abnormal psych

Clinical Disorder

A psychological disorder that significantly impairs daily functioning and causes personal distress.

Personality Disorder

A long-term, inflexible pattern of behavior and inner experience that deviates from cultural expectations and causes distress or impairment.

DSM

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, used by clinicians to diagnose mental illnesses based on standardized criteria.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A disorder marked by a disregard for others' rights, impulsivity, deceitfulness, and lack of remorse.

Treatment, Antisocial Personality Disorder

Often difficult; may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), anger management, and sometimes medication for aggression.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Characterized by instability in relationships, self-image, and emotions, with intense fear of abandonment and impulsive behaviors.

Treatment, Borderline Personality Disorder

Commonly treated with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and sometimes medications for mood stabilization.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

A therapy combining cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness; created specifically for BPD.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Involves attention-seeking behavior, excessive emotionality, and a strong desire to be noticed.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Marked by grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy for others.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Characterized by detachment from social relationships and a limited range of emotional expression.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Involves eccentric behavior, odd beliefs or magical thinking, and difficulty forming close relationships.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Characterized by social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to criticism.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Marked by a pervasive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

A chronic preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control.

Obsession

Recurrent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety.

Compulsion

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety caused by obsessions.

Clinical Disorders

Include a wide range of mental health conditions such as anxiety, mood, psychotic, and trauma-related disorders.

Types of Clinical Disorders

Examples include anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, schizophrenia spectrum, trauma-related disorders, and substance-related disorders.

Anxiety

A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, often about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

Panic Disorder

Involves sudden and repeated panic attacks — intense episodes of fear with physical symptoms like heart racing or dizziness.

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape might be difficult, leading to avoidance of public places.

Panic Disorder

Can stem from genetics, brain chemistry, or stress; treated with CBT, exposure therapy, and medications like SSRIs.

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)

Extreme fear of social situations due to fear of embarrassment or judgment.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life, even when there is little or no reason to worry.

Trauma

Emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, assault, or natural disaster.

Acute Stress Disorder

Occurs within a month of a traumatic event; symptoms are similar to PTSD but shorter in duration.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Long-lasting response to trauma, including flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Involves obsessions and compulsions that interfere with daily functioning and cause distress.

Mood Disorders

Involve disturbances in emotional state, such as depression or mania.

Euphoria

An unusually intense feeling of happiness or excitement.

Dysphoria

A state of unease or generalized dissatisfaction.

Major Depression (Major Depressive Disorder)

Persistent sadness or loss of interest, along with changes in appetite, sleep, or energy.

Seasonal Pattern Depression

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

Dysthymia (Persistent Depressive Disorder)

Chronic low-level depression lasting for two years or more.

Manic Episode

A period of abnormally elevated mood, energy, and activity lasting at least a week.

Hypomanic Episode

A milder form of mania, not severe enough to cause major impairment.

Bipolar I

Includes full manic episodes, often with depressive episodes.

Bipolar II

Involves hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes, without full mania.

Cyclothymia

A milder form of bipolar disorder with mood swings that are not severe enough to be diagnosed as Bipolar I or II.

Substance Abuse Disorders

Conditions where the use of alcohol or drugs leads to clinically significant impairment or distress.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, and behavior.

Prodromal Phase

Early signs before full symptoms emerge.

Active Phase

Full-blown symptoms like hallucinations or delusions.

Residual Phase

Symptoms lessen but may not disappear completely.

Delusions

Strongly held false beliefs (e.g., believing you're being watched).

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences without a real stimulus (e.g., hearing voices).

Thought Disorder

Disorganized thinking and speech, making it hard to communicate.

Catatonia

Lack of movement or response to external stimuli; may include bizarre postures.

Flat Affect

Lack of emotional expression.

Avolition

Decreased motivation to initiate and sustain purposeful activities.