AP Psych Unit 8 Clinical Psychology

acrophobia

an excessive, irrational fear of heights

agoraphobia

Fear or avoidance of situations, such as crowds or wide open places, where one has felt loss of control and panic

anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder in which a person (usually an adolescent female) maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly underweight; sometimes accompanied by excessive exercise

antisocial personality disorder

Lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members. May be aggressive and ruthless or a clever con artist - usually men

anxiety disorders

Psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety.

arachnophobia

a persistent and irrational fear of spiders.

ataque de nervios

A culture-bound syndrome found among Latinos, characterized by shaking, uncontrollable shouting or crying, a sense of rising heat, loss of control, and verbal or physical aggression, followed by fainting or seizurelike episodes. Symptoms often occur following a stressful event related to the family, and most individuals quickly return to their previous level of functioning.

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Marked by the appearance by age 7 of one or more of 3 key symptoms: extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

A disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by deficient communication, social interaction, and understanding of others' states of mind.

avoidant personality disorder

a personality disorder characterized by (a) hypersensitivity to rejection and criticism, (b) a desire for uncritical acceptance, (c) social withdrawal in spite of a desire for affection and acceptance, and (d) low self-esteem.

behavioral perspective

The perspective that a disorder exists because maladaptive learned associations, acquired via classical conditioning, reinforcement of behavior, or through observational learning.

biological perspective

This perspective focuses on how the body (e.g., genes, hormones, brain systems) and the brain affect behavior and mental events.

biopsychosocial model

integration of biological, psychological, and social approaches to the study of mental health and specific mental disorders

bipolar disorders

A category of disorders in which a person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania.

bipolar I disorder

the most severe form of Bipolar Disorder, in which people experience a euphoric, talkative, highly energetic, and overly ambitious state that lasts a week or longer

bipolar II disorder

a less severe form of bipolar in which people move between depression and a milder hypomania

borderline personality disorder

A personality disorder characterized by lack of stability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotion; impulsivity; angry outbursts; intense fear of abandonment; recurring suicidal gestures.

bulimia nervosa

An eating disorder in which a person's binge eating (usually of high-calorie foods) is followed by compensatory behavior, such as vomiting, laxative use, fasting, or excessive exercise

catatonia

patterns of disorganized motor behavior often appearing in schizophrenia

catatonic excitement

periods of extreme restlessness and excessive and apparently purposeless motor activity

catatonic stupor

a state of significantly decreased reactivity to environmental stimuli and events and reduced spontaneous movement

cluster a

"This is the odd or eccentric cluster of personality disorders and includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders."

cluster b

This is the dramatic, emotional, or erratic cluster and includes antisocial, histrionic, narcissistic, and borderline personality disorders.

cluster c

This is the anxious or fearful cluster and includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

cognitive perspective

Disorders are caused by faulty/illogical thinking or someone's interpretation of a situation.

compulsion

An uncontrollable urge to perform an act repeatedly to reduce anxious thoughts.

delusion

False beliefs that may accompany psychotic disorders.

delusions of grandeur

A fixed false belief that one is more powerful or important that one actually is.

delusions of persecution

A fixed false belief that others are threatening or conspiring against them.

dependent personality disorder

A personality disorder characterized by a pattern of clinging and obedience, fear of separation, and an ongoing need to be taken care of.

major depressive disorder

a serious depressive disorder that can affect how people feel, think, and function in their daily lives. It's characterized by a depressed mood or loss of interest in activities that lasts for at least two weeks and interferes with daily activities.

depressive disorders

a group of disorders characterized by an enduring sad, empty, or irritable mood, along with physical and cognitive changes that affect a person's ability to function

deviation from norms

This particular criteria of diagnosis involves behaviors and emotions that differ significantly from what is considered appropriate or typical for a social group.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

A widely used text for classifying psychological disorders.

diathesis-stress model

A diagnostic model that proposes that a disorder may develop when an underlying vulnerability is coupled with a precipitating event

disorganized thinking and speech

a positive symptom of schizophrenia and may manifest as speaking in ways such as speaking in a word salad (stringing together words in nonsensical ways).

dissociation

a split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others

dissociative amnesia

Dissociative disorder characterized by the sudden and extensive inability to recall important personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature.

dissociative disorders

A category of disorders in which one's conscious awareness becomes separated from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings.

dissociative identity disorder

A rare disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities.

distress

This particular criteria of diagnosis views that abnormality involves experiencing negative feelings like anxiety, isolation, confusion and fear.

dopamine hypothesis

Possible cause of schizophrenia suggest a biological link, such as imbalances with certain neurotransmitters

dysfunction

This particular criteria of diagnosis involves the abnormal behavior significantly interfering with everyday tasks and living your life.

eclectic approach

an approach in psychotherapy that uses techniques from various forms of therapy

evolutionary perspective

The study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection.

feeding and eating disorders

a category of psychological disorders in the DSM-5 that includes anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

flat affect

total or near absence of appropriate emotional responses to situations and events

fugue

Sudden and purposeful need for travel; can sometimes occur in those experiencing dissociative amnesia

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

An anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal.

hallucinations

False sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus

histrionic personality disorder

A personality disorder characterized by excessive emotionality and preoccupation with being the center of attention; emotional shallowness; overly dramatic behavior

hoarding disorder

Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value

humanistic perspective

A person isn't getting their basic needs met or aren't being given support to reach their full potential.

international classification of diseases (icd)

a classification of health conditions compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO); includes psychological disorders as well as physical diseases

major depressive disorder

A disorder in which a person experiences, in the absence of drugs or a medical condition, 2 or more weeks of significantly low moods, feelings of worthlessness, and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities

mania

a period of elevated or expansive mood that appears in bipolar disorders; severe episodes are referred to as manic episodes; those that are less severe and of shorter duration are called hypomanic episodes

manic episodes

a period characterized by elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting at least a week and often including increases in activity or psychomotor agitation, talkativeness, flight of ideas or racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, risk-taking, and decreased need for sleep; experiencing one of these is required for a diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder

narcissistic personality disorder

Characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with fantasies of success or power, and a need for constant attention or admiration

negative symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia that are marked by deficits in functioning, such as apathy, lack of emotion, and slowed speech and movement

neurodevelopmental disorders

A category of psychological disorders in the DSM-5 that includes ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

obsession

A persistent, unwanted thought or idea that keeps recurring.

obsessive-compulsive and related disorders

A category of psychological disorders in the DSM-5 that includes OCD and hoarding disorder

obsessive-compulsive disorder

A disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts and/or actions to reduce anxiety.

obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of excessive perfectionism, orderliness, mental and interpersonal control, inability to compromise, and an exaggerated sense of moral responsibility

panic attack

a sudden onset of intense apprehension and fearfulness in the absence of actual danger, accompanied by the presence of physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, chest pain/discomfort, choking sensations, sweating, and dizziness. The attack occurs in a discrete period of time and often involves fears of going crazy, losing control, or dying. These may occur in the context of any of the anxiety disorders as well as in other mental disorders

panic disorder

An anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations. Often followed by worry over a possible next attack.

paranoid personality disorder

a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive, unwarranted suspiciousness and distrust of others (e.g, expectation of trickery or harm, overconcern with hidden motives and meanings), hypersensitivity (e.g., being easily slighted or offended) and restricted affectivity (e.g, emotional coldness, no sense of humor).

persistent depressive disorder

A form of depression that is not severe enough to be diagnosed as major depressive disorder

personality disorders

A category of disorders characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning.

positive symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia that are excesses of behavior or occur in addition to normal behavior; hallucinations, delusions, and distorted thinking

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience.

prenatal viral exposure

a risk factor that increases the odds someone will develop schizophrenia (when combined with pre-existing genetic risks)

psychodynamic perspective

This perspective sees behavior as the product of such influences as unconscious drives and conflicts, and personality traits as outcomes of such underlying causes as aggressive or sexual drives.

schizoid personality disorder

a personality disorder characterized by long-term emotional coldness, absence of tender feelings for others, lack of desire for and enjoyment of close relationships, and indifference to praise or criticism and to the feelings of others.

schizophrenic spectrum disorders

A group of severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions

schizotypal personality disorder

a personality disorder characterized by various oddities of thought, perception, speech, and behavior that are not severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of schizophrenia; this disorder is listed both in the personality disorders section of the DSM and in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders category

social anxiety disorder

An anxiety disorder involving intense fear of social situations, leading to avoidance of such.

sociocultural perspective

The influence of social media, friends, family, and one's culture can cause disorders. For example, eating disorders are more likely within Western cultures than Eastern cultures.

specific phobia

An anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation.

stigma

the negative social attitude attached to a characteristic of an individual; persons diagnosed with psychological disorders are often unfairly judged and face discrimination as a result of this

taijin kyofusho

a culture-bound anxiety disorder experienced mainly by Japanese people; sufferers fear that people are judging their bodies as undesirable, offensive, or unpleasing

trauma and stressor-related disorders

a category of disorders that are associated with exposures to trauma and stress; examples include PTSD and acute stress disorder

word salad

Jumble of incoherent speech as sometimes heard in schizophrenia

active listening

Empathic listening in which the listener echoes, restates, and clarifies - part of client-centered therapy

antianxiety drugs

Drugs used to control anxiety and agitation

antidepressant drugs

Drugs used to treat depression; also increasingly prescribed for anxiety. Different types work by altering the availability of various neurotransmitters

antipsychotic drugs

Drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other forms of severe thought disorder

applied behavior analysis

Variations of applied behavior analysis may be used clinically as treatment for abnormal or problematic behaviors.

aversion therapies

Includes counterconditioning techniques that associate an unpleasant state (such as nausea) with an unwanted behavior (such as drinking alcohol) as well as operant techniques designed to discourage unhelpful behaviors

behavior therapy

Applies learning principles to the elimination of unwanted behaviors

biofeedback

A system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension

biomedical therapy

Prescribed medications or medical procedures that act directly on the patient's nervous system

client-centered/person-centered therapy

A non-directive form of talk therapy where a client acts as an equal partner in the therapy process while the therapist remains non-directive—they don't pass judgment on one's feelings or offer suggestions or solutions

cognitive restructuring

A therapy that strives to help clients recognize maladaptive thought patterns and replace them with ways of viewing the world that are more in tune with reality

cognitive therapy

Teaches people new, more adaptive ways of thinking and acting; based on the assumption that thoughts intervene between events and our emotional reactions

cognitive triad

A thought that a set of three beliefs characterize major depressive episodes - negative beliefs about the self, the world, and the future.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A popular integrative therapy that combines cognitive therapy (changing self-defeating thinking) with behavior therapy (changing behavior)

counterconditioning

Uses classical conditioning to evoke new responses to stimuli that are triggering unwanted behaviors

cultural humility

an ongoing process of self-exploration and self-critique combined with a willingness to learn from others

Deinstitutionalization

the process, begun in the late 20th century, of moving people with psychological disorders out of institutional facilities