Disorders Flashcards
(65 cards)
What does the medical model propose about abnormal behavior?
It is useful to think of abnormal behavior as a disease.
What historical belief influenced the understanding of abnormal behavior in the 18th century?
Abnormal behavior was based on superstition, including beliefs in demons and witches.
What is the definition of ‘diagnosis’ in the context of mental illness?
Involves distinguishing one illness from another.
Define ‘etiology’ in the context of psychological disorders.
Apparent causation and developmental history of an illness.
What does ‘prognosis’ refer to?
A forecast about the probable course of an illness.
List the criteria clinicians rely on to diagnose psychological disorders.
- Deviance
- Maladaptive Behavior
- Personal Distress
What is DSM-5?
The official classification system for psychological disorders published by the APA.
What is a critique of the DSM-5 regarding the categorization of disorders?
It reduces a categorical approach and shows enormous overlap among various disorders’ symptoms.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Marked by chronic, high-level anxiety that is not tied to any threat.
What are common physical symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
- Trembling
- Muscle tension
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Heart palpitations
How common is Generalized Anxiety Disorder among genders?
Seen twice as much in females as males.
Define ‘specific phobia’.
A persistent and irrational fear of an object or situation that presents no realistic danger.
What proportion of victims of specific phobias are females?
2/3 of victims are females.
What characterizes Panic Disorder?
Recurrent attacks of overwhelming anxiety that usually occur suddenly and unexpectedly.
What is agoraphobia?
Fear of going out to public places.
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Persistent, uncontrollable intrusions of unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and urges to engage in senseless rituals (compulsions).
What is the most common compulsion in OCD?
Handwashing.
What does PTSD stand for?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
What are common symptoms of PTSD?
- Reexperiencing the event
- Emotional numbing
- Alienation
- Problems in social relations
- Increased vulnerability
- Elevated arousal
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Guilt
What is a concordance rate?
Indicates the percentage of twin pairs or other relatives who exhibit the same disorder.
What neurotransmitters are involved in anxiety responses?
Chemicals that carry signals from one neuron to another.
What concept did Martin Seligman create related to phobias?
Preparedness.
What are cognitive factors contributing to anxiety disorders?
- Misinterpretations of harmless situations as threatening
- Focus on perceived threats
- Selective memory
- Increase in stress
What are dissociative disorders?
Class of disorders where people lose contact with portions of their consciousness or memory, disrupting their sense of identity.