psych

Psychological Disorder: A syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior. From a biopsychosocial perspective, it arises from biological predispositions, psychological stressors, and social influences.
Maladaptive: Behaviors or thoughts that hinder a person's ability to function in daily life—like avoiding work due to anxiety.
Dysfunctional: A breakdown in normal functioning—physically, mentally, or socially.
Distress: Emotional suffering caused by a disorder, such as sadness or fear.
Subjective Discomfort: The personal experience of emotional pain, even if there's no visible dysfunction.
Diathesis-Stress Model: A theory suggesting that a predisposition (genetic or biological) combines with stress (environmental triggers) to result in a disorder.
Epigenetics: The study of how environmental factors affect gene expression, explaining how life experiences can activate or suppress genetic risks.
DSM-5-TR: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, used by clinicians to classify and diagnose disorders.

Perspectives on Disorders:

Psychodynamic: Disorders stem from unresolved unconscious conflicts (e.g., repressed childhood trauma).
Behavioral: Focuses on learned behaviors and conditioning—like phobias learned through association.
Humanistic: Disorders result from blocked personal growth or lack of unconditional positive regard.
Cognitive: Emphasizes irrational or maladaptive thought patterns as causes (e.g., catastrophizing in anxiety).
Biological: Views disorders as stemming from brain chemistry, genetics, or neuroanatomy.
Evolutionary: Some disorders may be exaggerated versions of adaptive behaviors (e.g., anxiety as overactive threat detection).
Sociocultural: Considers how culture, environment, and societal norms shape disorders and their expression.
Biopsychosocial: Integrates all perspectives to explain how biology, psychology, and environment interact.

Anxiety Disorders: Disorders marked by excessive fear and anxiety and related behavioral disturbances.
Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of being judged in social situations; cognitive view emphasizes distorted beliefs about embarrassment.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent, uncontrollable worry about multiple areas of life.
Panic Disorder: Recurrent panic attacks with physical symptoms (e.g., heart palpitations).
Agoraphobia: Fear of situations where escape might be difficult; often co-occurs with panic disorder.
Specific Phobia: Intense, irrational fear of a specific object/situation (e.g., spiders).
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) to reduce anxiety.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Persistent re-experiencing of a traumatic event, avoidance, and heightened arousal.

Depressive Disorders: Characterized by persistent feelings of sadness or loss of interest.
Bipolar Disorders: Involve alternating episodes of depression and mania.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Severe and long-lasting sadness with cognitive and physical symptoms.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia): Chronic, less intense depression lasting at least two years.
Bipolar I Disorder: Includes full manic episodes and usually depressive episodes.
Bipolar II Disorder: Includes hypomanic (less severe) episodes and major depressive episodes.
Mania: A hyperactive, wildly optimistic state with poor judgment and impulsivity.

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder: A group of severe disorders involving distorted thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and behaviors.
Psychotic Disorders: Involve a break from reality, often with hallucinations and delusions.
Delusions: False beliefs (e.g., believing you are being watched or controlled).
Positive Symptoms: Excesses or distortions (e.g., hallucinations).
Negative Symptoms: Absence of normal behavior (e.g., flat affect, social withdrawal).

Biological theories focus on dopamine dysregulation and brain abnormalities. Cognitive approaches explore misinterpretations of reality.

Dissociative Disorders: Involve disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Two or more distinct identities within one individual.
Dissociative Amnesia: Inability to recall personal information, often after trauma.
Personality Disorders: Enduring maladaptive personality traits.
Antisocial Personality Disorder: Disregard for others, lack of empathy, impulsivity.
Feeding and Eating Disorders: Disturbed eating patterns.
Anorexia Nervosa: Intense fear of gaining weight, severe restriction.
Bulimia Nervosa: Binge eating followed by purging.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Originate in childhood and impact development.
Specific Learning Disorders: Difficulties in reading, writing, or math.
Motor Disorders: Involve movement abnormalities like tics.
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Deficits in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors.
ADHD: Inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity.

Psychotherapy: Talk-based treatment aiming to change thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Biomedical Therapy: Uses medication or medical procedures.
Eclectic Approach: Combines methods from different psychological perspectives.
Psychoanalysis: Freudian method focused on unconscious motives and conflicts.
Insight Therapies: Help clients gain deeper self-understanding.
Person-Centered Therapy: Humanistic therapy by Carl Rogers emphasizing self-growth.
Active Listening: Therapist echoes and restates feelings.
Unconditional Positive Regard: Accepting the client without judgment.

Behavioral Therapist: Focuses on changing maladaptive behaviors.
Counterconditioning: Pairs a trigger with a new response (e.g., relaxation).
Exposure Therapies: Gradual exposure to feared object or context.
Systematic Desensitization: Step-by-step exposure paired with relaxation.
Aversion Therapy: Pairs unwanted behavior with discomfort.
Token Economy: Uses reinforcement tokens to encourage behavior.
Cognitive Therapy: Challenges negative thought patterns.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT): Helps clients dispute irrational beliefs (Albert Ellis).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to change thinking and behavior.
Group Therapy: Involves treating multiple clients together to benefit from group interaction.

Antipsychotic Drugs: Treat schizophrenia by reducing dopamine activity.
Antianxiety Drugs: Depress central nervous system activity (e.g., benzodiazepines).
Antidepressant Drugs: Typically SSRIs, increase serotonin availability.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Used in severe depression; induces a brief brain seizure under anesthesia.