overview of psychpathology

Deviance

different, extreme, unusual

Distress

unpleasant or upsetting

Dysfunction

interferes with daily functioning

Danger

harm to oneself or others

Cultural humility

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

Deinstitutionalization

a transition from institutional mental healthcare to more outpatient care & community mental health support

Somatogenic perspective

states that pathological functioning has physical causes

Psychogenic perspective

states that psychopathology has psychological causes

Case Studies

a detailed account of a person's life and psychological problems

Correlational Design

a research design that describes a correlation and utilizes a correlation coefficient (r) from -1 to 1.

Experimental Design

the research procedure in which a variable is manipulated and the manipulations effect on another variable is observed

Independent variable

manipulated factor

Dependent variable

observed/effected factor

Longitudinal Design

an experimental method where the same individuals are observed over a long period of time

Matched Design

matches the experimental participants with control participants who are similar on key characteristics

Single-Case Experiment

a single participant is observed before and after a manipulation of the independent variable in the experiment occurs.

Control Groups

research participants who are not exposed to the Independent Variable, but most experience is similar to the experimental group

Random Assignment

any selection method that ensures every participant is as likely to be placed in one group as another

Masked Designs

individuals are unaware of their assigned groups

Double-Masked Designs

participants and experimenter are kept unaware in an experiment (reduces bias)

External Validity

relates to how applicable the findings are in the real world

Internal Validity

measures how well a study is conducted (its structure) and how accurately its results reflect the studied group.

Statistical Significance

the probability that a difference is observed between groups in a study is unlikely to be due to chance

Idiographic vs nomothetic

the idiographic approach views each person uniquely and measures personality via case studies, interviews and observations while the nomothetic approach seeks to find common patterns in people's personalities and measures personality via psychometrics

Cognitive behavioral therapy

a type of psychotherapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behavior to improve mental health

CBT triangle

a visual representation of how thoughts feelings and behaviors affect each other, shaping how people experience and react to situations

Existential therapy

focuses on death, meaning, freedom and responsibility, and isolation

Humanistic therapy

a perspective that emphasizes the inherent goodness of people, the importance of self-actualization, and the centrality of the human experience.

Psychodynamic therapy

a form of therapy that focuses on understanding and resolving unconscious conflicts and patterns that influence a person's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors

Id

the pleasure principle

Ego

reality principle; develops defense mechanisms

Superego

morality principle

Reliability

consistency of an assessment measure (reliable tests should yield the same results under the same conditions)

Validity

accuracy of a tool's results

Standardization

a set of rules to be followed every time the same assessment is utilized

Projective Tests

requires client interpretation of vague or ambiguous stimuli or open-ended instruction; psychodynamic orientation

Strengths of Projective Tests

provides supplemental info

Weaknesses of Projective Tests

psychodynamically based, less valid and reliable, biased against minority communities

Personality Tests

Clients respond to questions that focus on behaviors, beliefs, and feelings; uses tests to draw conclusions about the client's personality and psych functioning

Strengths of Personality Tests

standardized, objective, reliable

Weaknesses of Personality Tests

not valid, cultural limits

Intelligence Tests

indirectly measures intelligence

Strengths of Intelligence Tests

high reliability and standardization, fairly valid

Weaknesses of Intelligence Tests

external influences (low motivations for clients), cultural biases, potential biases for minoritized communities

Response Inventories Tests

a self-reported assessment to measure a person's response in one specific area of functioning

Strengths of Response Inventories Tests

easily accessible and quick to administer

Weaknesses of Response Inventories Tests

not tested rigorously, symptoms may be exaggerated or minimized

Anxiety vs Fear

anxiety is a looming feeling of dread for something that has not happened while fear is a specific, automatic response to a real or perceived threat

GAD

severe ongoing anxiety that interferes with daily activities

Specific Phobia

an intense and persistent fear of an object, activity, or situation

Agoraphobia

an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help may not be available

Panic Disorder

an anxiety disorder where you regularly have sudden panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear

Social Anxiety

a disorder characterized by an intense, persistent fear of being watched or judged by others

Metacognitive theory

a form of evidence-based psychotherapy that focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts and beliefs about one's own thoughts

Benzodiazepines

depressants that produce sedation and hypnosis, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms

Systematic Desensitization

a form of exposure therapy used to treat phobias, anxiety disorders, and other fear-based conditions

Mindfulness-based Therapy Approaches

treatments that encourage people to be present in the moment and accept their experiences without judgment

CBT perspective on social anxiety

social anxiety is primarily driven by negative thought patterns and beliefs about oneself in social situations, which then trigger anxiety and avoidance behaviors

CBT perspective on specific phobia

marked, persistent, and disproportionate fear of a particular object or situation; usually lasting at least 6 months

Obsessions

Persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced as intrusive, inappropriate & distressing.

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors (e.g., Handwashing) or mental acts (e.g., Praying silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession

Mental compulsions

Repetitive, intrusive thoughts or actions that a person performs in response to an obsession or anxiety.

Exposure

Procedures that evoke obsessional anxiety

Response prevention

Procedures that eliminate the contingency between performing compulsions & anxiety reduction

Imaginal Exposure

confronting feared mental stimuli such as thoughts, image, impulses, worries, and memories

In-vivo exposure

Confronting feared stimuli in the environment