

Lifetime Prevalence

how common the disorder is in the population for a lifetime of use

Onset

the start of the disorder

Etiology

the cause and development of the disorder

Anxiety Disorders

chronic, high levels of anxiety that isn't tied to any specific threat

more likely in females; long-lasting; later age of onset

Phobias

persistent, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that presents no real danger

more likely in females

OCD

persistent, uncontrollable intrusions of unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and urges to engage in senseless rituals (compulsions)

PTSD

enduring psychological disturbance attributed to the experience of a major traumatic event

can occur after witnessing trauma (combat, death, rape/assault, etc)

Dissociative Disorders

class of disorders in which people loose contact with portions of their consciousness or memory

can occur during or after a traumatic event

E.g. forgetting names, family, residence, etc.

Major Depressive Disorder

persistent feelings of sadness and despair and a loss of interest in previous sources of pleasure

any onset, usually 30-40 yrs; more likely in women

Bipolar Disorder

both depressed and manic periods

equally in males and females; onset in late teens/early 20s

Manic Episode

euphoria, higher self-esteem; lack of sleep; rapid speech, sexually reckless; spending more money

Diagnosable Mental Disorders %

50%

Obstacles for Seeking Treatment

cost barriers (lack of insurance)

stigma

lack of awareness

Psychiatrists (MD)

physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders

best for those who need medication

Clinical Psychologists (PhD or PsyD)

specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders

Counseling Psychologists (PhD, PsyD, or EdD)

specialize in everyday behavioral problems and adjustment issues

Trained Counsellors

clinical psychologists

psychiatrists

counseling psychologists

other mental health professionals

Insight Therapy (Psychoanalysis)

therapy that helps resolve improperly resolved unconscious, psychosexual crises

Insight Therapy (Client-Centered Therapy)

helps resolve a lack of unconditional positive regard to explore true self (which can lead to incongruence)

CBG

Cognitive Behavioral Treatments

use combinations of verbal interventions and behavioral modification techniques to help clients change maladaptive patterns of thinking

DBT

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

a type of CBT that specifically targets managing intense emotions

Systematic Desensitization

a behavior therapy used to reduce clients' phobic responses by exposure to similar stimuli

Flooding

in vivo exposure, in which the client is actually exposed to the feared stimulis

Cognitive Perspective

identifying maladaptive thoughts, then challenging/changing thinking

changing thinking

Behavioral Perspective

identifying and extinguishing maladaptive behavior

changing behavior

Biological Perspective

when something is biologically wrong

Types of Biological Treatments for Depression

tricyclics (e.g. Trofranil)

MAO inhibitors (e.g. Iprozoid)

SNRIs (e.g. Strattera)

SSRIs (e.g. Prozac, Zolaft, etc.)

Effectivity of Biological Treatments

Highly effective, especially for those who are severely depressed

How do Biological Treatments Work

regulate mood

Monoamine neurotranmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, etc.) are affected with their systems

Time for Biological Treatments

around 60% of users notice changes in first 2 weeks

Negative Consequences of Biological Treatments

antidepressants often have side effects due to the effects on the monoamine neurotransmitters

Anxiolytics

anti-anxiety drugs

short lived effects; correlated with drug abuse/dependence/overdose

has withdrawal effects

Antipsychotics

primarily dopamine blockers

commonly used to treat schizophrenia

can cause tardive dyskinesia

has side effects but limited withdrawal effects

Drugs with Many Uses

anti-anxiety drugs can help treat depression

anti-seizure and anti-psychotics are effective mood stabilizers

Traditional Neuroleptics

traditionally DA antagonists

can help both positive and negative symptoms

Atypical Antipsychotics

tend to have milder side effects

less risk of Tardive dyskinesia

ECT

can cause mild, short-term cognitive impairments

OR

more severe, permanent cognitive impairments

Small Therapeutic Index

when a drug is relatively unsafe

when the amount of medication needed to work is similar to the amount of medication that would be toxic

e.g. lithium

Quickest Way to Address Depressive Symptoms

SSRIs

Challenges of Talk Therapy

hard to determine whether its effective because the symptoms are often subjective

Challenges of Biological Treatments

may be difficult due to side effects of treatment

Spontaneous Remission

a reduction/ disappearance of symptoms without any therapeutic intervention, which may be temporary or permanent

it can be hard to tell if treatment was what improved the conditions or an outside factor

Pros of Talk Therapies

effective

no side effects of medication

allows people to talk to someone who will listen

Cons of Talk Therapies

may be uncomfortable for people to talk about their feelings

takes a lot of time

may not be covered by insurance

Pros of Biological Treatments

can be very effective

more immediate

Cons of Biological Treatments

side effects

cost of medication

can be overprescribed/overmedicated

can increase vulnerability to psychological disorders in the long-term

Fee for Service

paying for treatments

Managed Care

programs created to decrease cost of treatments

Benefits of Managed Care

more affordable;

allows more people to get treatment

Disadvantages of Managed Care

loss of freedom in choosing a provider

can have lesser trained professionals

restriction to 'medically necessary' services

doesn't approve of long-term care

Deinstitutionalization Movement

the release of hundreds of thousands of patients from mental hospitals starting in the 1960s

focused more on community-based facilities to emphasize outpatient care

a good idea but not enough resources/funding to support it

Diversity in Mental Health Treatments

racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities

inaccessibility of high quality mental health care services; cultural stigma; discrimination; lack of awareness

Homeless and Mental Health

many have high rates of chronic and recurring health conditions (including mental and substance abuse disorders)

many have been dealing with trauma

children experiencing it are at risk for emotional and behavioral problems

Challenges of Biological Treatments