Abnormal Psyc: BGSU Final Exam

What is the definition of 'abnormal' behavior?

There is no universal agreement on abnormal behavior, but qualities such as subjective distress, impairment, statistical rarity, societal disapproval, and biological dysfunction can be evaluated.

What does 'subjective distress' refer to in the context of abnormal psychology?

Subjective distress refers to the personal experience of pain or suffering that is not common to most people.

How does 'impairment' relate to abnormal behavior?

Impairment occurs when normal life routines and relationships are interrupted, interfering with an individual's functioning.

What is meant by 'statistical rarity' in defining abnormal behavior?

Statistical rarity indicates that a behavior is uncommon or not frequently observed in the general population.

What role does 'societal disapproval' play in identifying abnormal behavior?

Societal disapproval involves behaviors that break cultural norms or rules, leading to negative judgments from society.

What is 'biological dysfunction' in the context of abnormal psychology?

Biological dysfunction refers to failures of physiological systems that may contribute to abnormal behavior.

How does culture influence the perception of abnormal behavior?

What is considered 'abnormal' can vary significantly between cultures, and what is deemed abnormal in one culture may not be in another.

What is the significance of time in defining abnormal behavior?

Abnormal behavior can change over time; what is considered abnormal in one generation may not be viewed the same way in the next.

What are some common myths about psychological disorders?

Psychological disorders are not always obvious, cannot simply be 'not done,' cannot be diagnosed by laypersons, and are not always debilitating.

What is a psychological disorder?

A psychological disorder is characterized by psychological dysfunction, personal distress, and atypical responses.

What does the biopsychosocial approach entail?

The biopsychosocial approach considers biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding and treating psychological disorders.

What is the DSM?

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) provides fluid definitions of normal and abnormal behavior, changing with current beliefs and research.

What are 'rule outs' in the context of psychological assessment?

Rule outs are considerations to exclude developmental issues, general medical conditions, substance-induced symptoms, and context-appropriate behaviors.

What are some criticisms of the DSM?

Criticisms include its subjectivity, the broad criteria that many people meet, arbitrary cut-offs between normal and disordered, and potential for stigma.

What is the utility of understanding psychological disorders?

Understanding psychological disorders helps in accurate diagnosis and treatment, as well as reducing stigma and misconceptions.

What is the difference between fear and anxiety?

Fear is an adaptive response to real threats, while anxiety is a future-oriented mood state characterized by apprehension about anticipated danger.

What are common symptoms of anxiety disorders?

Symptoms include racing heart, chest pain, sweating, shortness of breath, fear of losing control, shaking, dry mouth, choking sensation, and nausea.

Which gender is more commonly affected by anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are consistently more common in women.

What are panic attacks and how do they relate to panic disorder?

Panic attacks are intense episodes of dread or terror, and panic disorder involves repeated unexpected panic attacks and fear of future attacks.

What are the median onset and prevalence rates for panic disorder?

Median onset is between 20-24 years, and prevalence is 4%-5% at some point in life.

What biological factors contribute to panic disorder?

Biological factors include low GABA activity, oversensitive fear networks, and respiratory sensitivities.

What cognitive factors are involved in the etiology of panic disorder?

Cognitive factors include catastrophic misinterpretations of physiological sensations and a sense of lack of control.

What treatment options are available for panic disorder?

Treatment options include mild sedatives, antidepressants, exposure therapy, controlled breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques.

What are the symptoms of agoraphobia?

Symptoms include fear and anxiety about places or situations where escape would be difficult or embarrassing, leading to reluctance to leave home.

What is the prevalence of agoraphobia?

The prevalence of agoraphobia is 1.7% over a 12-month period.

What characterizes specific phobia?

Specific phobia involves an uncontrollable, irrational fear of a specific object or situation, often leading to avoidance behavior.

What are common symptoms of specific phobia?

Symptoms include intense fear triggered by specific objects or situations, excessive fear reaction, and active avoidance of the stimulus.

What is the prevalence of specific phobia?

The prevalence of specific phobia is 12% of the population over a lifetime.

What are the biological and behavioral etiologies of specific phobia?

Biological factors include modest genetic links and innate preparedness, while behavioral factors involve classical conditioning and social learning.

What are the symptoms of social anxiety disorder?

Symptoms include anxiety in social situations, fear of embarrassment, and avoidance of social or performance situations.

What is the prevalence of social anxiety disorder?

The prevalence is 12% lifetime and 7% over a 12-month period.

What is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

GAD is characterized by a persistent, excessive state of apprehension and free-floating anxiety.

What are common symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder?

Symptoms include excessive perspiration, nausea, trembling, impaired concentration, and physical complications like muscle tension and sleep disturbances.

What is the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder?

The prevalence is 3% over 12 months and 9% lifetime in the US.

What defines obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

OCD is characterized by obsessions (unwanted intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety).

What are common symptoms of OCD?

Symptoms include significant time spent on obsessions and compulsions, which interfere with daily functioning.

What is the prevalence of OCD?

The prevalence of OCD is 2.3% lifetime and 1.2% over 12 months in the US.

What are the treatment options for OCD?

Treatment options include SSRIs, cognitive restructuring, exposure and response prevention, and ACT.

What is body dysmorphic disorder?

Body dysmorphic disorder involves a preoccupation with perceived defects in physical appearance, leading to significant distress.

What is hoarding disorder?

Hoarding disorder is characterized by the inability to discard items, regardless of their value, often due to a belief that they might be needed in the future.

What is trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is the compulsive pulling of hair, resulting in hair loss from the scalp, eyelashes, or other areas.

What is excoriation disorder?

Excoriation disorder involves recurrently picking at the skin, leading to bleeding, infection, and scarring.

What is the purpose of clinical assessment?

To gather detailed information about an individual's psychological functioning.

What are the three key assessment tools in clinical assessment?

Standardization, Reliability, and Validity.

What are the two types of reliability in assessment tools?

Test-retest reliability and Interrater reliability.

What are the types of validity in assessment tools?

Face validity, Predictive validity, and Concurrent validity.

What are the two main types of clinical interviews?

Structured and Unstructured interviews.

What are the categories of clinical assessment tools?

Projective, Objective, Psychophysiological, Neuropsychological, and Intelligence tests.

Name two projective assessment tools.

Rorschach and Thematic Apperception Test (TAT).

What is an example of an objective assessment tool?

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).

What are some neuropsychological assessment tools?

CT, MRI, fMRI, and PET scans.

What are the components of a clinical interview?

Family composition, educational history, employment history, military history, substance use, criminal background, and health.

What should be included in the family composition section of a clinical interview?

Information about parents, siblings, extended family, financial standing, and emotional expression.

What aspects should be covered in the educational history component?

Highest grade completed, grades, friendships, disciplinary history, and future goals.

What is assessed in the employment history component?

Current status, work history, reasons for leaving, and financial standing.

What information is gathered regarding military history in a clinical interview?

Service history, branch, rank, combat experience, and discharge status.

What should be explored in the drugs and alcohol section of a clinical interview?

Substance use history, drug of choice, tolerance, and related legal issues.

What does the diagnosis in clinical assessment indicate?

It signifies that symptoms reflect an identifiable disorder and a pattern of dysfunction similar to others.

What is the DSM-5-TR?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision, which includes criteria for diagnosis and key clinical features.

What are some critiques of the DSM-5-TR?

Arbitrary diagnostic cut-offs, potential for stigma, and biases related to culture and socioeconomic status.

What are some strengths of the DSM-5-TR?

Incorporates new research, allows for clinical judgment, and provides consistency in communication and research.

What are the five 20th-century models of psychology?

Psychoanalytic, Behavioral, Humanistic/Existential, Biological, Integrated

What does the Psychoanalytic perspective emphasize?

Intrapsychic events that create personality and manifest as symptoms, including motives, drives, conflicts, and fantasies.

Who is the founder of Psychoanalysis?

Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1939), an Austrian neurologist.

What are the three levels of consciousness according to Freud?

Conscious, Preconscious, Unconscious

What are the two main instincts identified by Freud?

Libido (life, pleasure) and Thanatos (death, destruction).

What is the origin of anxiety according to Freud?

Childhood overstimulation.

What are some examples of defense mechanisms?

Repression, Displacement, Projection, Reaction Formation, Sublimation.

What are the stages of Psychosexual Development?

Oral (0-18 months), Anal (18 months-3 years), Phallic (3-6 years), Latency (6 years-puberty), Genital (puberty-adulthood).

What are the Oedipal and Electra conflicts?

The Oedipal conflict involves a child's feelings of desire for the opposite-sex parent and jealousy toward the same-sex parent, while the Electra conflict is the female counterpart.

What is the goal of Psychoanalytic treatment?

To make the unconscious conscious to facilitate insight, resolve conflict, and express emotion through methods like free association, transference, and resistance.

Who are some notable Neo-Freudians and their contributions?

Adler (inferiority-superiority), Jung (collective unconscious), Sullivan (intrapsychic and social interactions), Horney (basic anxiety-hostility).

What is the focus of Behavioral approaches in psychology?

Observable behaviors and expressions of emotion.

What is Classical Conditioning?

A learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

What is the significance of Pavlov's experiment?

It demonstrated how a neutral stimulus (bell) could elicit a conditioned response (salivation) through association with an unconditioned stimulus (food).

What is Operant Conditioning?

A learning process where behavior is modified by its consequences, specifically reinforcement or punishment.

What is Thorndike's Law of Effect?

Behaviors followed by positive outcomes are likely to be repeated, while those followed by negative outcomes are less likely to be repeated.

What are the two types of reinforcement in Operant Conditioning?

Positive reinforcement (adding a pleasant stimulus) and negative reinforcement (removing an unpleasant stimulus).

What is the Little Albert experiment?

A study demonstrating that emotional responses (fear) can be conditioned in humans, where a child developed a fear of a rat after it was paired with a loud noise.

What are some methods of Behavioral treatment?

Modeling, Systematic Desensitization, Aversive Conditioning, and newer approaches like Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

What does the Humanistic-Existential approach emphasize?

Phenomenology and free will, viewing the whole person in the present context rather than reducing them to component parts.

What is the Biological approach in psychology focused on?

The structure and function of heredity and neurological processes.

What are some Biological treatments for psychological issues?

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Psychosurgery, and various medications.

What is the Integrated approach in psychology?

A movement towards a Bio-Psycho-Social approach, recognizing that causes of psychological issues are multidimensional and treatments should address the whole person.

Mood Disorders

A category of mental health conditions that affect a person's emotional state.

Depressive Disorders

A type of mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.

Bipolar Disorders

A mood disorder marked by alternating periods of depression and mania.

Major Depressive Episode

A period characterized by a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure lasting for at least 2 weeks.

Duration

The length of time symptoms are present, which must be nearly constant for a minimum of 2 weeks in a Major Depressive Episode.

Degree of disturbance

At least 5 symptoms observed that indicate a significant impact on functioning.

Impairment

A downward departure in functioning due to the symptoms of a Major Depressive Episode.

Depressed mood

A symptom characterized by feeling sad or hopeless most of the day, nearly every day.

Diminished interest or pleasure

A symptom indicating a marked reduction in enjoyment of activities most of the day, nearly every day.

Weight changes

Significant weight loss or gain without effort or an increase or decrease in appetite.

Insomnia/hypersomnia

Sleep disturbances occurring nearly every day, which can manifest as difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping.

Psychomotor agitation or retardation

Observable symptoms of restlessness or slowed movements nearly every day.

Fatigue or loss of energy

A symptom experienced nearly every day, characterized by a lack of energy.

Feelings of worthlessness

Experiencing excessive or inappropriate guilt or feelings of worthlessness.

Problems with concentration

Difficulty in focusing or making decisions nearly every day.

Recurrent thoughts of death

Recurrent suicidal ideation, plan or attempt.