Psychological Disorders and Treatments

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to psychological disorders, their definitions, historical perspectives, treatment approaches, and various psychological theories.

Psychological dysfunction

A disruption in thoughts, emotions, or behaviors.

Distress

Personal discomfort or suffering, which may not always be present.

Impairment

Interference with work, relationships, or daily tasks.

DSM-5

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, used for diagnosing psychological disorders.

Psychopathology

The scientific study of psychological disorders.

Mental illness

A term often used interchangeably with psychological disorder.

PhD

A doctoral degree emphasizing research and clinical training for psychologists.

PsyD

A doctoral degree focusing primarily on clinical practice in psychology.

MD

A medical doctor, specifically a psychiatrist, who can prescribe medication.

Clinical description

The typical range of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings associated with a disorder.

Prevalence

The total number of cases of a disorder within a population.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disorder during a specific period.

Etiology

The study of the causes of a disorder.

Multifactorial causes

The interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in causing disorders.

Hippocrates

An ancient physician who theorized that abnormal behavior was linked to physical disease.

Humoral theory

The belief that mental health is governed by an imbalance of bodily fluids.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

A treatment for severe depression involving electrical stimulation of the brain.

Lobotomy

A surgical procedure that historically involved severing connections in the brain to treat mental illness.

Moral therapy

A 19th-century approach advocating for humane treatment and rehabilitation of the mentally ill.

Deinstitutionalization

The large-scale closure of mental hospitals and a shift to community-based care.

Psychoanalytic theory

A theory developed by Freud focusing on the unconscious mind's influence on behavior.

Id

The part of the mind associated with instinctual drives and desires.

Superego

The aspect of personality that represents moral standards.

Ego

The rational part of the mind that mediates between the id and superego.

Denial (defense mechanism)

Refusing to acknowledge a reality or truth.

Projection (defense mechanism)

Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else.

Sublimation (defense mechanism)

Transforming unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable actions.

Repression (defense mechanism)

Pushing distressing thoughts out of conscious awareness.

Free association

A therapeutic technique where patients say whatever comes to mind.

Dream analysis

Interpreting dreams to understand unconscious desires.

Transference

When a patient projects feelings about important people onto the therapist.

Counter-transference

When a therapist projects personal feelings onto a patient.

Humanistic approach

A psychological perspective that emphasizes the inherent goodness of people.

Self-actualization

The realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potential.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

A psychological framework that prioritizes human needs in a pyramid structure.

Unconditional positive regard

Therapist's acceptance and support of a client without judgment.

Behavioral approach

A psychological perspective focused on observable behaviors.

Classical conditioning

Learning through association and pairing stimuli.

Operant conditioning

Learning that occurs through rewards and punishments.

Positive reinforcement

Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

Negative reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

Positive punishment

Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Negative punishment

Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Token economies

A behavior modification system where tokens are earned for desired behaviors.

Behavior therapy

A treatment approach focusing on changing maladaptive behaviors.

Integrative perspective

An approach combining multiple psychological factors to understand disorders.

Cognitive factors in psychopathology

The role of thought processes in the development and maintenance of psychological disorders.

Cultural considerations

Understanding how cultural differences affect the definition and perception of disorders.

Historical shifts in abnormal behavior understanding

Changes over time in how society defines and responds to abnormal behavior.

Community care

A support system where neighbors assist those experiencing mental health issues.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals in the brain that transmit signals between neurons.

Genetics in psychopathology

The study of hereditary factors contributing to psychological disorders.