First Test Flashcards
(46 cards)
Pre-Civilization-
early tribal groups attributed disturbed behaviour to evil spirits
Ancient Civilizations
philosophers were first to identify conditions that are now regarded as mental illness (phobias,
depression and mania)
The Middle Ages-
Catholic Church- demonology predominated as an explanation for abnormal behaviour and mental illness;
Malleus Maleficarium(The Hammer of the Witches)- a treatise of the Catholic Church drafted to identify, interrogate, and
punish those believed to be witches in the late 1400’s
The Renaissance-
introduced the physical confinement of ”lunatics”; conditions of the hospital were far from helpful- it was
known as a place of suffering and misery and reasons for hospitalizations were questionable
The Age of Enlightenment
practices of hospitals and the government were being challenged
First Nation
(Iroquois and Huron)-Considered mental issues as an indication of an individual who had lost his/her equilibrium
with the cosmos; believed dreams were unfulfilled desires that needed to be satisfied to rid evil spirits
Lobotomies
Physicians concluded that surgery to intentionally sever the frontal lobes from the rest of the brain may be
beneficial for patients with mental illnesses; 1936- first lobotomy conducted in the US and soon became the main choice of
treatment for mental illness
Electroconvulsive Therapy
1938- A brief electrical pulse to the scalp while the patient is under anesthesia. This pulse excites
the brain cells causing them to fire in unison and produces a seizure.
Psychiatric Hospitals
Many patients were forced against their own will- all that was required was the presence of mental
illness and a recommendation for treatment; Conditions were often deplorable
Civil Rights Movement
1970’s- enactment of anti-discrimination and civil rights laws; sought to eliminate involuntary
hospitalizations unless absolutely necessary and to ensure better conditions
Psychopharmacology
The use of these drugs enabled patients to rely less on permanent care at a psychiatric hospital; Mood
Drugs- created to regulate emotional disorders, as research leaned the link between neurotransmitters in the brain and
mental illness
STIGMA
A mark or sign of disgrace or discredit; a visible sign or characteristic of disease
- The Concise Oxford Dictionary
A distinguishing mark or characteristic of a bad or objectionable kind; a sign of some specific disorder, as hysteria; a
mark made upon the skin by burning with a hot iron, as a token of infamy or subjection; a brand; a mark or disgrace
or infamy; a sign of severe censure or condemnation, regarded as impressed on a person or thing
-The Shorter Oxford Dictionary
Public stigma
Occurs when members of the general public take negative action against individuals with mental
illness
The dangerousness stereotype
Misperception that contributes to the stigma of mental illness is that that people
with an illness are inherently violent
MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
depressive mood almost every day, fatigue, recurrent thoughts of death
DYSTHYMIA
less severe than MDD but longer lasting symptoms, low energy, self-esteem, chronic depression
POST PARTUM DEPRESSION
Blues, Depression, Psychosis (increases in severity)
BI-POLAR DISORDER
experiences periods of depression and elevated mood (hypomania); impulsivity during
mania, self-harm and substance use during depression
SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER (SOCIAL PHOBIA)
fear of social situations
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER-
need to repeatedly check things, perform routines or think thoughts repeatedly
GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
excessive and often irrational worry about events or activities
PANIC DISORDER
presence of recurrent, unexpected panic attacks
AGORAPHOBIA
anxiety about or avoidance of places or situations that may be difficult to escape
PARANOID PERSONALITY DISORDER
constant distrust of others and suspicion that people have sinister
motives
