AP Psych Therapy and Mental Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

Someone with a normal weight sees themself as overweight

Bulimia Nervosa

a serious eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting.

Somatic Symptom disorder

Psychological disorder in which the symptoms take a somatic (bodily) form without apparent physical cause.

Conversion Disorder

a disorder in which a person experiences very specific genuine physical symptoms for which no physiological basis can be found

Illness anxiety disorder

a disorder in which a person interprets normal physical sensations as symptoms as symptoms of a disease

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

a rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits 2 or more distinct and alternating personalities that can control the individual's behavior, thoughts, and feelings at different times.

Binge eating disorder

Significant binge eating episodes, followed by distress, disgust, or guilt but without purging or fasting

Psychological Disorders

behavior patterns or mental processes that cause serious personal suffering/interfere with a person’s ability to cope with everyday life. Disturbance in cognition, emotion regulation, behavior

Biopsychosocial Model

Psychological problems potentially involve a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that interact to influence mental health and behavior.

Medical Model

Diseases (psychological disorders) have physical causes and can be diagnosed, treated, and cured through treatment. Classified by symptoms. EX: DSM-5

Neurodevelopmental disorders

A group of disorders that typically manifest in early childhood, characterized by developmental deficits that produce impairments in personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning. Symptoms focus on behaviors appropriate with age or maturity range.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A type of neurological disorder. Most common in children and often lasts to adulthood. Typically have issues paying attention, with impulsive behaviors, and are overly active

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder caused by brain differences. Characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. Symptoms can vary widely in severity and manifestation.

Anxiety Disorders

A group of mental health disorders characterized by a general state of dread or uneasiness in response to vague or imagined danger. They include disorders like generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder, affecting daily functioning.

Panic Disorder

A type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear or discomfort. This can lead to significant changes in behavior and increased anxiety about future attacks.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A common anxiety disorder characterized by persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life, such as health, work, and social interactions. Individuals find it difficult to control their anxiety, which can cause physical symptoms and impact daily functioning.

Phobias

Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations that lead to significant anxiety and avoidance behavior.

Agoraphobia

A type of anxiety disorder involving an intense fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable during a panic attack. This often leads individuals to avoid public places or crowds.

Social Anxiety Disorder

A chronic condition characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in social situations, leading to avoidance of interactions and fear of being judged or embarrassed.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A mental health condition characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsessions.

Hoarding Disorder

A psychological condition characterized by the persistent difficulty in discarding or parting with possessions, leading to clutter that interferes with daily living. Severity increases over time

Trauma/Stressor Related Disorders

A group of mental health conditions that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event or significant stress, impacting daily functioning and emotional well-being.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, leading to symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Post Traumatic Growth

Positive psychological changes as a result of struggling with extremely challenging circumstances and life crisis

Dissociative Disorders

Mental health disorders characterized by a separation of certain personality components/mental processes from conscious thought that results in memory or identity loss

Depressive Disorders

Mental health disorders characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities, impacting daily functioning.

Mood Disorder

Psychological disorders characterized by emotional extremes (major depressive, mania, bipolar disorders)

Bipolar Disorder

A mood disorder marked by alternating periods of depression and mania, affecting mood regulation and daily functioning.

Mania

a state of abnormally elevated mood, energy, and activity, often associated with bipolar disorder.

Hypomania

A milder form of mania, characterized by an elevated mood and increased energy levels, but causes less severe impairment than mania.

Depression

A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in daily activities.

Mixed Episodes

Periods in which symptoms of both mania and depression occur simultaneously or in rapid sequence, leading to significant mood instability.

Rumination

The repetitive focus on negative thoughts or experiences, leading to increased anxiety and depression. Overthinking about our problems and their causes

Bipolar 1

A type of bipolar disorder characterized by one or more manic episodes, often accompanied by depressive episodes, that can severely disrupt daily functioning.

Bipolar 2

A mood disorder characterized by at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, but no full-blown manic episodes.

Similarities of Bipolar 1 and 2

Involve major depressive episodes, periods of euthymia (symptom free states), periods of heightened mood

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder in which a person experiences at least 5 signs of depression, 1 being depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by a range of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and impaired functioning. An example of psychosis (detachment from reality)

Psychosis

A mental condition characterized by a disconnection from reality, often experiencing irrational ideas and distorted perceptions

Personality Disorders

A group of mental disorders characterized by enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience that deviate from cultural norms, causing significant functional impairment or distress.

Cluster A

A category of personality disorders characterized by odd or eccentric behaviors, including Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders.

Cluster B

A category of personality disorders characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior, including Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders.

Cluster C

A category of personality disorders characterized by anxious and fearful behaviors, including Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder characterized by social anxiety, distorted thinking, and eccentric behavior.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, emotional coldness, and a preference for solitary activities. Social withdrawal and limited emotional expression.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder marked by pervasive distrust and suspicion of others, leading to interpretations of other people's motives as malevolent.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder characterized by a disregard for the rights of others, lack of empathy, and often criminal behavior. These individuals may manipulate, deceive, or exploit others without any remorse.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder characterized by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships. Individuals often experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. Individuals often display dramatic or theatrical emotions and may be easily influenced by others.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder characterized by a grand sense of self-importance, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. Individuals may exhibit arrogant behavior and react negatively to criticism.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder characterized by feelings of inadequacy, hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, and avoidance of social situations. Individuals often desire social interaction but fear rejection or embarrassment.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behaviors. Individuals often have difficulty making decisions without excessive reassurance from others.

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Personality Disorder characterized by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control over one's environment, often at the expense of flexibility and efficiency. Individuals may be overly focused on rules, schedules, and lists.

Dissociative Amnesia

A disorder characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, often following traumatic or stressful events.

Fugue

A dissociative disorder characterized by sudden, unexpected travel away from home or customary work locations, coupled with an inability to recall one's past and identity.

Psychotherapy

Emotionally charged confiding interaction between a trained therapist and someone seeking to overcome psychological difficulty or achieve personal growth. Encompassing various talk therapies aimed at treating mental health issues

Biomedical Therapy

A treatment method that uses biological interventions, such as medications or medical procedures, to alleviate psychological symptoms and disorders.

Eclectic Approach

A therapeutic method that blends various techniques and therapies from different psychological systems to best meet the needs of the individual.

Psychoanalysis

A therapeutic approach developed by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes the exploration of unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences to gain insight and resolve psychological conflicts. Encompassing various forms of therapy, including psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches

Free Associations

A technique used in psychoanalysis where the patient expresses thoughts and feelings as they come to mind, helping to uncover unconscious processes.

Resistance

A phenomenon in psychoanalysis where a patient unconsciously opposes the therapeutic efforts or avoids discussing painful memories, indicating deeper issues that need to be addressed.

Transference

A phenomenon in psychoanalysis where patients project feelings and emotions related to important figures in their lives onto the therapist, which can provide insight into their relational patterns.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Patients gain perspective to their current symptoms, focus on unconscious forces and childhood experiences and seek to enhance self-insight. Emphasis on current relationships and emotional expression

Insight Therapy

A variety of therapies that aim to improve psychological functioning by increasing a persons awareness of underlying motives and defenses

Client-centered Therapy (person-centered therapy)

A humanistic therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, in which the therapist uses techniques such as active listening within a genuine, accepting, empathetic environment to facilitate clients growth.

Active Listening

Empathetic listening in which the listener echos, restates, and clarifies. A feature of Rogers client centered therapy

Unconditional Positive Regard

A key component of client-centered therapy, referring to the therapist's acceptance and support of the client regardless of what the client says or does.

Behavior Therapy

Therapy that applies learning principals to the elimination of unwanted behaviors

Counterconditioning

behavior therapy procedures that use classical conditioning to evoke new responses to stimuli that are triggering unwanted behaviors (exposure therapy, Aversive conditioning)

Exposure Therapy

A behavior therapy that involves exposing the client to anxiety-provoking stimuli in a controlled environment to reduce their fear response.

Systematic Desensitization

a type of exposure therapy that gradually exposes clients to anxiety-inducing stimuli while teaching relaxation techniques to help them manage their anxiety.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

an anxiety treatment that progressively exposes people to electronic simulations of their fears

Aversive Conditioning

a type of counterconditioning that associates an unpleasant state (nausea) with an unwanted behavior (drinking)

Token Economy

an operant conditioning procedure in which people earn a token of some sort for exhibiting a desired behavior and can later exchange the tokens for various privileges or treats

Cognitive Therapy

Therapy that teaches people new, more adaptive ways of thinking; based on the assumptions that thoughts intervene between events and our emotional reactions.

Rational-emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

a confrontational cognitive therapy, developed by Albert Ellis, that vigorously challenges peoples illogical self defeating problems and assumptions. Problems arise from irrational thinking

Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A popular integrative therapy that combines cognitive therapy (change self defeat thinking) with behavior therapy (change behavior)

Group Therapy

Therapy conducted in groups, permitting therapeutic benefits from group interaction

Family Therapy

Therapy that treats the family as a system. Views an individuals unwanted behaviors as influenced by, or directed at, other family members