Ch. 15: Psychological Disorders (a brief version)

define psychological disorder

a syndrome marked by clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior

define maladaptive

disturbed thoughts, emotions, or behavior that interfere with normal day to day life

who was the first reformer to take action against brutality as a method of treatment for the mentally ill?

Philippe Pinel

define the medical model

the concept that diseases have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and cured. This is often done through the treatment in a hospital

define epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

what is an example of epigenetics at work?

identical twins (with identical genes) do not share the same risks of developing psychological disorders because they each have their own varying environmental factors that influence whether certain genes are expressed or not

define DSM-5

the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition
classifies psychological disorders

define attention-defecit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

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

what are two disorders that involve anxiety?

obsessive-compulsive disorder & post traumatic stress disorder

define anxiety disorders

psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or dysfunctional anxiety-reducing behaviors

define generalized anxiety disorder

when a person is unexplainably and continually tense and uneasy

define panic disorder

when a person experiences panic attacks- sudden episodes of intense dread and fear the unpredictable onset of the next episode

define phobias

when a person is intensely and irrationally afraid of a specific object, activity, or situation
ex. social anxiety disorder: shyness taken to the extreme

define agoraphobia

disorder that stems from panic disorders
fear/ avoidance of situations in which escape might be difficult when panic strikes

define obsessive-compulsive disorder

disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions), actions (compulsions, or both

define Posttraumatic Stress disorder

disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, and/ or insomnia

we all are expected to experience at least one traumatic event in our life. So why do some people develop PTSD and others do not?

because some people may have more sensitive emotion- processing limbic systems that flood their bodies with stress hormones
PTSD patients have smaller amygdalas
risk is two times higher in women than men

define major depressive disorder

occurs when at least five signs of depression last two or more weeks
symptoms cause daily distress/ impairment (not attributed to substance use or other medical/ mental illness)

define mania

hyperactive, wildly optimistic state in which dangerously poor judgement is common

define bipolar disorder

disorder in which person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and over excited state of mania
aka manic depressive disorder

define rumination

overthinking about problems and their causes

define chronic schizophrenia

aka process schizophrenia
symptoms usually appear in late adolescence/ early adulthood
psychotic episodes last longer and recovery periods shorten as we age

define acute schizophrenia

aka reactive schizophrenia
can begin at any age
frequently occurs in response to an emotionally traumatic event with extended recovery periods

define dissociative disorders

controversial, rare disorders in which conscious awareness becomes separated from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings

define dissociative identity disorder (DID)

rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct alternating personalities
aka multiple personality disorder

define personality disorders

inflexible and enduring patterns that impair social functioning

define antisocial personality disorder

a personality disorder in which a person (usually male) exhibits a lack of conscious in wrongdoing
aggressive/ ruthless
...or maybe just a clever con artist

define anorexia nervosa

eating disorder in which persons maintains starvation diet and can be accompanies by excessive exercise

define bulimia nervosa

eating disorder in which a person alternates binge eating with purging/ fasting

define binge-eating disorder

binge eating episodes followed by digress, disgust, or guilt
no purging involved