Chapter 15 - Psychological Disorders

What does clinical psych study and evaluate?

It studies mental disorders and evaluates if people are thinking and behaving in maladaptive ways.

What is a maladaptive behaviour?

One that causes distress, limits functioning in daily life and increases risks of harm+ injury

What are ways to tell if a behaviour is abnormal? Do you need to possess all 6?

• unusual?

• violate social norms?

• wrong sense of reality?

• distress to you or others?

• maladaptive?

• dangerous?

No

What is the medical model?

Viewing psychological disorders like physical illnesses

What is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)?

A manual that establishes criteria for diagnosing mental disorders

What does the DSM help clinical psychologists?

by everyone using consistent terminology

What is the current version of the DSM?

DSM-5

WHat approach do clinical psychologists use to determine a diagnoses?

The Biopsychosocial approach

What is M’Naghten Rule?

That you can be found not guilty in a court case for reasons of insanity

What does a person with a personality disorder cause for themselves?

distress and impaired functioning

What kind of personality disorder is Cluster A?

They are MAD and WEIRD

(eccentric, and odd)

What are the kinds of cluster A personality disorders?

Schizoid, Paranoia, Schizotypical

What kind of personality disorder is Cluster B?

They are BAD and WILD

(dramatic and emotional)

What are the kinds of cluster B personality disorders?

Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic, Antisocial

What kind of personality disorder is Cluster C?

They are SAD and WORRIED

(anxious and fearful)

What are the kinds of cluster C personality disorders?

Avoidant, Obsessive-Compulsive and Dependent

What is a High Conflict personality?

someone who creates lots of conflicts by blaming and pining the problem on someone else

What are Dissociative Disorders?

disconnection with their surrounding and conscious awareness (zoning out)

What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?

often linked to trauma or brain injury, having the presence of 2 or more distinct identities where only one is in control at a time

What are Anxiety disorders?

disorders that are centred around fear/nervousness and people’s behaviour is often irrational and excessive

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

chronic and obsessive worrying about everyday life

What is anxiety a response to?

stressful events and if you should fight-or-flight

What are phobias?

A persistent and irrational fear of a specific object or situation

What is agoraphobia?

fear of panic or having panic attacks in public spaces

What is social anxiety disorder?

fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

obsessions create anxiety and the compulsions that are acted on reduce this anxiety for a time being

What is Major Depression?

prolonged periods of sadness and feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness

What are the three elements of depression?

Internalizing, Stabilizing and Globalizing

What does stabilizing mean regarding depressive explanations?

to say that life will never change

What does globalizing mean regarding depressive explanations?

to say it affects everything in your life

What is Bipolar Disorder?

mood disorder with both mania and depression components

What is Schizophrenia?

A developmental disorder that affects delusions and hallucinations

What is Catatonia? Which disorder is it involved with?

a person becomes immobile and unresponsive

Schizophrenia

What is disorganized schizophrenia?

ways of behaving are inappropriate and all over the place

What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

behaviours that should not be normally occurring (new ones)

• Hallucinations, delusions and disorganized behaviours

What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

no emotions, social withdrawal and low motivation

What is the early stage of schizophrenia?

The Prodromal phase, involving confusion and low motivation

What is the second stage of schizophrenia?

The Active phase, involving hallucination and delusions

What is the third stage of schizophrenia?

The Residual phase, happens after an episode so less motivation and withdrawal

What can trigger a relapse of schizophrenia?

Stress

Which people in the same family have the highest risk of both having schizophrenia?

identical twins

What structure in the brain can be a biological explanation for the symptoms of schizophrenia?

enlarged ventricles

What are 3 prenatal risk factors for developing schizophrenia?

Maternal stress, prenatal infections and malnutrition