Chapter 15 Slides Flashcards
Biopsychosocial approach to psychological disorders
Biological: genes, brain structure and chemistry
Psychological: stress, trauma, learned helplessness, mood-related perceptions and memories
Social: roles, expectations, definitions of normality and disorder
Psychological Disorders diagnostic classification
- predicts the disorder’s future course
- suggests treatment
- prompts research into its causes
DSM-5
describes disorders and estimates their occurrence
Changes to DSM-5
- changes in labels
- new diagnoses
- new categories
DSM-5 Criticism
- DSM-5 contributes to treating everything as abnormal
- system labels are society’s value judgements
DSM-5 Benefits
helps mental health professionals communicate and is useful in research
Generalized anxiety disorder
- global, persistent, chronic, excessive state of apprehension
- often referred to as free-floating anxiety. Because the identified course of apprehension constantly changes or cannot be identified
- physical manifestations include furrowed brow, sweating, twitching, trembling, high BP
Panic Disorder
Characterization: unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of intense dread
During panic attacks: person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking , or other terrifying sensations
This disorder involves fear of the next attack. Attempts to avoid all situations that might trigger an attack can lead to agoraphobia, the fear of being in panic-triggering situations with inadequate chance of help or escape
Agoraphobia
the fear of being in panic-triggering situations with inadequate chance of help or escape
Social phobia
intense fear of being embarrassed, judged, or scrutinized by others in social situations
Obsessions
unwanted repetitive thoughts
Compulsions
urges to perform certain actions
when is a behaviour considered a disorder?
when it brings significant distress or when the time spent on obsessions and/or compulsions interferes with daily life
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety and/or insomnia that lingers for longer than four weeks after the traumatic experience
- rises from traumatic experiences
Learning perspective
anxiety disorders are a product of fear conditioning, stimulus generalization, reinforcement of fearful behaviours, and observational learning
Biological Perspective
anxiety disorders are explained by natural selection and adaptation, genetic inheritance of high levels of emotional reactivity, and abnormal responses in the brain’s fear circuits (anterior cingulate cortex)
Cognition
includes worried thoughts, as well as interruptions, appraisals, beliefs, predictions, and ruminations
includes mental habits such as hyper vigilance (persistently watching out for danger). This accompanies anxiety in PTSD
Major depressive disorder
person experiences two or more weeks with five or more symptoms. At least one of which must be either 1) depressed mood 2) loss of interest or pleasure
Persistent depressive disorder
person experiences mildly depressed mood more often than not for at least two years, along with at least two other symptoms
Less common condition of bipolar disorder
person experiences not only depression but also mania - impulsive behaviour
Depression Symptoms
- emotional
- cognitive
- behavioural
- physical
Emotional Symptoms of depression
- feeling of sadness, hopelessness, guilt, emptiness, or worthlessness
- feeling emotionally disconnected from others
- turning away from other people
Cognitive symptoms of depression
- difficulty thinking, concentrating, and remembering
- global negativity and pessimism
- suicidal thoughts or preoccupations with death
Behavioural symptoms of depression
- dejected facial expression
- makes less eye contact; eyes downcast
- smiles less often
- slowed movements, speech, and gestures
- tearfulness or spontaneous episodes of crying
- loss if interest or pleasure in usual activities, including sex
- withdrawal from social activities