Abnormal Psychology Glossary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key abnormal psychology terms and their definitions from the lecture notes.

Premature Ejaculation

Persistent or recurrent ejaculation within about one minute of vaginal penetration (or before desired), present for ≥ 6 months on almost all occasions, causing distress; often treated with start-stop or squeeze techniques.

Prognosis for Schizophrenia

More favorable when there is good premorbid adjustment, acute and later onset, female gender, precipitating event, brief active-phase duration, insight, family history of mood disorder, and no family history of schizophrenia.

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Inhibited, emotionally withdrawn behavior toward caregivers with minimal comfort-seeking, linked to extreme insufficient care; symptoms evident before age 5 and developmental age ≥ 9 months.

Risk Factors for Suicide

Warning signs, prior attempts, lethal plan, male gender, divorced/separated/widowed status, hopelessness; highest rates in Whites (except AI/AN ages 15-34), and with Major Depression or Bipolar Disorder; attempters more often female.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Pervasive detachment and restricted emotion, with ≥ 4 features such as preferring solitude, little interest in sex, few pleasures, no close friends, indifference to praise/criticism, emotional coldness.

Schizophrenia

At least two active-phase symptoms (e.g., delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech) for ≥ 1 month, continuous disturbance ≥ 6 months, functional impairment; treatment includes antipsychotics, CBT, psychoeducation, social skills, supported employment, family interventions.

Schizophreniform Disorder

Same symptom criteria as schizophrenia but duration ≥ 1 month and < 6 months; functional impairment may occur but is not required.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Social/interpersonal deficits with acute discomfort and reduced capacity for close relationships plus ≥ 5 eccentric features (ideas of reference, magical thinking, odd perceptions, constricted affect, no close friends, suspicions, inappropriate affect, social anxiety).

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Developmentally inappropriate, excessive fear of separation from home or attachment figures with ≥ 3 symptoms; lasts ≥ 4 weeks in youth or ≥ 6 months in adults and causes distress/impairment.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Intense fear of social scrutiny; fears negative evaluation of anxiety symptoms, leads to avoidance or endured distress; disproportionate to threat, persistent, and impairing; exposure with response prevention (plus social skills or cognitive restructuring) is effective.

Specific Learning Disorder

Persistent (≥ 6 months) difficulties in academic skills below age expectations despite interventions, interfering with daily life, began during school years, and not better explained by other conditions.

Specific Phobia

Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object/situation, avoided or endured with distress, disproportionate to threat, lasting ≥ 6 months and impairing; in-vivo exposure with response prevention is treatment of choice.

Substance-Induced Disorders

Substance Intoxication, Withdrawal, or Substance/Medication-Induced Mental Disorders—temporary but sometimes persistent CNS syndromes caused by substances, medications, or toxins (e.g., induced psychotic, depressive, neurocognitive disorders).

Substance Use Disorders

Maladaptive pattern of substance use with ≥ 2 symptoms (e.g., larger amounts, failed cut-down attempts, craving, continued use despite problems, risky use, tolerance, withdrawal) occurring within 12 months.

Tobacco Use Disorder / Smoking Cessation Interventions

Long-term abstinence most likely when treatment combines nicotine replacement, multicomponent behavioral therapy (skills training, relapse prevention, stimulus control, rapid smoking), and clinician support.

Tobacco Withdrawal

Within 24 hrs of stopping/reducing tobacco use, ≥ 4 symptoms appear: irritability/anger, anxiety, impaired concentration, increased appetite, restlessness, depressed mood, insomnia.

Tourette's Disorder

Multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic present for > 1 year (waxing and waning) with onset before age 18.

Uncomplicated Bereavement

Normal reaction to loss of a loved one; may mimic depressive symptoms but perceived as normal by the individual, who may seek help for associated issues like insomnia or anorexia.

Vascular Neurocognitive Disorder

Major or Mild Neurocognitive Disorder due to cerebrovascular disease, evident via history, exam, or imaging; course may involve acute onset with partial recovery, stepwise decline, or fluctuating progression.