Mental & Physical Health Vocab

Health Psychology

the study of how psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors contribute to physical health and illness

Stress

the response of the body and mind to challenges or demands, characterized by physical, emotional, and mental reactions

Eustress (Motivating)

positive stress that enhances motivation, performance, and emotional well-being
Stressors

Distress (Debilitating)

negative stress that decreases motivation, impairs performance, and leads to emotional and physical problems

Daily Hassles

Minor irritations that occur regularly

Significant Life Changes

Major events that require adaptation

Catastrophes-Unpredictable, large-scale events that cause widespread stress

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

stressful or traumatic events in childhood that can have long-lasting effects on health and well-being throughout a person's life

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

three-stage response to stress that includes alarm, resistance, and exhaustion, describing how the body reacts and adapts to stress over time

Alarm Reaction Phase

the initial stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, where the body reacts to a stressor with a "fight-or-flight" response, activating stress hormones and physiological changes

Fight-Flight-Freeze Response

a physiological reaction to perceived threats that prepares the body to fight, flee, or freeze to enhance survival

Resistance Phase

the second stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, where the body tries to adapt and cope with a stressor, maintaining heightened alertness and stress hormone levels

Exhaustion Phase

the final stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, where the body's resources are depleted after prolonged stress, leading to decreased stress tolerance and potential health issues

Tend-and-Befriend Theory

behavioral reaction to stress that involves nurturing activities to protect oneself and one's offspring, and seeking social support to reduce stress

Problem-Focused Coping

involves directly managing or solving the source of stress to reduce its impact

Emotion-Focused Coping

managing the emotional response to stress rather than changing the stressful situation itself

Positive Psychology

the scientific study of human flourishing to help individuals and communities to thrive

Resilience

the ability to adapt and recover quickly from difficulties or change, maintaining psychological well-being in the face of adversity

Posttraumatic Growth

positive psychological changes experienced as a result of struggling with highly challenging life circumstances, leading to a higher level of personal or interpersonal functioning
Positive Emotions

Gratitude

the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself, enhancing overall well-being by fostering positive feelings and relationships

Signature Strengths & Virtues

core characteristics that a person naturally possesses and expresses, which contribute to fulfilling, authentic, and engaged living

Wisdom

the ability to make sound decisions based on deep understanding and experience, contributing to effective problem-solving and interpersonal relationships

Courage

the mental or moral strength to persevere and withstand fear or difficulty, enabling individuals to face challenges and act in accordance with their values despite potential risks

Humanity

the quality of being compassionate, empathetic, and supportive towards others, fostering positive interpersonal relationships and social well-being

Justice

a commitment to fairness, equity, and advocating for the rights of others, which helps maintain healthy community and societal relationships

Temperance

self-regulation and control over excesses and impulses, promoting balance and moderation in personal behavior and relationships

Transcendence

the ability to connect to the larger universe and find meaning beyond oneself, often through appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, humor, and spirituality

Abnormal Psychology

the study of unusual patterns of behavior, emotion, and thought, which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder;This field explores the causes, symptoms, and treatments of psychological disorders to understand and improve mental health

Clinical Psychology

the branch of psychology that assesses, diagnoses, treats, and prevents mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, utilizing various therapeutic methods and interventions to improve individuals' mental health and well-being

Psychology Student Syndrome

Psychology students studying abnormal behavior can also become convinced that they have some mental disorder

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)

comprehensive classification system used by mental health professionals to diagnose and categorize mental disorders, providing standardized criteria and descriptions for consistent use across clinical settings

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD) (11th edition)

global standard for reporting and categorizing diseases, including mental and behavioral disorders, used by healthcare professionals to diagnose conditions and track health trends worldwide

Deviation

significant departure from accepted social behaviors and cultural expectations, used as a criterion to identify and diagnose abnormal behaviors and psychological disorders in clinical settings

Distress

intense and prolonged emotional suffering that impairs an individual’s ability to function in daily life, often used as a key criterion for diagnosis
Dysfunction

Stigma

the negative stereotypes and social disapproval directed at individuals with mental disorders, often leading to discrimination and barriers to seeking or receiving mental health care

Biological Perspective

mental disorders are caused by physiological and genetic factors, focusing on how brain function, neurochemistry, and genetics contribute to psychological conditions

Behavioral Perspective

suggests that mental disorders arise from maladaptive learned behaviors and associations, focusing on how inappropriate conditioning and reinforcement of behaviors contribute to psychological issues

Psychodynamic Perspective

mental disorders stem from unresolved unconscious conflicts and impulses, often originating in childhood, that influence current behavior and emotional states

Humanistic Perspective

emphasizes that mental disorders arise when individuals' innate potential for self-fulfillment and personal growth is blocked, often due to failures in achieving self-acceptance and meaningful personal goals

Cognitive Perspective

proposes that mental disorders are caused by maladaptive thought patterns, including dysfunctional beliefs, attitudes, and emotional responses, which negatively affect behavior and emotional well-being

Evolutionary Perspective

suggests that mental disorders can arise from behaviors and mental processes that are maladaptive, reducing an individual's chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment

Sociocultural Perspective

mental disorders stem from maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics, emphasizing the influence of societal norms and interactions on mental health

Eclectic Approach

combining techniques and theories from multiple therapeutic orientations to tailor treatment to the unique needs of individual clients, enhancing flexibility and effectiveness in therapy
Biopsychosocial Model

Diathesis-Stress Model

psychological disorders arise from a predisposing genetic vulnerability (diathesis) combined with stressful environmental factors (stress), triggering the onset of mental health issues

Anxiety Disorders

characterized by excessive fear and anxiety that lead to significant disturbances in behavior
Specific Phobia

Acrophobia

Classified as a specific phobia in the DSM-5-TR, is characterized by an intense and persistent fear of heights, causing significant anxiety and avoidance behavior that can interfere with daily activities and functioning

Arachnophobia

Classified as a specific phobia in the DSM-5-TR, is characterized by an intense and irrational fear of spiders, leading to excessive anxiety and avoidance behaviors that disrupt normal functioning

Agoraphobia

psychological disorder characterized by an intense fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, often leading to avoidance of places like public spaces or crowds, significantly impacting daily activities

Panic Disorder

recurrent and unexpected panic attacks—sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort that peak within minutes—accompanied by physical symptoms like heart palpitations, and ongoing concern about having additional attacks or their consequences

Ataque de nervios “Attack of Nerves”

episodes of intense emotional distress, dramatic expressions of emotion, such as screaming or crying, and sometimes uncontrollable physical symptoms like shaking or feeling as if one is suffocating

Social Anxiety Disorder

significant and persistent fear of social situations where embarrassment or scrutiny may occur, leading to avoidance behaviors and severe anxiety about performing or interacting in certain social contexts

Taijin Kyofusho “TKS”

predominantly observed in Japan, characterized by an intense fear of offending or embarrassing others through one's bodily functions or appearance, leading to significant social anxiety and avoidance behaviors

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of daily life, accompanied by physical symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, which are not tied to any specific cause or event

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, typically aimed at reducing anxiety but causing significant distress and interference in daily functioning

Hoarding Disorder

persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value, due to a perceived need to save them, resulting in excessive accumulation that compromises the use of living areas and significantly impairs daily functioning

Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders

involve psychological distress following exposure to a traumatic or stressful event, characterized by symptoms such as hypervigilance, severe anxiety, flashbacks, insomnia, emotional detachment, and hostility, which impair daily functioning

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

persistent mental and emotional stress following exposure to a traumatic event, featuring symptoms such as intrusive memories (flashbacks), avoidance of reminders of the trauma, heightened reactivity (eg, exaggerated startle response), and emotional numbness

Depressive Disorders

characterized by a persistent sad, empty, or irritable mood accompanied by physical and cognitive changes, significantly impairing a person's ability to function in daily activities
Major Depressive Disorder

Persistent Depressive Disorder

chronic, depressed mood lasting for at least two years, with symptoms that are less severe but longer-lasting than those of major depression, affecting daily functioning

Bipolar Disorders

characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression, with bipolar cycling involving shifts between these mood states that can vary in duration and intensity

Bipolar II Disorder

characterized by at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode, without ever having a full manic episode, leading to significant distress or impairment

Bipolar I Disorder

characterized by at least one manic episode, which may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes, causing significant impairment in daily functioning

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

group of disorders that begin in the developmental period, characterized by symptoms that affect behavior, learning, and development, focusing on whether behaviors are appropriate for the person's age or maturity level

Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development, leading to difficulties in maintaining focus, controlling behavior, and staying organized

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

characterized by persistent challenges in social communication and interaction, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, varying widely in severity and impact on daily functioning

Feeding and Eating Disorders

characterized by altered consumption or absorption of food, leading to significant impairment in health or psychological functioning

Anorexia Nervosa

psychological disorder characterized by restricted food intake, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image, leading to significant weight loss and health complications

Bulimia Nervosa

characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as vomiting or excessive exercise, to prevent weight gain, causing significant physical and psychological distress

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking or speech, disorganized motor behavior, and negative symptoms, and can be experienced as either acute or chronic conditions

Psychosis

is a mental state characterized by a disconnection from reality

Schizophrenia

psychological disorder characterized by persistent delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking or speech, disorganized motor behavior, and negative symptoms, significantly impairing daily functioning and lasting for at least six months

Positive (+) Symptoms

Additional behaviors or experiences not present in healthy individuals
Negative (-) Symptoms

Delusions of persecution

involve the false belief that one is being targeted or harassed

Delusions of grandeur

involve the false belief in one's exceptional abilities, wealth, or fame
Hallucinations

Disorganized Thinking or Speech

incoherent or nonsensical speech patterns, such as jumping between unrelated topics or using words inappropriately, reflecting disordered thought processes

"Word salad"

jumble of words and phrases that are incoherent and lack logical connection, making the speech nearly impossible to understand

Disorganized Motor Behavior

abnormal or erratic movements, such as excessive agitation, bizarre postures, significantly impacting daily functioning

Flat Affect

severe reduction in emotional expressiveness, where the individual shows little or no facial expression, voice tone, or emotional reaction

Dopamine Hypothesis

suggests that the disorder is linked to an imbalance of dopamine activity in the brain, with excessive dopamine activity contributing to symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations

Dissociative Disorders

characterized by disruptions or discontinuities in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception, leading to significant impairment in daily functioning

Dissociative Amnesia

involves an inability to recall important autobiographical information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature

Dissociative Identity Disorder

characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states or identities, each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the world, resulting in gaps in memory and a disrupted sense of self

Personality Disorders

enduring patterns of internal experience and behavior that deviate markedly from cultural expectations, are pervasive and inflexible, begin in adolescence or early adulthood, are stable over time, and lead to significant personal distress or impairment

Cluster A Personality Disorders

characterized by odd or eccentric behaviors and thinking

Paranoid Personality Disorder

characterized by pervasive distrust and suspicion of others, interpreting their motives as malevolent, leading to significant interpersonal difficulties and isolation

Schizoid Personality Disorder

characterized by a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression, leading to a preference for solitary activities and limited interest in forming close relationships

Cluster B Personality Disorders

are characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors

Histrionic Personality Disorder

characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior, including a need for approval and inappropriate seductiveness, often leading to difficulties in maintaining deep and meaningful relationships

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others, often resulting in exploitative behavior and difficulties in maintaining healthy relationships

Borderline Personality Disorder

characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, along with impulsive behaviors and intense fear of abandonment, often leading to significant distress and difficulties in daily functioning

Cluster C Personality Disorders

characterized by anxious and fearful behaviors, including Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders, which involve patterns of social inhibition, submissiveness, and perfectionism

Avoidant Personality Disorder

pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, leading to avoidance of social interactions and a reluctance to engage in new activities

Dependent Personality Disorder

characterized by an excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior, and fears of separation, resulting in difficulty making decisions without reassurance from others

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

characterized by a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, leading to significant distress or impairment in functioning

definition
Deinstitutionalization

the process of reducing the number of patients in psychiatric hospitals by transitioning them to community-based mental health services, aiming to provide more integrated and humane care

Evidence-Based Interventions

therapeutic approaches and treatments that are supported by scientific research and empirical evidence, ensuring their effectiveness and reliability in improving mental health outcomes

Therapeutic Alliance

the collaborative and trusting relationship between a therapist and client, which is crucial for effective therapy and positive treatment outcomes

Cultural Humility

involves an ongoing process of self-reflection and learning about clients' cultural backgrounds, recognizing and addressing power imbalances, and fostering respectful, culturally sensitive therapeutic relationships

Nonmaleficence

the ethical principle of "do no harm," ensuring that therapists avoid actions or interventions that could cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm to their clients

Fidelity

the ethical principle of maintaining trust, honesty, and commitment in the therapeutic relationship, ensuring reliability and integrity in professional conduct