Psychiatric Disorders Exam 2

What is fear?

A response to a serious, immediate threat

What is anxiety?

A response to a vague, future-oriented threat

How common are anxiety disorders in the United States?

They are the most common mental disorders in the U.S.

What biological factors contribute to anxiety disorders?

Genetic risk, limbic system hyperactivation, and neurotransmitter dysregulation

How much of anxiety risk is explained by genetics?

About one-third of the variance

What brain region is most associated with fear and anxiety?

The amygdala in the limbic system

How does decreased GABA affect anxiety?

Decreased GABA leads to increased central nervous system arousal

What role does serotonin play in anxiety?

Serotonin helps regulate mood

What role does dopamine play in anxiety?

Dopamine influences motivation

What role does epinephrine play in anxiety?

Epinephrine activates the fight-or-flight response

What are attentional biases in anxiety disorders?

The tendency to scan the environment for potential threats

What are interpretation biases in anxiety disorders?

The tendency to interpret ambiguous situations as threatening

What are memory biases in anxiety disorders?

The tendency to remember threat-related information more easily

What is intolerance of uncertainty?

Difficulty accepting the possibility of negative events occurring in the future

How does perfectionism contribute to anxiety?

Unrealistic standards increase fear of mistakes and failure

How does classical conditioning contribute to anxiety disorders?

Fear responses become associated with previously neutral stimuli

How does operant conditioning maintain anxiety disorders?

Avoidance behaviors reduce anxiety temporarily and reinforce fear

How does modeling contribute to anxiety disorders?

Individuals learn fear by observing others’ fearful behavior

What did Freud believe caused anxiety?

anxiety from Conflict between drives and inadequate defense mechanisms

According to Rogers, what contributes to anxiety?

Lack of unconditional positive regard leading to self-criticism

What ecological or sociocultural factors contribute to anxiety disorders?

Family accommodation, parental modeling of fear, poverty, chronic stress, and unstable environments

What is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Excessive and uncontrollable worry occurring most days for at least six months

What physical symptoms are associated with GAD?

Restlessness, fatigue, poor concentration, muscle tension, and sleep problems

What brain areas are involved in the GAD fear circuit?

The amygdala and prefrontal cortex

What is a phobia?

A strong, persistent, and disproportionate fear of a specific object or situation

What is the key behavioral symptom of phobias?

Avoidance

What is agoraphobia?

Fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable

What is social anxiety disorder?

A disorder characterized by intense fear of negative evaluation by others

When does social anxiety disorder usually begin?

Adolescence

What behaviors maintain social anxiety disorder?

Avoidance and safety behaviors

What is panic disorder?

A disorder characterized by repeated and unexpected panic attacks

What is anxiety sensitivity?

Fear of the physical sensations of anxiety

What cognitive factor contributes to panic disorder?

Misinterpretation of bodily sensations as dangerous

What brain areas are involved in the panic circuit?

Amygdala, locus coeruleus, and hippocampus

What are obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety

What are compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety

What brain circuit is associated with OCD?

Orbitofrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, striatum, and thalamus

What disorders are related to OCD?

Hoarding disorder, trichotillomania, excoriation disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder

What is the most effective psychological treatment for anxiety disorders?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

What is exposure therapy?

Gradual confrontation with feared objects or situations to reduce anxiety

What is cognitive restructuring?

Identifying and changing maladaptive thought patterns

What is response prevention?

Preventing compulsive behaviors after exposure to anxiety triggers

What is relaxation training?

Techniques used to reduce physical tension and anxiety

What roles do mindfulness and ACT play in anxiety treatment?

They help individuals accept thoughts and reduce avoidance

What medications are commonly used to treat anxiety disorders?

SSRIs, benzodiazepines, and gabapentinoids

What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

The part of the nervous system that controls automatic body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and stress responses

What does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Activates arousal and the fight-or-flight response

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Calms the body and restores balance after stress

What is the HPA axis?

The body’s central stress response system involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal cortex

How does the HPA axis respond to stress?

The hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to release ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol

What is acute stress disorder?

A trauma-related disorder in which symptoms appear within four weeks of trauma and last less than one month

What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

A trauma disorder in which symptoms persist for more than one month after a traumatic event

What are the main symptom clusters of PTSD?

Intrusions (flashbacks and nightmares), avoidance, negative mood and cognition changes, and arousal or reactivity changes

What are intrusion symptoms in PTSD?

Flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive memories of the traumatic event

What is avoidance in PTSD?

Avoiding reminders, thoughts, or situations related to the trauma

What are negative mood and cognition changes in PTSD?

Persistent negative beliefs, guilt, emotional numbness, or detachment

What are arousal and reactivity symptoms in PTSD?

Hypervigilance, irritability, sleep problems, and exaggerated startle response

What additional symptom can occur in PTSD?

Dissociation

What is prolonged grief disorder?

Severe and persistent grief lasting at least one year after the death of a loved one

What risks are associated with prolonged grief disorder?

Significant distress, impairment, and increased suicide risk

What are dissociative disorders?

Disorders involving disruptions in memory, identity, or perception, often triggered by trauma

What is dissociative amnesia?

Inability to recall important autobiographical information, usually related to trauma

What are the types of dissociative amnesia?

Localized, selective, generalized, and continuous

What is dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

A disorder involving two or more distinct personality states and gaps in memory

When does DID usually begin?

Usually during childhood

What is depersonalization/derealization disorder?

A disorder involving persistent feelings of detachment from oneself or the environment

What biological factors contribute to PTSD?

Irregular cortisol and norepinephrine levels, stress circuit dysfunction, and genetic predisposition

How does the brain change in PTSD?

Amygdala activity increases while hippocampus and prefrontal cortex functioning decrease

What childhood experiences increase PTSD risk?

Adverse childhood experiences such as neglect, abuse, poverty, and instability

How can early trauma affect stress systems?

It can alter how the body responds to stress later in life

What cognitive and coping factors contribute to PTSD?

Memory impairments, intolerance of uncertainty, negative worldview, and rigid coping strategies

What social factors contribute to PTSD?

Lack of family support, community trauma, and social isolation

What trauma characteristics increase PTSD risk?

Prolonged trauma, sexual assault, mutilation, and witnessing death

How does developmental psychopathology explain trauma outcomes?

Concepts such as equifinality and multifinality explain why similar or different experiences can lead to different outcomes

What is trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT)?

A therapy that helps individuals process trauma and change trauma-related thoughts and behaviors

What is cognitive processing therapy (CPT)?

A cognitive therapy that helps individuals challenge and change maladaptive beliefs about trauma

What is EMDR?

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, a therapy used to process traumatic memories

What role do couples and family therapy play in trauma treatment?

They help address relationship stress and improve support systems

What medications are used to treat PTSD?

Antidepressants, which help with mood and arousal symptoms

Why are medications less effective for some PTSD symptoms?

They are less effective for avoidance behaviors and flashbacks

What is psychological first aid?

A crisis intervention approach that provides immediate support after trauma

What is psychological debriefing?

A structured discussion of trauma soon after the event that is not strongly supported by evidence

What are eating disorders?

Serious mental health conditions involving disturbances in eating behavior and often concerns about body weight or shape

Why are eating disorders considered serious?

They have some of the highest mortality rates among psychiatric disorders

What are the core features of eating disorders?

Disturbed eating behaviors, emotional distress, functional impairment, and biopsychosocial causes

What biological factors contribute to eating disorders?

Genetic or family history influences

What sociocultural factors contribute to eating disorders?

Social pressure regarding body image and weight

What psychological factors contribute to eating disorders?

Perfectionism, anxiety, and body dissatisfaction

What are the main eating disorders in the DSM-5-TR?

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, OSFED, and ARFID

What is anorexia nervosa?

An eating disorder characterized by severe restriction of food intake, intense fear of weight gain, and distorted body image

What is a key physical feature of anorexia nervosa?

Significantly low body weight

What age group most commonly develops anorexia nervosa?

Adolescents and young adults ages 14–20

What psychological problems are common in anorexia nervosa?

Depression, anxiety, suicidality, substance misuse, and perfectionism

What medical complications can occur with anorexia nervosa?

Bone loss, electrolyte imbalance, organ failure, low body temperature, and amenorrhea

What is bulimia nervosa?

An eating disorder involving recurrent binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors

What compensatory behaviors occur in bulimia nervosa?

Vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise, fasting, or diet pills

How often must symptoms occur for bulimia nervosa diagnosis?

At least once per week for three months

What is the typical cycle of bulimia nervosa?

Restrictive dieting, intense hunger, binge eating, shame or guilt, compensatory behavior, and temporary relief

What characteristics do anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa share?

Fear of weight gain, distorted body image, perfectionism, depression, and suicide risk

What characteristics are more common in bulimia nervosa?

Impulsivity, feeling out of control during eating, and dental damage from vomiting