PSYC 260 MT1 DEFINITIONS

psychological disorder

a psychological dysfunction within an individual that is associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected

Jerome Wakefield definition:

harmful dysfunctions 

Harm:

 Experience of suffering or impairment on a person’s function

Personal distress

refers to the internal, subjective experience of emotional suffering—such as anxiety, sadness, or discomfort.

Impairment

refers to limitations in one or more key areas of daily life—such as personal care, social relationships, or occupational functioning.

Psychopathology:

the scientific study of psychological disorders. This field encompasses a wide range of concerns, including the description, causes, development, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions.

trephination

a procedure in which a circular section of the skull was removed using crude stone tools

wandering womb hypothesis.”

hysteria was a condition unique to women and believed it resulted from the uterus detaching from its usual position and “wandering” throughout the body in search of conception

Conversion disorder:

Functional neurological disorder (FND), aka…, is a condition in which a mental health issue disrupts how your brain works. This causes real, physical symptoms that you can’t control. Symptoms can include seizure-like attacks, muscle weakness or reduced senses. FND is often treatable with different types of therapy.

Insulin shock therapy

one of the most influential early biological treatments developed in the late 1920s by Manfred Sakel. He would administer large doses of insulin to patients with schizophrenia, which induced hypoglycemic comas and sometimes seizure-like convulsions

Electroconvulsive therapy ECT

in 1938, Ugo Cerletti applied electrical currents directly to patients with schizophrenia to provoke seizures.

psychopharmacological revolution

The emergence and discovery of antipsychotic medications (neuroleptics) in the early 1950s marked a turning point in the treatment of psychological disorders

Deinstitutionalization:

the large-scale discharge of patients from psychiatric hospitals into community-based settings

positive psychology

a field focused on enhancing well-being, resilience, and emotional strengths 

psychoanalysis:

a method of psychotherapy (talk therapy) aimed at uncovering and resolving unconscious conflicts. The ultimate goal was for patient’s recognition and acceptance of the unconscious roots of their symptoms

Free association:

Method of psychoanalysis; patients are encouraged to verbalize any thoughts, feelings or images that come to mind without censorship. The goal is to bypass the conscious filter and allow unconscious material to emerge 

Dream analysis:

Method of psychoanalysis; patients share their dreams, which the analyst interprets in search of symbolic meanings of repressed conflicts

Word association:

Method of psychoanalysis; in some cases, the therapist says a word, and the patient must respond immediately with the 1st word that comes to mind–revealing unconscious association and emotional triggers 

Transference

is crucial for psychoanalysis, where patients begin to unconsciously project feelings they have toward significant people in their lives (parents or partners) onto the therapist

Countertransference:

when therapists project their own unresolved feelings onto the patient, is viewed as problematic. 

catharsis:

an emotional release that is thought to be essential for healing for psychoanalysis

working through,

where the same issues are revised repeatedly across many sessions, each time with deeper clarity and emotional integration. 

• Average length of time: 5 years

Classical conditioning:

(for Watson all classical conditioning). Pavlov NS → CS which then CS → CR

Operant Conditioning:

Skinner. behaviour is shaped by its consequences, either reinforcement (increase the likelihood of a behaviour) or punishment (decreases it)

Social Learning (modeling):

Bandura introduced social learning theory, which emphasizes learning through observation and imitation of others

Behaviour therapy (behaviour modification:

applies social principles from classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning to change maladaptive behaviours.

Cognitive restructuring:

Cognitive-focus therapy; a process in which individuals learn to evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of their beliefs and adopt more adaptive, reality-based thinking

self-actualization

One of the 2 foundational assumption of humanistic theories; becoming the best version of themselves intellectually, emotionally, morally, and socially

unconditional positive regard:

acceptance that isn’t contingent on meeting certain expectations–they develop a sense of unconditional self-worth, which supports authenticity and growth 

client-centered therapy (later called person-centered therapy:

a non-directive, empathetic, and affirming therapeutic approach. 

• Its primary goal is to help clients reconnect with their authentic selves and return to the path of self-actualization

Rogers

inauthentic living:

a life not truly one’s own. 

• This often results in a sense of emptiness, isolation, and disconnection.

• Dominant emotional states in such individuals include anxiety, alienation, boredom, meaninglessness, and depression

autonomic reactivity

how quickly and intensely one responds to stress

heritability estimate

quantifies the degree to which genetics explain variation in a disorder, ranging`` from 0% - 100%

Epigenome:

a collection of molecular tags surrounding our genes

family systems theory,

the psychological well-being of an individual cannot be separated from the interpersonal dynamics of the family in which they are embedded

Enmeshed families:

characterized by excessive emotional involvement and blurred boundaries

Disengaged families:

marked by rigid boundaries and emotional detachment

Coalitions:

dysfunctional family alliances where certain members align against each others

Emotional cutoff:

a dynamic in which family members distance themselves (emotionally or physically) to manage unresolved tension

Public stigma:

refers to societal-level negative perceptions toward people with psychological disorders

Self-stigma:

occurs when individuals internalize these negative views and begin to see themselves as flawed or unworthy

Contact-based interventions:

where people engage directly with individuals who have lived experience of psychopathology

downward drift hypothesis:

suggests a reversed causal relationship – that psychopathology itself contributes to poverty

interactionist approach,

recognizing that biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors all interact in complex ways to influence the development of psychological disorders

Diathesis-stress model:

one of the most widely used interactionist frameworks. It posits that psychological disorders result from the interplay between a predisposing vulnerability (diathesis) and environmental stressors

developmental psychopathology perspective:

psychopathology is caused by the cumulative impact of interacting variables across the lifespan

Equifinality:

distinct developmental pathways can lead to the same psychological outcome

Multifinality:

individuals who experience similar life conditions may end up with divergent outcomes

Nosology:

an organized system for diagnosing disorders.

Nomenclature:

refers to the labels or names given to the disorders within a system

Concurrent validity:

the ability of a diagnosis within a classification system to predict the presence of other features and factors that are closely linked to the disorder but are not explicit part of the diagnostic criteria (associated features) E.g., finding

Predictive validity:

how well a diagnosis can forecast future outcomes related to the disorder. E.g., Conduct disorder in childhood → antisocial personality disorder later in life. Therefore predicting the latter when seeing the former tells that the classification system is good

Subtypes: 

They refer to jointly exhaustive and mutually exclusive subgroups within a disorders

Other specified disorder: 

This category allows clinicians to explain why a patient’s symptoms do not align with any specific diagnosis within a diagnostic category

Unspecified disorder 

This category is used when the clinician does not provide a specific reason for why the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a specific diagnosis within a diagnostic category

Diagnostic features:

a more detailed description of the diagnostic criteria for a disorder

Associated features supporting diagnosis:

symptoms and features that are not part of the diagnostic criteria by are often associated with the disorder

Prevalence:

the percentage of people within a population who currently have the disorder

Development and course:

it refers to how a psychological disorder unfolds and changes over time.

Prognosis:

the expected progression of a disorder

acute onset

sudden emergence of a disorder

Risk and prognostic factors:

factors that increase the risk of the development of the disorder. Factors and symptoms that predict the course of the disorder 

Culture-related diagnostic issues:

provides information on cultural issues that need to be considered (e.g., cultural differences in symptomology: cultural differences in expression of distress)

Sex- and gender-related diagnostic issues:

provides info on sex and gender issues that need to be considered (e.g., sex differences in symptomology)

Diagnostic markers:

objective measures that can help with the diagnosis of a disorder

Functional consequences:

consequences that are associated with the disorder

Differential diagnosis:

other diagnoses that should be considered and how to distinguish them from the disorder’s diagnosis

Comorbidity:

lists the disorders that are commonly associated with the disorder

WHO Disability Assessment Scale 2.0 (WHODAS):

a 36-item questionnaire that evaluates a person’s level of functioning and impairment across 6 domains: understanding and communicating, getting around, self-care, interacting with others, life activities, and societal participation  

Prolonged grief disorder

Defined as a maladaptive grief response that has persisted for at least 12 months following a loss (6 months in children)

Attenuated psychosis syndrome:

the experience of attenuated psychosis symptoms (e.g., delusions, hallucinations). condition that require further study under DSM 5 TR

Depressive episodes with short-duration hypomania:

the experience of at least 1 episode of major depression and at least 2 episodes of short-duration hypomania. condition that require further study under DSM 5 TR

Caffeine use disorder:

problematic patterns of caffeine use. condition that require further study under DSM 5 TR

Internet gaming disorder:

problematic pattern on the internet. condition that require further study under DSM 5 TR

Neurobehavioural disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure:

cognitive and behavioural impairments caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. condition that require further study under DSM 5 TR

Suicidal behaviour disorder:

at least 1 suicide attempt in the last 24 months. condition that require further study under DSM 5 TR

Nonsuicidal self-influence disorder:

self-inflicted injuries to the body in the absence of an intent to die. condition that require further study under DSM 5 TR