Ch. 15 Psychological Disorders

Question 1

What is a psychological disorder?

Answer 1

A syndrome (collection of symptoms) marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behaviour.

Question 2

What is the Medical Model?

Answer 2

Definition:The concept that psychological disorders have physical causes that can be diagnosed,

• 1800s: Search for physical cause of mental disorders and for curative treatments
• Mental illness diagnosed on basis of symptoms and treated through therapy
• Credibility gained from recent research in genetically influenced brain abnormalities in brain structure and biochemistry

Question 3

What is the biopsychosocial approach?

Answer 3

• General approach positing that biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors all play a significant role in human functioning in the context of disease or illness
• Epigenetics also informs our understanding of disorders

Question 4

What is the DSM-5?

Answer 4

The American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic and statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, With Edition: a widely used system for classifying psychological disorders.
- A benefit proposed by the DSM-5 is that is helps mental health professionals communicate and is useful in research.

Question 5

What disorder is this: A psychological disorder marked bt extreme inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity.
- Symptoms can be treated with medication and therapies.

Answer 5

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Question 6

Are people with psychological disorders dangerous?

Answer 6

Metal Disorders rarely lead to violence and clinical prediction of violence is unreliable.

Most people with disorder are non-violent and are more likely to be victims than attackers.

Question 7

Rates of psychological disorders:

Answer 7

They vary, depending on the time and place of the survey.

Povery is a risk factor because the conditions of living in poverty contribute to the development of psychological disorders; however, some psychological orders such as schizophrenia can drive people into poverty.

Question 8

What disorder is this:

It is characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviours that reduce _____.

Answer 8

Anxiety Disorders

Question 9

What disorder is this:
A type of anxiety disorder that appears in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in state of an ANS arousal.

Answer 9

Generalized anxiety disorder

Question 10

What disorder is this:
An Anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of intense red in which a person experiences terror accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations. Often followed by worry over a possible next attack.

Answer 10

Panic Disorder

Question 11

What is a phobia?

Answer 11

an anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation.

Question 12

What is Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Answer 13

A disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness or feeling, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience.

Question 14

Behavioral explanations to understand anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD: Conditioning:

Answer 14

• Classical conditioning research helps explain how panic-prone people associate anxiety with certain cues.
• Stimulus generalization research demonstrates how a fearful event can later become a fear of similar events.
• Reinforcement (operant conditioning) can help maintain a developed and generalized phobia.

Question 15

Cognitive explanations:

Answer 15

-Observing others can contribute to development of some fears.
-Interpretations and expectations shape reactions.
Hypervigilance

Question 16

Biological explanations:

Answer 16

• Genes: Genetic predisposition to anxiety, OCD, and PTSD
• The brain: Trauma linked to new fear pathways, hyperactive danger detection, impulse control and habitual behavior areas of brain
• Natural selection: Biological preparedness to fear threats-easily conditioned and difficult to extinguish

Question 17

Person experiences two or more weeks with five or more symptoms, at least one of which must be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.

Answer 17

Major Depressive disorder

Question 18

Person experiences mildly depressed mood more often than not for at least two years, along with at least two other symptoms.

Answer 18

Persistent depressive disorder

Question 19

Person experiences not only depression but also mania—impulsive behavior.

Answer 19

Less common condition of bipolar disorder

Question 20

Findings that any theory of depression must explain:

Answer 20

• Behaviors and thoughts change with depression.
• Depression is widespread.
• Women’s risk of major depression is nearly double men’s.
• Most major depressive episodes end on their own.
• Stressful events related to work, marriage, and close relationships often precede depression.
• With each new generation, depression is striking earlier in life and affecting more people.

Question 21

The depressed brain and the 4 areas of difficulty:

Answer 21

• Brain activity slows during depression
• Left frontal lobe less active
• Scarcity of norepinephrine and serotonin

4 areas of difficulty:

• Presence of negative affect
• Absence of positive affect
• Interpersonal difficulties
• Somatic difficulties

Question 22

Symptoms that are present more often than not for 2 years are more is called :

Answer 22

Dysthymia

Question 23

The Heritability of various psychological disorders:

Answer 23

• Risk increases if family member has disorder
• Twin studies data estimated heritability of major depression at 37 percent
• Linkage analysis points to “chromosome neighborhood”
• Many genes work together and produce interacting small effects that increase risk for depression

Question 24

What disorder is this:
a person experiences, in the absence of drugs or another medical condition, two or more weeks with five or more symptoms, at least on of which must be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss interest or pleasure

Answer 24

Major depressive disorder

Question 25

What is mania

Answer 25

a hyperactive, widely optimistic state in which dangerously poor judgement is common.

Question 26

What is bipolar disorder:

Answer 26

A disorder in which a person alternates between hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the over excited state of mania. (formerly called manic-depressive disorder)

Question 27

Social Cognitive Explanations:

Answer 27

• Depressed people view self and world negatively
• Learned helplessness may exist with self-defeating beliefs, self-focused rumination, and self-blaming and pessimistic explanatory style

Question 28

What is the social cognitive perspective:

Answer 28

• Explores how people’s assumptions and expectations influence their perceptions
• Self-defeating beliefs and negative explanatory style contribute to cycle of depression
• Views depression as an ongoing cycle of stressful experiences (interpreted through negative beliefs, attributions, and memories) leading to negative moods and actions and fueling new stressful experiences

Question 29

what is rumination

Answer 29

compulsive fretting; overthinking about our problems and their causes

Question 30

Suicide and Self injury:

Answer 30

Suicide:
Involves 1 million people worldwide; higher risk with diagnosis of depression but may occur with rebound
Is more likely to occur when people feel disconnected from or burden to others
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI):
Includes cutting, burning, hitting oneself, pulling out hair, inserting objects under nails or skin, self-administered tattooing

Question 31

why do people engage in NSSI

Answer 31

• gain relief from intense negative thoughts through the distraction of pain
• ask for help and gain attention
• relieve guilt by self-punishment
• get others to change their negative behavior (bullying, criticism)
• fit in with a peer group

Question 32

what disorder is this:
it is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished, inapropriate, emotional expression

Answer 32

Schizophrenia

Question 33

What is a delusion?

Answer 33

A false belief, often of presecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders

Question 34

What is Chronic schizophrenia (also called process schizophrenia):

Answer 34

• Form of schizophrenia in which symptoms usually appear by late adolescence or early adulthood
• As people age, psychotic episodes last longer and recovery periods shorten.

Question 35

what is Acute schizophrenia (also called reactive schizophrenia):

Answer 35

Form of schizophrenia that can begin at any age, frequently occurs in response to an emotionally traumatic event, and has extended recovery periods

Question 36

Understanding Schizophrenia:

Brain abnormalities;

Answer 36

• Brain chemistry
• Excess number of dopamine receptors
• Abnormal brain activity and anatomy
• Problems with several brain regions and their interconnections
• Low activity in frontal lobes
• More rapid brain tissue loss

Question 37

genetics and risk of schizophrenia:

Answer 37

• Odds of being diagnosed with schizophrenia are nearly 1 in 100; 1 in 10 for those with diagnosed family member
• Adopted children risk is related to biological parent
• Schizophrenia influenced by many genes
• Epigenetic factors influence gene expression

Question 38

prenatal environment and risk:

Answer 38

• Low birth weight
• Lack of oxygen during delivery
• Maternal prenatal nutrition
• Midpregnancy viral infection (e.g., flu, dense population, season of birth)

Question 39

Warning Signs of schizophrenia:

Answer 39

• Social withdrawal or other abnormal behavior
• Mother with severe and long-lasting schizophrenia
• Birth complications
• Separation from parents
• Short attention span and poor muscle coordination
• Disruptive or withdrawn behavior
• Emotional unpredictability
• Poor peer relations and solo play
• Childhood physical, sexual, or emotional abuse

Question 40

What is Dissociative disorder

Answer 40

• Conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings
• dissociative amnesia (dissociation from memory) dissociative fugue (dissociation from identity)

Question 41

what is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (formerly multiple personality disorder):

Answer 41

• Rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities (dissociation within identity)
• Personalities are distinct and are not present in conscious awareness at the same time (may or may not be aware of one another)

Question 42

What is a Personality disorder

Answer 42

• Disruptive, inflexible, and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning. This disorder forms three clusters, characterized by anxiety, eccentric or odd behaviors, and dramatic or impulsive behaviors.
• Ten different types of personality disorder – Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive, Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal,

Question 43

what is antisocial personality disorder:

Answer 43

• Lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members; impulsive, fearless, irresponsible; some genetic tendencies, including low arousal
• Genetic predispositions may interact with the environment to produce the altered brain activity associated with antisocial personality disorder.

Question 44

(Eating disorders)

What is Anorexia nervousa:

Answer 44

Person (usually an adolescent female) maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly underweight

Question 45

what is bulimia nervousa:

Answer 45

Person alternates binge eating (usually of high-calorie foods) with purging (by vomiting or laxative use), fasting, or excessive exercise

Question 46

what is binge-eating disorder (new)

Answer 46

Significant binge eating, followed by distress, disgust, or guilt, but without the purging, fasting, or excessive exercise that marks bulimia nervosa

Question 47

Understanding eating disorders:

Answer 47

• People with anorexia nervosa continue to diet and exercise excessively because they view themselves as fat.
• People with bulimia nervosa secretly binge and then compensate by purging, fasting, or excessive exercise.
• People with binge-eating disorder binge but do not follow with purging, fasting, and exercise.
• Cultural pressures, low self-esteem, and negative emotions interact with stressful life experiences and genetics to produce eating disorders.