Study Guide PSYC 341: Defining Mental Illness

A set of 87 vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to the definition of mental illness and psychopathology.

Psychopathology

The study of mental distress, internal dysfunction, or sickness.

Mental Distress

Cognitive or emotional upset experienced by individuals.

Mental Illness

An illness affecting the brain that interferes with how a person thinks, behaves, and interacts with others, as defined by the APA.

Mental Disorder

A syndrome characterized by behavior or psychological symptoms that cause distress.

Medical Model

The perspective that views mental distress as an illness similar to physical diseases.

Medicalization

Inappropriately classifying non-medical problems as medical.

Statistical Deviation

Behavior considered 'abnormal' if it is rare or statistically unusual.

Prevalence

How often a mental illness occurs in a population.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disorder emerging in a given time.

Deviance

Behavior considered abnormal if it breaks cultural rules or expectations.

Onanism

Historical term for masturbation; shows how perceptions of abnormal behavior can shift over time.

Historical Views

Different perspectives on mental illness across history, including demonological and naturalistic views.

Trepanation

An ancient practice where holes were drilled into the skull to release demons.

Bodily Humors

Four substances (black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, blood) believed by Hippocrates to influence mental health.

Hysteria

Historically viewed as a disorder that was thought to stem from a 'wandering womb'.

Thomas Szasz

Argued that mental illness is a myth and preferred the term 'problems in living'.

Internal Validity

The accuracy of cause and effect in a study.

External Validity

The generalizability of findings to real-world populations.

Double-Blind Study

A study design where neither participants nor researchers know who is receiving treatment or a placebo.

Quantitative Methods

Research methods that involve numbers, statistics, and measurable outcomes.

Qualitative Methods

Research methods based on interviews, case studies, and narratives.

Brain Chemistry

Study of neurotransmitters and how they influence cognition, emotion, and behavior.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers in the brain, like serotonin and dopamine, that affect mental health.

Amygdala

Brain region responsible for basic emotions such as fear and anger.

Hippocampus

Brain region important for memory.

Orbitofrontal Cortex

Brain region involved in decision making.

Nucleus Accumbens

Brain region implicated in addictive behavior.

Psychotherapy

Treatment where a trained professional helps a person change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.

Behavioral Perspective

The view that psychopathology is a learned behavior.

Humanistic Perspective

Emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization.

Existential Perspective

Focuses on struggles with meaning, responsibility, and isolation.

Constructivist Approach

Emphasizes that individuals actively construct their reality.

Cognitive Perspectives

Focus on negative thoughts and beliefs as root causes of psychopathology.

Cultural Relativism

The view that mental disorders must be understood in cultural context.

Universality of Disorders

Some mental disorders occur across all cultures, though symptoms may vary.

Biopsychosocial Model

Integration of biological, psychological, and sociocultural perspectives in understanding mental health.

DSM

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, created by the American Psychiatric Association.

ICD

International Classification of Diseases, created by the World Health Organization.

Diagnostic Validity

The accuracy of a diagnosis, including descriptive, face, predictive, construct, and concurrent validity.

Comorbidity

The presence of multiple disorders occurring simultaneously.

Cultural Bias in Diagnosis

Risk of misdiagnosis due to cultural differences in expressing distress.

Cultural Formulation Interview

A tool to understand patient background in a cultural context.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by two or more symptoms including delusions and hallucinations.

Delusional Disorder

A disorder where delusions are the only major symptoms.

Brief Psychotic Disorder

A disorder characterized by acute and transient schizophrenia symptoms lasting from one day to less than a month.

Schizophreniform Disorder

Similar to schizophrenia but symptoms last less than six months.

Schizoaffective Disorder

Combines symptoms of depression and psychosis.

Schizotypal Disorder

A personality disorder with eccentric thoughts and behaviors.

Biological Factors in Psychotic Disorders

Brain changes like enlarged ventricles and decreased gray matter linked to symptoms.

Antipsychotics

Medications used to treat psychosis, with typical and atypical types.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp)

Therapy that challenges distorted beliefs and teaches coping skills.

Expressed Emotion

High levels of criticism and hostility in families that can lead to higher relapse rates.

Mood Disorders

A category of mental disorders characterized by significant mood disturbances.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A disorder characterized by one or more depressive episodes.

Bipolar Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

Chronic depression lasting two years or more.

Dysthymic Disorder

Ongoing depression lasting two years or more but milder than a major depressive episode.

Postpartum Depression

Depression occurring in women during or after pregnancy.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Depression that occurs during winter months with fewer daylight hours.

Learned Helplessness Theory

The theory that depression develops when people feel unable to control outcomes.

Attribution Style

How individuals explain negative events, contributing to feelings of depression.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A type of therapy focused on assessing and challenging negative beliefs.

Sociocultural Approaches

Treatment approaches that consider culture and environment in mental health.

Threshold Issues in Diagnosis

Challenges in determining how severe symptoms must be to diagnose a disorder.