abnormal psych quiz 2

who publishes the DSM

American Psychiatric Association

What is the DSM used for?

Standard classification of mental disorders in the U.S.

Main purpose of DSM?

• communication among professionals

• Provide info on what to expect & NOT expect in disorders
  
  

What is reliability in diagnosis?

Consistency of classification

What is validity in diagnosis?

Whether the category reflects a real disorder.

Example of reliability vs validity?

Shoe size = reliable & valid for foot size, invalid for IQ.

Early DSM characteristics?

Theory‑driven, vague descriptions, low reliability.

Current DSM version?

DSM‑5‑TR.

Key DSM‑5‑TR features?

• criteria & symptom lists

• No etiology (orgin)

• No treatment

• meet criteria or not

What are Clinical Syndromes?

Psychological disorders (anxiety, mood, schizophrenia, dissociative, sexual, eating, substance).

Developmental Disorders examples?

ASD, ADHD.

Why aren’t personality disorders diagnosed in children?

Symptoms may be developmentally appropriate.

Childhood equivalent of ASPD?

Conduct Disorder.

Why has number of disorders tripled?

More evidence, cultural changes, increased awareness.

Examples of pathologizing normal behavior?

Caffeine addiction, insomnia, developmental coordination disorder.

Which addictions are included?

Substance use, gambling.

Difference between fear and anxiety?

• Fear = present danger

• Anxiety = future danger

4 components of fear?

Cognitive, emotional, somatic, behavioral.

Somatic fear responses?

Increased HR, fast breathing, sweating, shaking, dry mouth.

Which symptom is unique to GAD?

Muscle tension.

What brain structure detects threat?

Amygdala.

What happens to frontal lobes during fear?

Suppressed — less critical thinking & impulse control.

Overactive vs underactive amygdala?

• Overactive: ↑ fear, ↑ empathy

• Underactive: ↓ fear, ↓ empathy

Why do individuals with ASPD not respond to punishment?

Underactive amygdala → low fear.

What makes anxiety a disorder?

Excessive, impairing, distressing.

Why “don’t worry” doesn’t help?

People with anxiety have insight but cannot control response.

Anxiety is about what?

Uncertainty.

What is reassurance seeking?

Checking with others to confirm safety; gut always signals danger.

What is distress intolerance?

Belief you cannot handle discomfort → avoidance.

Why is exposure important?

Shows feared outcome doesn’t occur; builds tolerance.

What is magical thinking?

Belief that worrying keeps people safe.

Why does distraction worsen nighttime anxiety?

Suppressed thoughts return when vulnerable.

Duration requirement for GAD?

more than 6 months, more often than not.

What is “free‑floating” anxiety?

Anxiety shifts from one situation to another.

Core features of GAD worry?

Excessive, unrealistic, difficult to control.

GAD symptom list (need ≥3)?

• Restlessness/on edge

• Difficulty concentrating

• Irritability

• Muscle tension

Prevalence of GAD?

3–5%.

Gender ratio?

55–65% female

Onset?

Over half first experienced in childhood.

Course?

Chronic, waxes & wanes.

Comorbidity?

50% have other disorders (anxiety or depression).

Biological predispositions?

• Inherited tendency to be anxious

• Risk‑aversive temperament

• Chronic muscle tension

• ↓ GABA → ↑ negative emotion

Behavioral inhibition in infants?

• Slow to warm

• Dislike novelty

• Dislike transitions

• Also seen in social phobia

Cognitive theory of GAD?

Misperceive or exaggerate danger.

Definition of a specific phobia

excessive fear cued by a specific object or situation

What makes a fear excessive?

out of proportion to the actual threat

Immediate response to phobic stimulus

Anxiety response or situationally bound panic attack

Insight in specific phobias

Person recognizes fear is unreasonable but cannot control it

Behavior in phobic situations

Avoided or endured with intense anxiety

Functional impairment criterion

Avoidance or distress interferes with routine, work, or relationships

Common animal phobias

Spiders, snakes, dogs, bugs, rodents, birds, sharks

Natural environment phobias

Heights, germs, storms, deep water, dark

Key feature of blood/injection/injury phobias

Blood pressure drops and fainting occurs

Why fainting may be adaptive

Reduces blood loss and avoids exposure to others' body fluids

Situational phobias

Claustrophobia, flying, swimming, bridges

Prevalence of specific phobias

10%

Gender pattern in phobias

60–90% female

Typical onset of specific phobias

Childhood or peak in 20s

Remission rate without treatment

20% remit; exposure is most effective treatment

Autonomic lability

SNS easily activated; quick emotional shifts

Biological preparedness

Evolutionary tendency to fear survival‑related threats

Classical conditioning example (Irene)

UCS: being trapped; UCR: fear; CS: small spaces; CR: fear

Operant conditioning in phobias

Avoidance removes anxiety, reinforcing the behavior

Negative reinforcement definition

Removing something unpleasant increases behavior

Observational learning example

Developing fear after seeing someone else react fearfully

Second‑hand learning

Hearing about someone else's frightening experience

Parental modeling of phobias

Child learns fear by observing parent's fear response