Psychological Disorders

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes covering key psychological disorders and related concepts.

Mental disorder

Persistent disturbance or dysfunction in behaviour, thoughts, or emotions that cause significant distress or impairment.

Medical model

Conceptualizes abnormal psychological experiences as illnesses similar to physical illnesses.

Signs

Objectively observed indicators of a disorder.

Symptoms

Subjectively reported behaviours, thoughts, and emotions.

DSM

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a classification system for mental disorders.

Comorbidity

Co-occurrence of two or more disorders in a single individual.

Biopsychosocial perspective

Mental disorders result from interactions among biological, psychological, and social factors.

Diathesis–stress model

Model suggesting a person may be predisposed to a mental disorder that may remain unexpressed until triggered by stress.

Anxiety disorder

Class of mental disorders in which anxiety is the predominant feature.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Characterized by repetitive, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and ritualistic behaviours (compulsions).

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Characterized by chronic physiological arousal, recurrent unwanted thoughts or images of the trauma, and avoidance.

Major depressive disorder

Characterized by a severely depressed mood lasting 2 weeks or more, along with feelings of worthlessness and lack of pleasure.

Bipolar disorder

Unstable emotional condition characterized by cycles of abnormal, persistent high mood (mania) and low mood (depression).

Schizophrenia

Disorder characterized by a profound disruption of basic psychological processes, distorted perception of reality, and disturbances in thought.

Antisocial personality disorder

Pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, beginning in childhood or early adolescence.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)

Direct, deliberate destruction of body tissue without the intent to die.

Suicidal behaviour

Intentional self-inflicted death, often considered a significant health issue.