Introduction to Psychological Disorders and Treatments (Lecture 10)

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, disorders, theories, therapies, and biomedical treatments discussed in Lecture 10 of Introduction to Psychology.

Psychological Disorder

A condition characterized by statistical rarity, subjective distress, impairment, and/or biological dysfunction.

Statistical Rarity

The criterion for a disorder describing how uncommon a behavior or mental state is in the general population.

Subjective Distress

Personal suffering or discomfort associated with a psychological condition.

Impairment

Difficulty in cognition, emotion regulation, or attention that interferes with daily functioning.

Biological Dysfunction

Significant abnormalities in the nervous system contributing to a mental disorder.

DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, listing ~300 disorders using a biopsychosocial framework.

Disease Model

Perspective that a single underlying cause produces symptoms whose severity mirrors disorder severity.

Network Model

View that mental disorders arise from interaction among multiple symptoms within a dynamic system.

Anxiety Disorders

Group of disorders including GAD, Panic Disorder, and Phobias, affecting ~4 % of people.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Condition marked by chronic, exaggerated worry and tension in everyday situations.

Panic Disorder

Disorder featuring recurrent, unexpected panic attacks with intense physical fear responses.

Phobia

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation (e.g., agoraphobia).

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Disorder involving unwanted obsessive thoughts and repetitive compulsive behaviors to reduce distress.

Classical Conditioning

Learning process where a neutral stimulus gains power to elicit a response after pairing with an unconditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

Learning in which behavior is strengthened by reinforcement or diminished by punishment.

Negative Reinforcement

Removal of an unpleasant state (e.g., anxiety) that increases the likelihood of a behavior (e.g., avoidance).

Depression

Mood disorder characterized by anhedonia, low energy, guilt, sleep/appetite changes, poor concentration, and suicidal thoughts.

Anhedonia

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Chronic unipolar depressive disorder with persistent episodes of severe depression.

Major Depressive Episode (MDE)

Acute but often recurrent period meeting criteria for major depression.

Dysthymia

Persistent mild depression lasting two years or longer.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Depression that occurs at a specific time of year, usually winter.

Learned Helplessness

Seligman’s concept where repeated uncontrollable events produce passive resignation and depression-like symptoms.

Cognitive Distortions

Systematic negative thought patterns (e.g., catastrophizing) implicated in depression per Beck's model.

Hippocampal Atrophy

Reduced hippocampus volume observed in depression.

Serotonin (5-HT)

Neurotransmitter often found at low levels in depressed individuals; target of SSRIs.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

Compulsive engagement in drug-related behavior despite harmful consequences.

Comorbidity

The co-occurrence of two or more disorders, common between SUD and mental illnesses like PTSD.

Bipolar Disorder

Condition involving extreme mood swings, including manic and depressive episodes, affecting ~1 % globally.

Mania

Period of elevated or irritable mood, high energy, reduced sleep, and risky behavior in bipolar disorder.

Personality Disorder

Enduring inflexible behavior patterns causing distress; examples include borderline, narcissistic, and antisocial PD.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder marked by social deficits, repetitive behaviors, and special interests.

Echolalia

Repetition of words or phrases characteristic of some individuals with ASD.

Female Protective Brain Theory

Hypothesis that higher genetic load is required for autism to manifest in females, potentially explaining sex differences.

Schizophrenia

Psychotic disorder featuring positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions) and negative symptoms (flattened affect, alogia).

Positive Symptoms

Additions to normal experience in schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Negative Symptoms

Reductions in normal function in schizophrenia, such as emotional flatness and lack of motivation.

Dopamine Hypothesis

Theory that hyperactive dopamine transmission contributes to positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Clinical Psychologist

Doctoral-level professional trained to diagnose and provide psychotherapy, but not typically prescribe medication.

Psychiatrist

Medical doctor specializing in mental health, able to prescribe medications and conduct psychotherapy.

Psychoanalytic Therapy

Insight therapy focusing on unconscious conflicts revealed through techniques like free association and dream analysis.

Free Association

Psychoanalytic technique where clients verbally report thoughts without censorship to uncover unconscious material.

Humanistic Therapy

Person-centered approach emphasizing empathy, unconditional positive regard, and self-actualization.

Behavioral Therapy

Treatment focusing on directly modifying maladaptive behaviors via learning principles such as reinforcement.

Systemic Desensitization

Behavioral technique pairing feared stimulus with relaxation to reduce phobic responses.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Therapy combining cognitive restructuring with behavioral techniques, widely used for depression and anxiety.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance-based therapy encouraging mindfulness and committed action aligned with personal values.

Mindfulness Meditation

Practice of nonjudgmental present-moment awareness used to reduce anxiety, depression, and pain.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Antidepressant drugs that increase serotonin availability by blocking its reuptake.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Non-invasive brain stimulation technique used to treat depression by modulating cortical activity.

Ketamine

Rapid-acting antidepressant (NMDA receptor modulator) approved for treatment-resistant depression.

Benzodiazepines

Anxiolytic drugs that enhance GABAA receptor activity, reducing anxiety.

Lithium

Mood stabilizer commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder.

First-Generation Antipsychotics

Drugs that primarily block D2 dopamine receptors to reduce positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Biomedical treatment involving controlled seizures to alleviate severe depression resistant to other therapies.