Health Psychology and Mental Disorders

Flashcards covering key concepts in health psychology and various mental disorders.

Health psychology

A branch of psychology that studies how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health, illness, and healthcare.

Eustress

A positive form of stress that can motivate individuals to achieve goals and improve performance.

Adverse childhood experience (ACE)

Potentially traumatic events in childhood (e.g., abuse, neglect, household dysfunction) that can negatively impact long-term health and well-being.

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Hans Selye’s three-stage model of the body’s response to stress: Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion.

Fight, flight, freeze response

The body's automatic physiological reaction to a perceived threat, preparing to confront, escape, or become immobile.

Tend and befriend theory

A stress response theory suggesting that individuals, especially women, respond to stress by seeking social support and nurturing others.

Problem-focused coping

Coping strategy that involves addressing the source of stress by taking direct action to solve the problem.

Emotion-focused coping

Coping strategy that involves managing emotions rather than solving the stressor itself.

Positive psychology

A branch of psychology that focuses on strengths, well-being, and human flourishing rather than mental illness.

Resilience

The ability to adapt to adversity, stress, or trauma and recover from difficult experiences.

Subjective well-being

A person’s self-reported perception of happiness and life satisfaction.

Positive subjective experience

Personal experiences of joy, love, or fulfillment that contribute to overall well-being.

Positive objective experience

Tangible, measurable experiences (e.g., achievements, awards) that contribute to well-being.

Virtues in positive psychology

The six core virtues: Wisdom, Courage, Humanity, Justice, Temperance, Transcendence.

Post-traumatic growth

Positive psychological changes experienced after a traumatic event leading to personal development.

DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition), used for diagnosing mental disorders.

ICD

The International Classification of Diseases, published by WHO, categorizing medical and psychological conditions.

Eclectic approach

A therapeutic approach that combines elements from multiple psychological theories and techniques.

Behavioral perspective

Focuses on observable behaviors and their relationship to environmental stimuli and reinforcement.

Psychodynamic perspective

Emphasizes unconscious drives, childhood experiences, and inner conflicts.

Humanistic perspective

Focuses on individual potential, self-actualization, and personal growth.

Cognitive perspective

Examines internal mental processes like thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

Evolutionary perspective

Explores how natural selection and adaptation shape behaviors and mental processes.

Sociocultural perspective

Studies how society, culture, and social interactions influence behavior and thinking.

Biological perspective

Examines the influence of genetics, brain structures, and neurochemistry on behavior.

Biopsychosocial model

A holistic approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in health and illness.

Diathesis-stress model

A theory stating that psychological disorders arise from genetic predisposition combined with environmental stressors.

ADHD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

A neurodevelopmental disorder affecting social interaction, communication, and behavior.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder involving delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and impaired functioning.

Delusions (persecution and grandeur)

Persecution: Belief that others are plotting against or harming the individual; Grandeur: Belief in having exceptional abilities or high status.

Hallucination

Perceiving sensory experiences that aren’t real.

Word salad

Disorganized, incoherent speech common in schizophrenia.

Catatonia

A state of abnormal movement or immobility associated with schizophrenia and other disorders.

Dopamine hypothesis

Theory that excess dopamine activity contributes to schizophrenia.

Stupor

A state of unresponsiveness, often seen in catatonic schizophrenia.

Flat affect

A lack of emotional expression, often seen in schizophrenia.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and other depressive symptoms.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

A chronic form of depression lasting two or more years.

Bipolar I Disorder

A mood disorder involving manic episodes and often depressive episodes.

Bipolar II Disorder

A mood disorder involving hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes.

Bipolar cycling

The alternating between mood states (mania/hypomania and depression) in bipolar disorder.

Phobia

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.

Agoraphobia

Fear of being in situations where escape is difficult, often leading to avoidance of public places.

Panic Disorder

Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks accompanied by intense fear.

Ataque de Nervios

A culturally specific syndrome characterized by uncontrollable emotional outbursts.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Intense fear of social situations due to worry about embarrassment or judgment.

Taijin Kyofusho

A culture-bound anxiety disorder in Japan involving fear of offending others.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.

Hoarding Disorder

Excessive accumulation of possessions, leading to distress and impairment.

Dissociative Amnesia

Memory loss for personal information, sometimes with sudden travel (fugue state).

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A disorder in which a person has two or more distinct identities.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Persistent distress following a traumatic event, involving flashbacks and hypervigilance.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder marked by extreme weight loss and an intense fear of gaining weight.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder involving binge eating followed by purging behaviors.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Distrust and suspicion of others without justification.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Detachment from social relationships and a limited range of emotions.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Odd behaviors, thoughts, and difficulty with social interactions.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Disregard for others' rights, impulsivity, and lack of remorse.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Instability in relationships, self-image, and emotions.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Social inhibition due to fear of rejection.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Excessive dependence on others for support.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Preoccupation with order, perfectionism, and control.

Cultural humility

Ongoing self-reflection and awareness of cultural biases.

Deinstitutionalization

The shift away from psychiatric hospitals toward community-based treatment.

Free association

A psychoanalytic technique in which a patient says whatever comes to mind to uncover unconscious thoughts.

Cognitive triad

Aaron Beck’s model describing negative thoughts about the self, world, and future that contribute to depression.

Cognitive restructuring

A therapeutic process of identifying and changing distorted thought patterns.

Applied behavior analysis (ABA)

A treatment approach based on behavioral principles, often used for autism therapy.

Exposure therapy

A treatment that helps people confront fears by gradually exposing them to the feared object or situation.

Systematic desensitization

A form of exposure therapy that pairs relaxation techniques with gradual exposure.

Aversion therapy

A treatment that associates an unwanted behavior with an unpleasant stimulus to reduce the behavior.

Token economy

A behavioral technique using rewards (tokens) that can be exchanged for privileges.

Biofeedback

A technique that teaches individuals to control physiological processes through monitoring.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

A therapy that combines cognitive and behavioral strategies to modify negative thoughts and behaviors.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

A therapy developed for borderline personality disorder emphasizing emotional regulation.

Rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)

A cognitive therapy that challenges irrational beliefs.

Person-centered therapy (active listening)

A humanistic therapy emphasizing empathy and unconditional positive regard.

Lithium

A mood stabilizer commonly used to treat bipolar disorder.

Tardive dyskinesia

A movement disorder characterized by involuntary movements, often caused by antipsychotic medications.

ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)

A medical treatment that uses electrical currents to induce seizures in patients with severe depression.

Lobotomy

A now-discredited surgical procedure that involved severing connections in the brain’s frontal lobe.