AP Psych In Class Vocab

psychological disorder

A disturbance in people's thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that causes distress or suffering and impairs their daily lives

medical model

The concept that diseases have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and, in most cases, cured, often through treatment in a hospital

diathesis-stress model

The concept that genetic predispositions combine with environmental stressors to influence psychological disorder

epigenetics

"Above" or "in addition to" genetics; The study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression (without a DNA change)

DSM-V (5) TR

The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical … A widely used system for classifying psychological disorders

anxiety disorders

A group of disorders characterized by excessive fear and anxiety and related maladaptive behaviors

social anxiety disorder

Intense fear and avoidance of social situations

generalized anxiety disorder

An anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal

panic disorder

An anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of intense dread in which a person may experience terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations

agoraphobia

Fear or avoidance of situations, such as crowds or wide open places, where one may experience a loss of control and panic

specific phobia

An anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

A disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts, actions, or both

hoarding disorder

A persistent difficulty parting with possessions, regardless of their value

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, and/or insomnia lasting 4+ weeks after trauma

trauma-and-stressor-related disorders

A group of disorders in which exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is followed by psychological distress

depressive disorders

A group of disorders characterized by an enduring sad, empty, or irritable mood, with physical/cognitive changes affecting functioning

bipolar disorders

A group of disorders in which a person alternates between depression and the overexcited state of mania

major-depressive disorder

A disorder in which a person experiences five or more symptoms for 2+ weeks (not due to substances/medical issues), including depressed mood or loss of interest

persistent depressive disorder

A disorder in which people experience a depressed mood on more days than not for at least two years

rumination

Compulsive fretting; overthinking our problems and their causes

bipolar I disorder

The most severe form, in which people experience a euphoric, talkative, highly energetic, and overly ambitious state lasting a week or longer

bipolar II disorder

A less severe form of bipolar in which people move between depression and a milder hypomania

mania

A hyperactive, wildly optimistic state in which dangerously poor judgment is common

schizophrenia spectrum disorders

A group of disorders characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking or speech, disorganized or unusual motor behavior, and negative symptoms

psychotic disorders

A group of 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

chronic schizophrenia

A form of schizophrenia in which symptoms usually appear by late adolescence or early adulthood

acute schizophrenia

A form of schizophrenia that can begin at any age, frequently occurs in response to a traumatic event, and from which recovery is much more likely

dissociative disorders

A controversial, rare group of disorders characterized by disruption/discontinuity in consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

A rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating identities

dissociative amnesia

Dissociative amnesia refers to a psychological disorder characterized by the inability to remember important personal information, usually related to traumatic or stressful events. It is not due to physical damage or medical conditions.

personality disorders

A group of disorders characterized by enduring inner experiences or behavior patterns that differ from someone's cultural norms

antisocial personality disorder

A personality disorder in which a person exhibits a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members

feeding and eating disorders

A group of disorders characterized by altered consumption or absorption of food that impairs health or psychological functioning

anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder in which a person maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly underweight

bulimia nervosa

An eating disorder in which a person's binge eating is followed by inappropriate weight-loss behavior (vomiting, laxatives, etc.)

neurodevelopment disorders

Central nervous system abnormalities that start in childhood and alter thinking and behavior

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

A disorder appearing in childhood involving communication/social deficits + fixated interests and repetitive behaviors

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

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