Psych key terms final review

Bulimia Nervosa:

  • Description: Characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, excessive exercise) to prevent weight gain.

  • Consequences: Can lead to electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal issues, dental erosion, and increased risk of depression and anxiety.

Anorexia Nervosa:

  • Description: A restriction of food intake leading to significant weight loss, often accompanied by a fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image.

  • Consequences: Malnutrition, osteoporosis, cardiovascular complications, and potentially death.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED):

  • Statistics & Symptoms: Affects 2-3% of the population, characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food, with loss of control. Often associated with feelings of distress, guilt, or shame.

Cross-Cultural & Developmental Issues: Cultural attitudes toward body image and eating vary, but Western ideals often lead to higher rates of eating disorders in certain populations. Developmentally, eating disorders can manifest in adolescence or early adulthood.

Causes – The Integrative Model:

  • Social Dimensions: Media portrayal of "ideal" bodies, societal pressures.

  • Dietary Restraint: Dieting and restricting food intake can lead to disordered eating patterns.

  • Family Influences: Overcontrolling or dysfunctional family environments may contribute.

  • Biological Dimensions: Genetic predisposition, neurobiological factors.

  • Psychological Dimensions: Perfectionism, low self-esteem, distorted body image.

Treatment:

  • Drug Treatments: Antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs) may help, especially in bulimia.

  • Psychosocial Treatments: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT).

Prevention: Promoting healthy body image, addressing societal pressures, and educating at-risk groups.

Obesity

Causes and Treatment:

  • Causes: Genetic factors, poor diet, lack of physical activity, psychological stress, and environmental factors.

  • Treatment: Behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), medications (e.g., anti-obesity drugs), and in extreme cases, bariatric surgery.

Sleep-Wake Disorders

Dyssomnias/Parasomnias:

  • Dyssomnias: Disorders of the amount, quality, or timing of sleep (e.g., insomnia, hypersomnia, sleep apnea).

  • Parasomnias: Unusual behaviors during sleep (e.g., sleepwalking, night terrors).

Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep, often accompanied by daytime impairment. Microsleeps are brief episodes of sleep that last for a few seconds, often unnoticed.

Statistics and Causes: High prevalence; causes include stress, anxiety, medical conditions, and poor sleep hygiene.

Rebound Insomnia: Often occurs after discontinuing sleep medications.

Hypersomnia: Excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate nighttime sleep.

Sleep Apnea: Breathing interruptions during sleep, leading to disrupted sleep.

Narcolepsy: Sudden and uncontrollable episodes of sleep.

Circadian Rhythm Disorder: Misalignment between an individual's sleep-wake cycle and external factors (e.g., shift work).

Treatments: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), medication, improving sleep environment, lifestyle changes.

Chapter 5: Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID):

  • Characteristics: The presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states, each with its own pattern of behavior.

  • Faking: Controversy exists around whether some cases are exaggerated or fabricated.

  • Statistics: Rare, but on the rise in clinical settings.

Dissociative Amnesia: Loss of memory, usually for personal information, often following trauma.

  • Localized: Inability to recall specific events.

  • Generalized: Complete memory loss for one's life history.

  • Fugue: A subtype where an individual may travel or assume a new identity.

  • Amok: Sudden, unplanned outbursts of violence with amnesia.

Dissociative Trance Disorder: A dissociative state where a person temporarily loses their sense of identity and enters an alternate personality.

Causes: Trauma, extreme stress, or abuse during childhood; may be linked to coping mechanisms.

  • Suggestibility: Highly suggestible individuals may be more likely to develop DID.

  • Biological Findings: Research on brain abnormalities and altered consciousness.

  • True vs. False Memories: Controversy exists about whether DID is caused by trauma or therapy-induced false memories.

Treatment: Psychotherapy, particularly trauma-focused therapy, is often used.

Chapter 12: Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Positive Symptoms:

  • Delusions: False beliefs (e.g., paranoia, grandiosity).

  • Hallucinations: Sensory experiences not based on reality (e.g., hearing voices).

Negative Symptoms:

  • Avolition: Lack of motivation.

  • Alogia: Poverty of speech or thought.

  • Anhedonia: Inability to experience pleasure.

  • Flat Affect: Lack of emotional expression.

Disorganized Symptoms:

  • Disorganized Speech: Incoherent or nonsensical speech.

  • Disorganized Behavior: Unpredictable or inappropriate behavior.

DSM-IV Subtypes: Paranoid, Disorganized, Catatonic, Undifferentiated, Residual.

Schizophreniform & Schizoaffective Disorder: Conditions similar to schizophrenia but differ in duration and additional mood symptoms (e.g., depression or mania).

Delusional Disorder: Persistent, non-bizarre delusions without other symptoms of schizophrenia.

Statistics: Schizophrenia affects around 1% of the population, typically emerging in late adolescence or early adulthood.

Causes:

  • Genetic Factors: Family history increases risk.

  • Neurobiological Factors: Dopamine dysregulation and brain structural abnormalities.

  • Prenatal/Perinatal Factors: Prenatal exposure to toxins or viruses.

  • Psychosocial Stress: Stressful life events can trigger the onset or relapse.

Treatment:

  • Biological: Antipsychotic medications (e.g., dopamine antagonists).

  • Psychological: Cognitive-behavioral therapy, social skills training, and family therapy.

Chapter 14: Legal and Ethical Issues

Civil Commitment: The process of involuntarily committing someone to a psychiatric institution, usually due to mental illness and dangerousness.

Insanity Defense: A legal defense where a defendant claims they were not responsible for their actions due to severe mental illness at the time of the crime.

Criminal Commitment: Involves the commitment of individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Deinstitutionalization and Homelessness: The movement to close psychiatric hospitals, often leading to homelessness for those with severe mental illness.

Therapeutic Jurisprudence: A field of study that examines the role of mental health professionals in the legal system.

Competence to Stand Trial: A defendant's ability to understand the trial proceedings and participate in their own defense.

Duty to Warn: A legal obligation for mental health professionals to warn individuals if their patient poses a danger to them.

Patient's Rights: Patients have the right to refuse treatment and the right to humane care.

Research Participant Rights: Ethical guidelines governing informed consent and protection from harm.