Psychological Disorders – Chapter Review

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering key theories, categories, and specific examples of psychological disorders discussed in the lecture.

From which three perspectives are psychological disorders commonly defined?

The individual’s need-gratification, society’s demand for conformity, and the mental-health professional’s focus on growth, autonomy, and functionality.

Which 19th-century reformer is credited with humanizing the treatment of the mentally ill?

Dorothea Dix.

What does the psychodynamic model say causes psychological disorders?

Unresolved unconscious conflicts.

According to the cognitive-behavioral model, disorders stem from .

maladaptive thoughts and learned behaviors that do not match reality.

The medical/biological model links mental illness to what two main factors?

Genetic influences and biochemical imbalances (e.g., too much norepinephrine, too little serotonin).

What does the diathesis-stress model propose?

A mental disorder emerges through an interaction between genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and environmental stress.

What famous ‘pseudo-patient’ study revealed diagnostic errors in psychiatric hospitals?

David Rosenhan’s study in which graduate students claimed to hear voices and were all diagnosed with psychotic disorders.

Define Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

A persistent, vague feeling of uneasiness or tension in a wide variety of settings.

What characterizes a panic disorder?

Sudden, overwhelming attacks of fear or terror, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as dizziness or chest pain.

PTSD stands for .

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In OCD, what is an obsession?

A recurrent, intrusive thought (e.g., ‘My hands are contaminated’).

In OCD, what is a compulsion?

A repetitive thought or action performed to relieve the anxiety created by an obsession (e.g., washing hands until skin is raw).

Define a specific phobia.

An irrational, persistent fear of one particular object or situation (e.g., snakes, dark).

Agoraphobia involves fear of .

open or public spaces and/or being left alone without escape.

Social phobia (social anxiety disorder) is a fear of .

social situations in which one might be judged (e.g., public speaking, eating in public).

Hypochondriasis (illness anxiety) is best described as .

an exaggerated fear of having a serious illness despite medical reassurance.

Somatization disorder produces .

vague, recurring physical complaints with no organic cause.

Conversion disorder (e.g., ‘glove anesthesia’) shows .

loss of physical function or sensation inconsistent with medical findings, triggered by psychological stress.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder involves .

imagined or exaggerated ugliness in one’s appearance, often leading to repeated cosmetic procedures.

Psychosomatic disorders are physical conditions worsened or triggered by stress; name two examples.

Stress-induced headaches and ulcers (asthma attacks can also be triggered).

Define mania in mood disorders.

A hyperactive, irritable, or euphoric state marked by impulsive or risky behavior.

What are two core signs of major depression?

Persistent sad mood and loss of interest/pleasure in normal activities.

Bipolar disorder was formerly called .

manic-depressive illness.

Distinguish Bipolar I from Bipolar II.

Bipolar I includes full manic episodes; Bipolar II features hypomania plus major depression.

What is rapid cycling in bipolar disorder?

Four or more mood episodes (mania/hypomania or depression) in one year.

Dissociative amnesia is defined as .

inability to recall important personal information, usually after trauma, with no biological cause.

What happens in a dissociative fugue?

The person forgets their identity, travels away, and may assume a new identity.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) involves .

one person displaying two or more distinct personality states due to severe childhood trauma.

Depersonalization disorder causes people to feel .

unreal, detached, or as though observing themselves from outside their body.

Psychosexual dysfunction: What is inhibited sexual desire?

Loss of interest in sex for psychological—not biological—reasons.

Define inhibited sexual excitement.

Loss of arousal during sexual activity despite initial interest.

Orgasmic disorder (anorgasmia) refers to .

difficulty or inability to achieve orgasm despite adequate stimulation.

Premature ejaculation is .

reaching orgasm too quickly and earlier than desired, due to psychological factors.

What is a paraphilia or fetish?

Primary or exclusive sexual arousal to non-traditional objects or situations (e.g., shoes, feet).

Sadomasochism (S & M) centers on .

sexual pleasure derived from giving (sadist) or receiving (masochist) pain or humiliation.

Voyeurism involves sexual arousal from .

watching unsuspecting or non-consenting people who are naked or having sex.

Exhibitionism is defined as .

sexual arousal obtained by exposing one’s genitals to unsuspecting strangers.

Pedophilia refers to sexual attraction toward .

prepubescent children.

Frotteurism (frauderism) is .

deriving sexual pleasure from rubbing against a non-consenting person, often in crowded places.

Schizoid Personality Disorder features .

little interest in social relationships and limited emotional expression.

Paranoid Personality Disorder is marked by .

extreme suspiciousness and mistrust of others without justification.

Describe Dependent Personality Disorder.

An excessive need to be cared for, leading to clinging, submissive behavior and inability to make independent decisions.

How does Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder manifest?

Indirect resistance to demands with covert sabotage or obstruction while appearing compliant.

People with Histrionic Personality Disorder are characterized by .

excessive emotionality and attention-seeking, theatrical behavior.

Define Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy.

Antisocial Personality Disorder (psychopathy) shows .

disregard for and violation of others’ rights, lack of remorse, and potential for criminal behavior.

Borderline Personality Disorder involves .

marked emotional instability, impulsivity, fear of abandonment, and self-harm/suicidal gestures.

Which therapy was designed specifically for Borderline Personality Disorder?

Marsha Linehan’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).