Clinical Psych

DSM V

diagnostic & statistical manual of mental illnesses (5th edition)

medical model

assumes that psych disorders are mental illnesses that can be diagnosed on the basis of symptoms & cured through therapy

bipolar 1 disorder

characterized by manic and depressive episodes - mania can lead to dangerous and reckless behavior while depression can lead to suicidal behavior

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treatment: family-focused therapy, CBT, psychotherapy, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, SSRIs, & hospitalization if extreme

bipolar 2 disorder

characterized by hypomanic and depressive episodes, decreased need for sleep, hypersexuality, hyperactivity, inflated self-image, & unrealistic plans

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treatment: psychotherapy, CBT, mood stabilizers

panic disorder

unpredictable minutes-long episodes of intense dread; terror, chest pain, choking; feeling like you’re going to die

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treatment: anti-anxiety meds, SSRI's, CBT/RBT, exposure therapy, psychotherapy

phobia

persistent irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation & making incapacitating efforts to avoid the fear

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treatment: anti-anxiety meds, SSRI's, CBT/RBT, exposure therapy, psychotherapy

generalized anxiety disorder

unexplainable anxiety; people are continually tense & uneasy; sufferers are 2/3rds women; can include muscle tension, agitation, sleeplessness, lowered concentration, and what Freud called “free floating”

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treatment: anti-anxiety meds, SSRI's, CBT/RBT, exposure therapy, psychotherapy

mania

* **Definition:** A state of elevated or irritable mood, energy, and activity levels.
* **Symptoms:** Grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, distractibility, impulsivity, and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities.
* **Causes:** Genetics, brain chemistry, drug abuse, and certain medical conditions.
* **Treatment:** Medications such as mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, psychotherapy, and hospitalization in severe cases.
* **Complications:** Risk of self-harm, substance abuse, and financial or legal problems.

depression

Condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in daily activities. Often accompanied by changes in appetite, sleep, and energy levels. Can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, life events, and brain chemistry

treatment: CBT, psychotherapy, DBT, rTMS

major depressive disorder

A mental health condition characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, feelings of worthlessness, and changes in appetite and sleep. It can negatively affect daily life and may require treatment.

treatment: antidepressants, psychotherapy, CBT, SSRIs

dysthymic disorder

Persistent depressive disorder with symptoms lasting for at least 2 years. Characterized by low mood, lack of interest, low self-esteem, poor concentration, and hopelessness. Symptoms may be less severe than major depression, but can still interfere with daily functioning.

treatment: psychotherapy, SSRIs, physical exercise

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

A mental health disorder characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that a person feels the urge to perform in response to the obsessions. These compulsions can interfere with daily life and cause significant distress.

treatment: CBT, exposure therapy (hugely helpful), anti-anxiety meds, SSRIs, psychotherapy, DBT

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, insomnia, and distrust of others lasting for at least weeks after a traumatic event (war, accident, rape, death of loved one, abuse, disasters, & prostitutes)

treatment: anti-anxiety meds, SSRIs, anti-psychotics, EMDR (eye-movement desensitization & reprocessing), therapy pets, group therapy, psychotherapy

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

Condition in which a person's sense of identity is fragmented, leading to the development of multiple distinct personalities or identities. Symptoms include memory gaps, mood swings, and altered perceptions.

treatment: anti-anxiety meds, SSRIs, anti-psychotics, EMDR (eye-movement desensitization & reprocessing), therapy pets, group therapy, psychotherapy, hypnosis

schizophrenia

characterized by delusional thinking/delusions of grandiose; hallucinations (rare; less than 10% or less are visual & around 70% are auditory), disorganized/scattered thinking, disturbed perceptions, inappropriate actions or emotions (apathy; “flat effect”), anosognosia

treatment: anti-psychotics (thorazine, abilify, etc.), occupational therapy, vocational therapy, psychotherapy, home visits

social phobia

avoiding social situations due to an intense fear of scrutiny; shyness to an extreme

agoraphobia

An anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or embarrassing, or where help may not be available in case of a panic attack.

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ie: the outside world causes panic attacks

delusion

A fixed false belief that is not based on reality and is resistant to change despite evidence to the contrary. It can be a symptom of various mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

hallucination

A sensory experience that seems real but is not caused by external stimuli. Can involve any of the five senses and may be a symptom of mental illness or drug use.

anosognosia

a person’s inability to perceive that they are actually delusional

linkage analysis

A method to identify the location of genes on a chromosome by analyzing the inheritance patterns of genetic markers within families.

self-fulfilling prophecy

can occur when patients are “labeled” with a psych disorder; start believing their “uncurable” disease is truly uncurable

cycle of depression

negative stressful events → pessimistic explanatory style →hopeless depressed state → changes thinking/behavior →repeat

obsessions

intrusive and recurring thoughts, images, or impulses that cause anxiety or distress.

compulsions

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that are performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions

Diasthesis-Stress Model of Schizophrenia

A theory that suggests that individuals with a genetic vulnerability (diathesis) for schizophrenia are more likely to develop the disorder when exposed to stressful life events (stress). This model proposes that both biological and environmental factors are necessary for the development of schizophrenia.

3 D’s of disorder

dysfunctional, distressful, deviant

dissociative fugue

A mental disorder characterized by sudden and unexpected travel away from home, accompanied by amnesia for personal identity and past events

anxiety disorders

generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, OCD, PTSD

bipolar disorders

bipolar 1, bipolar 2, cyclothymic disorder

personality disorders

antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive, schizoid, schizotypal

trauma-induced disorders

PTSD, DID

neurodevelopmental disorders

autism, tourette’s, OCD

psychotic disorders

schizophrenia, schizoid disorders

antisocial personality disorder

characterized by lack of empathy/remorse, lack of regard for rules/laws/others, ignoring right and wrong (more common in men)

treatment: psychotherapy & family/behavioral therapy

borderline personality disorder

characterized by emotional instability, impulsive behaviors, impaired & unstable social relationships (more common in women)

treatment: psychotherapy, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, & hospitalization

narcissistic personality disorder

characterized by need for admiration, inability to handle criticism, disregard for others’ feelings, & entitled, egotistical attitude (more common in men)

treatment: group psychotherapy, support groups, family therapy

obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

characterized by extreme preoccupation with perfectionism, organization, & control, as well as lack of flexibility and generosity (affects men & women equally)

treatment: psychodynamic therapy & CBT

schizoid personality disorder

characterized by wanting to be alone (hatred of people), difficulty expressing emotions, no reaction to praise or criticism, don’t enjoy relationships, & may lack motivation/goals (more common in men)

treatment: CBT, SSRIs, group therapy, psychotherapy

schizotypcal personality disorder

characterized by social anxiety, delusions, paranoia, discomfort with relationships/social interactions (more common in men)

treatment: antipsychotics, neuroleptics, CBT, supportive therapy, psychotherapy

causes of schizophrenia

1. brain abnormalities (dopamine overactivity & glutamate overactivity)
2. abnormal brain activity and anatomy (enlarged fluid-filled cerebral cavities; shrunken frontal cortex; can happen during pre-natal development)
3. maternal virus during mid-pregnancy (exposure to flu in 2nd semester, etc.)
4. genetic factors (1 in 100 chance regularly, 1 in 10 if parent/sibling has it, 1 in 2 if identical twin has it)
5. possibility of a specific gene
6. psychological factors (no single environmental event can cause it, but some events might trigger the pre-disposition for it)

learning approach to anxiety disorders

anxiety disorders are a product of fear conditioning, stimulus generalization, reinforcement of fearful behaviors, & observational learning of others’ fears

biological approach to anxiety disorders

considers the role of fears of life-threatening animals/objects on natural selection & evolution, genetic inheritance of high emotional reactivity, & abnormal responses in the brain’s fear circuits

Freud’s perspective on anxiety disorders

anxiety comes from repression

DID vs Schizophrenia

DID does not have psychosis

dangers of diagnostic labeling

labels can stigmatize a person by biasing others’ interpretations of and reactions to the person’s behavior

why depression is more common in the Western world

cultural factors such as individualism, materialism, and social isolation. These values can lead to a lack of social support, a sense of meaninglessness, and a focus on personal achievement, which can increase stress and decrease well-being. Moreover, the Western lifestyle often involves sedentary habits, unhealthy diets, and sleep deprivation, which can affect brain function and mood regulation. Finally, the stigma surrounding mental illness can discourage people from seeking help, leading to untreated depression and its consequences.

why DID is more common in North America

DID is more common in North America due to higher prevalence of childhood trauma, cultural acceptance of DID, and better access to mental health care

“common cold” of psych disorders

depression

Aaron Beck

developed cognitive therapy; proposed that our thoughts influence our emotions and behavior, and that changing negative thought patterns can improve mental health

Albert Ellis

Founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), a form of psychotherapy focused on changing irrational beliefs to improve emotional and behavioral outcomes.

Mary Cover Jones

"mother of behavior therapy"; conducted a famous experiment in the 1920s that helped develop systematic desensitization, a technique used to treat phobias.

Joseph Wolpe

developed the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS) for assessing the level of subjective discomfort or psychological pain. He also created the Subjective Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Fear Survey Plan that are used in behavior research and therapy