AP Psych Vocab - Unit 9 - Clinical Psychology

biological perspective on psychological disorders

the causes of mental disorders focus on physiological or genetic issues

behavioral perspective on psychological disorders

the causes of mental disorders focus on maladaptive learned associations between or among responses to stimuli

psychodynamic perspective on psychological disorders

the causes of mental disorders focus on unconscious thoughts and experiences, often developed during childhood

humanistic perspective on psychological disorders

the causes of mental disorders focus on a lack of social support and being unable to fulfill one’s potential

cognitive perspective on psychological disorders

the causes of mental disorders focus on maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or emotions

evolutionary perspective on psychological disorders

the causes of mental disorders focus on behaviors and mental processes that reduce the likelihood of survival

sociocultural perspective on psychological disorders

the causes of mental disorders focus on maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics

psychologist

professionals with degrees in psychology, trained to diagnose and treat mental health disorders through various forms of therapy; cannot prescribe medications

psychiatrist

medical doctors; diagnose and treat mental health disorders through a combination of therapy, medication, and other medical procedures

psychopathology

the scientific study of mental disorders

clinical psychology

the branch of psychology that studies, assesses and treats people with psychological disorders

psychological disorder

a syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in a person’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior

maladaptive

symptoms that interfere with normal day-to-day life

diathesis-stress model

the idea that genetic predispositions combine with environmental stressors to increase or decrease the likelihood of developing a psychological disorder

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

handbook widely used in America for classifying psychological disorders; created by the APA

anxiety disorders

psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

unexplainable and continuous unease; symptoms include excessive worry or agitation, unwarranted nervous system arousal, difficulty concentrating

panic disorder

sudden episodes of intense dread, fear, or panic (i.e. panic attacks - heart palpitations, shortness of breath, choking, trembling, dizziness)

phobias

intense and irrational fear of a specific object or situation, ranging from mild but pervasive discomfort to being incapacitated by efforts to avoid a feared situation (common phobias include animals, insects, blood, heights, cramped spaces, etc.)

social anxiety disorder

shyness to an extreme degree; intense fear of being scrutinized by others; avoiding embarrassing social situations

agoraphobia

fear or avoidance of situations that might cause a loss of control, feelings of being trapped, or feeling unable to escape (ex. crowds, public transit)

obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

troubled by repetitive intrusive thoughts or actions; haunting obsessive thoughts and compulsive rituals; often surfaces in late teens and 20s and for most people usually lessens as they get older

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

lingering memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, insomnia for four weeks or more after a severely threatening, uncontrollable event (traumatic event)

posttraumatic growth

positive psychological changes as a result of struggling with extremely challenging circumstances (richer spiritual life, more close knit relationships, increased life appreciation, etc.)

Freudian perspective on anxiety

anxiety begins in childhood when we repress our painful or intolerable ideas and feelings (id impulses), results in anxiety; we use defense mechanisms to deal

biological perspective on anxiety

natural selection has led our ancestors to experience anxiety for the purpose of survival and preservation of the species

mood disorders

psychological disorders characterized by emotional extremes

major depressive disorder (unipolar disorder; MDD)

a state of lethargy, depressive mood, and hopelessness lasting several weeks or months; signs of depression not caused by drugs or other medical conditions

persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)

similar to MDD but with milder symptoms that last longer (at least two years for adults; at least one year for adolescents)

bipolar disorder

a mood disorder in which a person alternates (week to week) between the lethargy and hopelessness of depression and the overexcited state of mania

mania

a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state; involves being over-talkative, easily irritated, impulsivity, and needing little sleep

warning signs for suicidal ideation

verbal hints or discussion of suicide, giving away prized possessions, withdrawal, preoccupation with death; should always be taken seriously

rumination

compulsive fretting about problems and their causes; can lead to anxiety or depression or be indicative of anxiety or depression

schizophrenia

a psychological disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and inappropriate emotional expression

delusions

persistent false and irrational beliefs (often about persecution or grandeur)

hallucination

an unreal sensory experience (see, taste, smell, feel, hear things that are not there)

psychosis

psychological symptoms that involve a loss of contact with reality

flat affect

diminished or absent expression of emotion (lack of facial expression, monotone voice, reduced body language); not indicative of not feeling emotion (person does feel emotion, but does not express it visually)

catatonia

inappropriate motor behavior (compulsive rocking, rubbing, movement OR remaining motionless for hours)

acute symptom progression

sudden and significant appearance of symptoms over a short period of time

chronic symptom progression

gradual development or appearance of symptoms over a long period of time

positive psychotic symptoms

appearance of new symptoms or behaviors resulting from psychosis (not about whether the symptoms are good); hallucinations, delusions, inappropriate emotions

negative psychotic symptoms

disappearance of behaviors resulting from psychosis (not about whether the symptoms are bad); toneless voices, expressionless faces, rigid body

somatic symptom disorder

a psychological disorder in which a person feels mental distress over somatic (bodily) symptoms that are caused by the mental condition; symptoms can be vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, migraines, etc.

conversion disorder

a disorder in which a person experiences very specific genuine physical symptoms for which no physiological basis can be found (unexplained physical symptoms stem from past periods of stress)

illness anxiety disorder (formerly hypochondria)

interpreting normal physical sensations as symptoms of a disease

dissociative disorders

disorders where conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings; often in response to stress

dissociative amnesia (fugue)

as a result of trauma, people forget who they are (lose identity); may travel away from home and end up in a new place

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

a dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities that have their own voices and mannerisms; people dissociate between personality switches

anorexia nervosa

a person maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly underweight; may eat minimal food and/or over exercise

bulimia nervosa

a person alternates between binge eating and purging (by vomiting or laxative use), excessive exercise, or fasting

binge-eating disorder

significant binge-eating episodes followed by distress, disgust, or guilt (without purging or fasting)

personality disorders

psychological disorders characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that deviate from expectations of individual’s culture and impair social functioning

cluster A personality disorders

personality disorders characterized by eccentric behaviors (paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder)

cluster B personality disorders

personality disorders characterized by dramatic or impulsive behaviors (antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder)

cluster C personality disorders

personality disorders characterized by anxious behavior (avoidant personality disorder, deponent personality disorder)

antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)

personality disorder characterized by a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, impulsivity, and aggression; common behaviors include lying, stealing, fighting, impulsive sexual behavior

psychotherapy

interactions between a trained therapist who uses psychological techniques and someone seeking to overcome psychological difficulties or achieve personal growth

biomedical therapy

prescribed medications or procedures that act directly on the person’s physiology

eclectic approach

an approach to psychotherapy that uses techniques from various forms of therapy

insight therapies

therapy that aims to improve psychological functioning by increasing a person’s awareness of underlying motives and defenses

client-centered therapy

pioneered by Carl Rogers; therapist is active listener in an empathic environment (acceptance, genuineness, empathy) to facilitate client’s growth; does not try to interpret or direct the client

active listening

restate, clarify, echo and acknowledge expressed feelings (makes people open to the process of change)

unconditional positive regard

a caring, accepting, non-judgemental attitude that can get people to accept even their worst traits and feel valued

behavior therapy

applies learning principles to the elimination of unwanted behaviors; goal is to replace bad learned behaviors with constructive behaviors; used for fears and problem behaviors, like nail biting

counterconditioning

uses classical conditioning to evoke new responses to stimuli that are triggering unwanted behaviors (ex. exposure therapy, desensitization)

exposure therapy

treat phobias by exposing people to things they fear

systematic desensitization

associates a pleasant, relaxed state with gradually increasing anxiety-triggering stimuli; if you can repeatedly relax when facing your fear, you can gradually eliminate the fear

virtual reality exposure

a type of exposure therapy that uses electronic simulation of fear; a good option when fear-inducing stimulus is too expensive or embarrassing to recreate

aversive conditioning

associating an unpleasant or negative response with an unwanted or negative behavior

token economy

give people a token for exhibiting a desired behavior which they can later exchange for various privileges and treats

cognitive therapy

therapy that focuses on what we think; teaches people new, more adaptive ways of thinking based on the assumption that thoughts color our feelings

rational-emotive behavior therapy

therapy that works on people’s irrational thinking (illogical or self-defeating thinking); reveals how absurd people’s ideas are to change their thinking and lead to healthier thought patterns (can be confrontational)

cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

combines cognitive therapy (changing self-defeating thinking) with behavior therapy; practicing positive behaviors and replacing catastrophizing thinking with more realistic appraisals; helpful for self-deprecating thoughts and behaviors

positive psychology

a psychological emphasis on strengths and virtues that characterize those who are mentally healthy