AP Psychology Unit 10: Clinical Psychology

Criteria to Identify

D- Deviant (atypical) - Not of the norm; *Dependant upon culture, age, 

D-Distressful (unjustifiable)- Provokes worry and concern

D- Dysfunctional (maladaptive)-Carry unexpected responsibilities and duties


-Can be interconnected

*In parenthesis- are synonyms


Abnormal Psychology- A “harmful dysfunction”... behavior is judged to be deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional.


Early Theories

-Abnormal behavior was evil spirits trying to get out

-Trephining often used

-Castration

-Isolation



Positive Consequences of Labels

-Targeted treatment

-Helpful for healthcare professionals when communicating w/ each other/establish therapy

-Greater understanding for patients/families



Negative Consequences of Labels

-Once labeled- label itself determines not only how professionals perceive/react to person

-Labeled person also begins to act differently (self-fulfilling prophecy) and then reacts accordingly.


Evidence Based Diagnostic Tools

American Psychological Association (APA)- created Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM- V)

And World Health Organization (WHO) created International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)


Schizophrenia- Diathesis-Stress Model


Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorder- Developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. Includes a wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of disability.


Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder- Neurodevelopmental disorder shown by persistent patterns of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity which interfere with functioning/development.



Sleep Wake Disorders

Insomnia- Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. Resulted due to inadequate rest and affects performance when awake. 

Narcolepsy- Excessive daytime sleepiness, often with episodes of falling asleep suddenly during the day. 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Breathing repeatedly stops/starts during sleep. Leads to poor quality of rest/health complications if untreated.-Throat muscles irregularly relax and block the airway during sleep.

Non-rapid Eye Movement Sleep Arousal (Rem motor behavior disorder, Somnambulism)

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Feeding and Eating Disorders- 

Anorexia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa


Anxiety Disorders- Marked by extreme conditions of fear/uneasiness that impairs one’s basic functioning; which may or may not appear to have a cause according to the sufferer. 


-Specific Phobia- Person experiences sudden episodes of intense dread.

-Must be irrational fear

-6 months or more

-About 1 in 10 people suffer from specific phobia

-Change lifestyle


-Social Anxiety Disorder (formerly Social Phobia)- Possible Scrutiny

-Fear of showing anxiety

-Social situations provoke fear

-Avoiding

-6 months or more

-Taijin kyofisho is a culture-bound anxiety disorder experienced by Japanese disorder


-Panic Disorder- Marked by minutes-long episodes of intense dread in which a person experiences terror/accompanying chest pain, choking, and other frightening sensations.

4 or more- accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, feelings of choking, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, chills, numbness, derealization, feeling of losing control, fear of dying.

-Can manifest as culture-bound anxiety disorder

-ataque de nervios (caribbean/iberian)-trembling, crying, passing out


-Agoraphobia- Intense fear of public transportation, open spaces, enclosed places, crowds or standing in line, other situations that require separation from source of security, such as home.

-Can’t escape

-3% of population; can be caused from panic attacks


-Generalized Anxiety Disorder- Continuously tense, apprehensive-in state of autonomic nervous system arousal difficult to control worry

-Difficult to control the worry; 3 of following: restlessness/on edge, easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbances.




Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders- Conditions that come in response to a traumatic event/severe stress. Characteristic of not only soldiers—but many public safety workers and anyone (children) who experience major shock. 


-Posttraumatic Stress Disorder:  

  • Exposure to trauma

  • Intrusion symptoms: flashbacks, nightmares, dissociative reactions

  • Avoidance of stimuli

  • Negative changes in cognition/mood

  • Changes in arousal

  • Memories of event causes anxiety



Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders-

-Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

  • Persistent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that are unwanted/intrusive; individual tries to ignore or suppress

  • Causes someone to feel the need (compulsion) to engage in a particular action to reduce or prevent stress

  •  Compulsions are time consuming.              


-Hoarding Disorder

  • Possible mix b/w OCD and ADHD

  • Inability to discard possession, regardless of value

  • Severe anxiety when attempting to discard items

  • Great difficulty categorizing/organizing possessions

  • Indecision about what to keep/where put things

  • Distress- feeling overwhelmed/embarrassed by possessions

  • Suspicious of people touching items

  • 700-2000 cases of hoarding animals a year