Ch 13 - Psychological Disorders

Question 1

What is a psychological disorder

Answer 1

• anxiety disorder
• OCD
• PTSD
• Substance use disorders
• mood disorders
• schizophrenia

Question 2

Definition of a psychological disorder

Answer 2

A syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in a persons cognitions, emotion regulation, or behavior

-thoughts, emotions, or behaviors are dysfunctional and maladaptive meaning they interfere with daily life

Question 3

What does the medical model mean

Answer 3

Mental illnesses are diagnosed on the basis of SYMPTOMS and cured through therapy (TREATMENT)

Question 4

The biopsychosocial approach to mental illness

Answer 4

• social: definiton can depend on culture

- bio and psycho: abnormal physical processes

Question 5

Why do we classify disorders

Answer 5

• to provide name and description
• attempt to predict the future of a disorder
• suggest treatment
• prompts research into causes

Question 6

What do we use to classify disorders

Answer 6

American Psychiatric Association’s 2013 Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

-diagnostic labels have changed (ex. autism and spergers is now autism spectrum disorder)

Question 7

Anxiety disorders

Answer 7

• generalized anxiety disorder
• panic disorder
• phobias

Question 8

Generalized anxiety disorder

Answer 8

Constantly tense and uneasy for no apparent reason

Question 9

Panic disorder

Answer 9

Sudden episodes of intense dread and fearing when the next attack will happen

Question 10

Phobia

Answer 10

• irrationally and intensely afraid of an object, activity, situation

Question 11

OCD

Answer 11

-troubled by unwanted repetitive thoughts, compulsive behaviors as a response

Question 12

PTSD

Answer 12

-lingering memories, nightmares fir weeks after a severely threatening uncontrollable event

Question 13

Biopsychosocial approach to anxiety

Answer 13

• Bio: inherited termperament differences, different brain pathways, inherited survival responses
• psycho: conditioning (classical, stimulus generalization, reinforcement/ learned maladaptive behaviors), cognitions (hypervigilance)
• social: modeling (observing others behavior)

Question 14

Substance use disorder

Answer 14

Continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption/physical risk

Question 15

Tolerance

Answer 15

Repeated drug use requires larger doses

Question 16

Addiction

Answer 16

Cracking of drugs or behaviors despite known harmful consequences

Question 17

Withdrawal

Answer 17

Discomfort and distress that follow discontinuation of drug or behavior

Question 18

Alcohol use disorder (depressants) consequences

Answer 18

• act on urges; slows activity in part of brain that controls judgement and inhibition
• memory disruption
• effect on our expectations

Question 19

Biopsychosocial approach to substance use disorder

Answer 19

• bio: genetic traits
• psycho: vulnerabilities (stress, abuse, depression)
• social: peer influences, media models, more likely in urban areas

Question 20

Mood disorders

Answer 20

• major depressive disorder
• bipolar disorder
• suicide and self harm

Question 21

Depressed brain

Answer 21

• slower activity, especially left frontal lobe

- scarce norepinephrine and serotonin

Question 22

Psychosocial approach to depression

Answer 22

Cycle of stress, negative explanatory style, depression, cognitive and behavioral changes

• makes person view self and world negatively and or adopt learned helplessness

Question 23

Schizophrenia (definition, characteristics)

Answer 23

• psychological disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and or inappropriate emotional expression
• onset can suddenly appear or develop over time, men are struck earlier and more severely
• correlated to brain abnormalities (chemistry or activity or anatomy) and prenatal environment