abnormal psych midterm

Psychological Disorder

psychological dysfunction or BREAKDOWN in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning, within an individual that is associated with DISTRESS, or IMPAIRMENT, in functioning. This response is not typical or culturally expected.

Dysfunctional Distress

occurs when person reaches a level of distress much more than others/ than which can be considered normal

Considering Culture

is behavior considered "normalcy" relative to behavior of others in the same cultural context

Psychopathology

scientific study of psychological dysfunction

Clinical Description

Begins with presenting the problem, aiming to distinguish clinically significant dysfunction from common human experience. Involves prevalence and incidence or disorders, prognosis, and course of disorder.

Etiology

studying what contributes to the development of psychopathology, ie, causes and progress of a disease or disorder, can be involved in treatment development, typically using integrative combined approaches

Integrative approach

Approach born from the realization that no one influence (biological, behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or social) ever occurs in isolation, therefore leading to an understanding of behavior as a product of continual interaction between psychological, biological and social interactions.

Multidimensional Integrative Model

interdisciplinary, eclectic, and integrative system that underlines the multiple influences (biological, psychosocial, sociological, developmental, environmental) that results in abnormal behavior

The Interaction of Genes and Environment: Diathesis Stress Model

the idea that disorders are the cause of underlying risk factors, biological and psychological vulnerabilities, combining with life stressors that cause a disorder to emerge

Epigenetics

study of factors other than inherited DNA sequence, such as new learning or stress, that alter the phenotypic expression of genes, believing environmental influences affect the expression of certain genes both for the individual and descendants

Neurotransmitters

chemicals that enable the nerve impulse to cross the synapse to the receptors of the next neuron

Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

a GENERALIZED inhibiting neurotransmitter reduces overall arousal, can temper down emotional responses, reduces levels of anger, hostility, aggression, and even positive emotional states

Serotonin (5-HT)

system regulates our behavior, moods, and thought processes. Low levels associated with less inhibition and with instability, impulsivity, and the tendency to overreact, can influence aggressive behaviors, suicide, and sexual behavior

Principle of Equifinality

in refuting the idea that psychological disorders have a single cause, instead believing that they have many causes—that all interact with one another—and to understand this interaction, there must be a multidimensional integrative approach.

Clinical Assessment

systematic evaluation and measurement of psychological, biological, and social factors

Diagnosis

degree of fit between symptoms and diagnostic criteria

Behavioral assessment

using direct intervention to formally assess an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behavior in specific situations or contexts

Self-monitoring

involves an individual monitoring their own behavior. It can help test the effectiveness of treatment. Often, behaviors individuals want to increase tend to increase, and behaviors they want to decrease tend to decrease.

Comorbidity

more than one diagnosis at once

Classification

any effort to construct groups or categories and to assign objects or people to these categories based on their shared attributes or relations

Nomenclature

the names or labels of psychological disorders, which facilitate communication among clinicians

Case Study Method

extensive observation and detailed description of a single client, which was the foundation of early historical developments in psychopathology

Correlational Research

assesses the degree to which levels of certain variables are linked to levels of other variables by using statistical relations; furthermore, an understanding of the limits of linking findings directly to causation

Positive correlation

variables that change in the same direction

Negative correlation

variables that change in the opposite direction

Causation ≠ Correlation

Two correlated variables do not mean that there must be a direct relationship between said variables; a third (unidentified) variable may be responsible for producing the observed relationship; therefore, it cannot establish an implied "cause and effect"

Anxiety

a future-oriented negative mood state, characterized by bodily symptoms of physcial tension and by apprehension about the future, sets of behaviors include looking worried, fidgeting, avoidance, and escape.

Anxiety Upside

the idea that social, physical, and intellectual performances are driven and enhanced by a moderate level of anxiety, therefore recognizing the future-oriented state of anxiety as a way of "being ready" for things that may go wrong

Anxiety Biological Causes/Contributions

evidence shows we inherit a tendency to be anxious, panic runs in families, and although a genetic factor does not cause anxiety or panic directly, the stress/environment an individual lives through can "turn on/off" certain genes related to such disorders

Triple Vulnerability Theory

involving three vulnerabilities that lead to the high risk of psychological disorders developing

Panic Attack

a discrete period of intense fear and physical arousal, develops abruptly, with symptoms peaking within minutes, characterized by a racing heart, difficulty breathing, and loss of cognitive control

Panic disorder

intense anxiety, worry, or fear of another panic attack that persists for more than a month, often accompanied by agoraphobia

Agoraphobia

fear or avoidance of situations/events, concern about being unable to escape or get help in the event of panic, characterized by interoceptive avoidance of sensations that may resemble the beginning of a panic attack

Social Anxiety Disorder

extreme irrational concern about being negatively evaluated by other people, sometimes (not always) manifests as shyness, the disorder leads to significant impairment and distress, with avoidance of deared situations or assurance with extreme distress

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

psychological disorder involving exposure to trauma which individuals continues to re-experience through intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares; manifesting in avoidance of reminders of trauma, negative mood alterations and chronic overaural, all lasting for longer than a month

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

psychological disorder involving obsessions, (thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety or distress) and compulsions (actions or thoughts that a person feels driven to perform in order to provide relief from obsessions.)

Exposure and Response Prevention

a highly effective treatment often considered the gold standard for OCD treatment, a process whereby the rituals are actively prevented, and the patient is gradually and systematically exposed to the feared thoughts or situations

Major Depressive Episode

an episode of extremely depressed mood and/or loss of pleasure lasts most of the day, nearly everyday, for a least two weeks

Manic Episode

an episode of elevated, expansive or irritable mood, with abnormally and persistently increased activity or energy for at least one week

Hypomanic Episode

a shorter less severe version of manic episode, does not cause marked impairment in social or occupational function

Bipolar I

alternations between major depressive episodes and manic episodes

Bilopar II

alternations between major depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

a disorder born out of the high misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder in children, these children show symptoms of chronic irritability, anger, aggression, hyperarousal and frequent temper tantrums, these children show no evidence of elevated mood (mania) and no excessive rates of bipolar in family

Learned Helplessness Theory

a theory involving the lack of perceived control over life events which leads to decreased attempts to improve one's own situation

Depressive Cognitive Triad

a psychological theory developed by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, which focuses on the negative thought patterns commonly observed in individuals, particularly those with depression, the triad consists of: negative views about oneself, negative perceptions of the world, and bleak expectations for the future

Lithium carbonate

treatment of choice for bipolar disorder, considered a mood stabilizer because it treats depressive symptoms and treats and prevents manic episodes

Eating Disorders

behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions, can lead to serious complications affecting physical, psychological, and social function.

Anorexia Nervosa

an eating disorder marked by extreme weight loss, restriction of caloric intake, intense fear of weight gain, and body image distortion, often characterized by an immense need for control, with two major types: restricting and binge-eating-purging

Bingeing

a hallmark symptom of bulimia nervosa and binge eating, involves eating excess amounts og food in a discrete period of time, often accompanied by feelings of guilt, shame, and regret

Bulimia Nervosa

a binge eating disorder involving compensatory behaviors such as purging, excessive exercise, fasting, or food restriction, where individuals are overly concerned with body shape, and fear of gaining weight

Purging

the use of excessive bowel movements or vomiting to 'purge' food shortly after an individual eats. Purging has serious medical consequences, including eroding of dental enamel, and tearing of the esophagus

Perfectionism and Low self-esteem

characteristics often associated with bulimia and anorexia

Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa

cognitive behavioral therapy with a principal focus on the distorted evaluation of body shape and weight, antidepressants can help reduce bingeing and purging behavior, but alone do not have substantial long-lasting effects

Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

initial treatment focuses on attaining a weight in a healthy range, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychoeducation, with emphasis on interventions are typically most effective