AP Psych Clinical Psychology

psychological disorders

a syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior

psychopathology

a mental illness

DSM-5

A common manual used by mental health professionals to identify and classify mental disorders.

attention-defecit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

a psychological disorder marked by extreme inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity

D's of abnormal behavior

Deviant: Different from what most people in a culture see as normal.

Distressful: Causes pain, stress, or suffering.

Danger: Risk of harm to yourself or others.

Dysfunctional: Interferes with daily life (if it doesn’t affect your life, it’s not a disorder).

hallucinations

False sensory experiences (like seeing or hearing something that isn’t actually there), often linked to serious mental illness.

delusions

Strong false beliefs that stay fixed even when there’s clear evidence they aren’t true; a sign of serious mental illness.

affect (emotion)

characteristically depressed, anxious, manic, or no emotional response; a symptom of severe mental illness

anxiety disorders

Mental disorders marked by constant anxiety or behaviors done to reduce anxiety. Includes conditions like GAD, panic disorder, phobias, OCD, and PTSD. People often stay overly alert or on edge.

social anxiety disorder (social phobia)

intense fear and avoidance of social situations

generalized anxiety disorder

An anxiety disorder where a person feels constant worry, tension, and physical stress. It often starts early and builds up over time.

panic disorder

An anxiety disorder with sudden, short panic attacks of intense fear and physical symptoms (like chest pain or feeling like you can’t breathe). People often worry about having another attack. Smoking can increase the risk.

agoraphobia

fear or avoidance of situations (such as crowds or wide open places) where one has felt loss of control and panic; often a product of a panic disorder

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

An anxiety disorder involving unwanted, repeated thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive actions (compulsions) done to reduce anxiety.

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A disorder that can happen after trauma, involving flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, emotional numbness, sleep problems, and avoiding others. Symptoms last at least a month.

major depressive disorder

A mental disorder where a person has at least two weeks of symptoms like sadness or loss of interest in things they used to enjoy, along with other symptoms.

bipolar disorder

A disorder where a person switches between depression (low mood and energy) and mania (very high energy, excitement, or irritability).

mania

a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state in which dangerously poor judgement is common

norepinephrine and serotonin

increases arousal and boosts mood; scare with depression

schizophrenia

A serious mental disorder involving loss of contact with reality, including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking/speech, and unusual or reduced emotional expression and behavior.

psychotic disorders

a group of psychological disorders marked by irrational ideas, distorted perceptions, and a loss of contact with reality

delusion

a false belief (often of persecution or grandeur) that may accompany psychotic disorders

positive symptoms

add to the situation (ex: delusions and hallucinations)

negative symptoms

subtract from the situation (ex: social withdrawal, flat effect)

dissociative disorders

controversial, rare disorders in which conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

A dissociative disorder where a person has two or more distinct identities or personality states that take turns controlling their behavior, along with memory gaps.

personality disorders

Long-lasting, rigid behavior patterns that make it hard to function socially. Includes three types: odd/eccentric, dramatic/emotional, and anxious/fearful.

antisocial personality disorder

A personality disorder where a person shows little or no guilt or empathy, often ignores rules or harms others, and may act aggressively or manipulate people.

anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder in which a person maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly underweight; sometimes accompanied by excessive exercise

bulimia nervosa

an eating disorder in which a person alternates binge eating (usually of high-calorie foods) with purging (by vomiting or laxative use) or fasting

psychotherapy

A treatment using talking and psychological methods between a trained therapist and a person to help with mental or emotional problems or personal growth.

biomedical theory

prescribed medications or procedures that act directly on the person's physiology

eclectic approach

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

psychodynamic therapy

A therapy approach that explores how unconscious thoughts and early life experiences shape behavior, with the goal of improving self-awareness.

client-centered therapy (person-centered therapy)

A humanistic therapy by Carl Rogers where the therapist listens carefully, shows empathy, and accepts the client to help them grow and improve.

active listening

empathic listening in which the listener echoes, restates, and clarifies; a feature of Rogers' client-centered therapy.

unconditional positive regard

a caring, accepting, non judgemental attitude, which Carl Rogers believed would help patients develop self-awareness and self-acceptance

behavior therapy

therapy that applies learning principles to the elimination of unwanted behaviors

counterconditioning

A behavior therapy that uses learning techniques to change reactions to triggers, including exposure to fears and pairing unwanted behaviors with unpleasant outcomes.

exposure therapy

A therapy method for anxiety that gradually exposes a person (in real life or imagination) to what they fear so they become less afraid over time.

systematic desensitization

A type of exposure therapy that pairs relaxation with slowly increasing exposure to feared things to reduce phobias.

aversive conditioning

a type of counterconditioning that associates an unpleasant state (such as nausea) with an unwanted behavior (such as drinking alcohol)

token economy

A behavior therapy system where people earn rewards (tokens) for good behaviors, which they can trade for privileges or items.

cognitive therapy

A therapy that helps people change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors by teaching healthier thinking patterns that affect emotions.

rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)

A direct cognitive therapy by Albert Ellis that challenges and changes irrational, self-defeating thoughts.

cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

A widely used therapy that combines changing negative thoughts with changing behaviors.

group therapy

therapy conducted with groups rather than individuals, permitting therapeutic benefits from group interaction

family therapy

therapy that treats the family as a system; views an individual's unwanted behaviors as influenced by (or directed at) other family members

psychopharmacology

the study of the effects of drugs on mind and behavior

antipsychotic drugs

drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other forms of severe thought disorder; antagonist drugs

antianxiety drugs

drugs used to control anxiety and agitation

antidepressant drugs

Medications that treat depression and anxiety disorders by increasing serotonin levels; many are SSRIs.

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

A medical treatment for severe depression where a brief electric current is passed through the brain while the person is asleep under anesthesia.

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

A treatment that uses repeated magnetic pulses to change brain activity.

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

block the reuptake of serotonin after it has been released (includes Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil)

psychosurgery

surgery that removes or destroys brain tissue in an effort to change behavior (was more common in the past; very rare now)

lobotomy

A rare, outdated brain surgery that cut connections in the frontal lobe to reduce extreme emotions or aggression, but often caused serious mental dullness.

lithium

a cheap salt used as a medication to treat bipolar disorder

Biopsychosocial model

perspective that asserts that biology, psychology, and social factors interact to determine an individual's health

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

World Health Organization classification system

Diathesis-stress model

A model saying mental disorders can develop when a hidden vulnerability combines with a stressful event.

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Brain-based disorders that appear during childhood and affect development and functioning.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A childhood disorder involving difficulties with communication and social interaction, along with repetitive behaviors and very focused interests.

Hoarding disorder

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

Bipolar I Disorder

Bipolar II Disorder

• Bipolar I Disorder: A mood disorder with at least one full manic episode, often followed by depression.

• Bipolar II Disorder: A mood disorder with episodes of depression and milder mania (hypomania), but no full manic episodes

Acrophobia

fear of heights

Arachnophobia

fear of spiders

Ataque de nervious

A culture-linked syndrome seen in some Spanish and Caribbean groups involving intense emotional outbursts, shaking, aggression, and feeling out of control after stress.

Taijin kyofusho

a form of social anxiety common in Japan involving a fear of offending or embarrassing others with one's odor, eye contact, or appearance.

Dissociative amnesia

A disorder where a person suddenly cannot remember important personal or traumatic information.

Paranoid personality disorder

type of personality disorder characterized by extreme suspiciousness or mistrust of others

Schizoid personality disorder

a personality disorder characterized by persistent avoidance of social relationships and little expression of emotion

Schizotypal personality disorder

Person has several traits that causes interpersonal problems, including inappropriate affect, paranoid/magical thinking, off beliefs

Antisocial personality disorder

A personality disorder where a person shows little or no guilt or empathy and may harm or manipulate others, including people close to them.

Borderline personality disorder

A personality disorder marked by unstable relationships, emotions, and self-image, along with impulsive behavior, intense fear of being abandoned, and sometimes self-harm or suicidal actions.

Histrionic personality disorder

A personality disorder marked by strong need for attention, overly dramatic emotions, and shallow feelings.

Narcissistic personality disorder

a personality disturbance characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-importance

Avoidant personality disorder

A personality disorder marked by strong social anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and fear of being judged or rejected.

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

A personality disorder marked by extreme focus on order, perfection, and control.

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.

Therapeutic alliance

a bond of trust and mutual understanding between a therapist and client, who work together constructively to overcome the client's problem

Cognitive restructuring

A therapy that helps people challenge negative automatic thoughts and replace them with more realistic, positive ones.

Free association

A psychoanalytic technique where a person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind to reveal unconscious thoughts.

Dream interpretation

a technique used in psychoanalysis in which the content of dreams is analyzed for disguised or symbolic wishes, meanings, and motivations

Fear hierarchies

A step-by-step exposure method where fears are ranked from easiest to hardest, and the person gradually faces them from least to most frightening.

Dialectical behavior therapy

cognitive-behavioral intervention aimed at teaching problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, and skill at managing negative emotions

Hypnosis

state of consciousness in which the person is especially susceptible to suggestion; used in pain and anxiety management

lithium treats?

bipolar