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MCAT Behavioural Sciences > Psychological Disorders > Flashcards

Psychological Disorders Flashcards

1
Q

Biomedical approach

A

Therapy is focused around symptom reduction

  • narrower than other approaches
  • can miss things such as lifestyle causes
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2
Q

Biopsychosocial approach

A

Assumes that there are biological, psychological, and social components to an individuals disorder
-using indirect therapy and direct therapy

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3
Q

Direct therapy

A

treatment that acts directly on the individual

-meetings with a psychologist or medication….

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4
Q

Indirect therapy

A

Aims to increase social support by educating and empowering family members and friends of the patient

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5
Q

disorder with highest % affected

A

specific phobia

-then social anxiety and major depressive disorder

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6
Q

Schizophrenia - general description

A

Prototypical psychotic disorder

Need to show signs of disturbance for at least 6 months with at least one month of active symptoms

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7
Q

Positive symptoms

A

Behaviours, thoughts, feelings added to normal behaviour

  • delusions & hallucinations (psychotic dimension)
  • disorganized thought & behaviour (disorganized dimension)
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8
Q

Negative symptoms

A

Absence of normal behaviours

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9
Q

Delusions

A

False beliefs discordant with reality

  • not shared by others in an individuals culture (must be deviant to be considered delusions)
  • maintained despite evidence to the contrary
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10
Q

Delusions of reference

A

belief that common elements in the environment are directed at the individual

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11
Q

Delusions of persecution

A

Belief that the person is being deliberately interfered with or plotted against in some way

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12
Q

Delusions of grandeur

A

Belief that the person is special or remarkable in some way

*also present in Bipolar I

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13
Q

Thought broadcasting

A

Belief that one’s thoughts are being broadcast to the world

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14
Q

Thought insertion

A

Belief that thoughts are being placed into one’s head

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15
Q

Hallucinations

A

Perceptions that are not due to external stimuli but have a compelling sense of reality

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16
Q

Most common form of hallucination

A

Auditory

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17
Q

Disorganized thought

A

Characterized by a loosening of associations
-rapid shifting of ideas

Word salad - loss of structure to speech

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18
Q

Neologism

A

New words invented by someone with schizophrenia

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19
Q

Disorganized behaviour

A

Inability to carry out activities of daily living

-paying bills, keeping appointments etc.

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20
Q

Catatonia

A

Motor behaviours that are extreme in both senses

-either maintaining an extremely rigid posture or useless and bizarre movements

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21
Q

Echolalia

A

Repetition of another’s words

-form of catatonia

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22
Q

Echopraxia

A

Imitation of another’s actions

-form of catatonia

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23
Q

Negative symptoms

A

Include disturbances of affect and avolition

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24
Q

Affect

A

experience and display of emotion

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25
Q

Blunting

A

Severe reduction in the intensity of affect expression

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26
Q

downward drift hypothesis

A

Schizophrenia causes a decline in socioeconomic status

  • this leads to worsening of symptoms
  • begins a negative spiral towards poverty and psychosis
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27
Q

Flat affect

A

Virtually no signs of emotional expression

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28
Q

Inappropriate affect

A

Affect is clearly discordant with the content of the individuals speech

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29
Q

Avolition

A

Decreased engagement in purposeful-goal directed activities

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30
Q

Prodromal phase

A

Period before a diagnosis of schizophrenia

  • marked with poor adjustment, social withdrawal, peculiar behaviour, inappropriate affect
  • followed by a period of active symptoms

note: if onset is quicker, prognosis is better

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31
Q

Major depressive disorder

A 
Mood disorder categorized by at least 1 major depressive episode 
-period of at least 2 weeks of 5 of the following 
•prominent and persistant depressed mood*
•anhedonia *
•appetite disturbances 
•decreased energy
•feelings of worthlessness 
•substantial weight changes 
•sleep disturbances 
•difficulty concentrating or thinking 
•psychomotor symptoms 
•thoughts of death or suicide
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32
Q

Dysthymia

A

Depressed mood not severe enough to meet the criteria for a major depressive episode

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33
Q

anhedonia

A

loss of pleasure or interest in activities once found enjoyable

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34
Q

Persistant depressive disorder

A

Individuals who suffer from dysthymia most of the time during a 2 year period

Also applies to individuals suffering from MDD for 2+ years

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35
Q

Seasonal affective disorder

A

Major depressive disorder with seasonal onset

  • may be related to abnormal melatonin metabolism
  • can be treated with bright light therapy
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36
Q

Bipolar I

A

Presence of manic episodes with or without major depressive episodes

37
Q

Manic episodes - signs and symptoms (DIG FAST)

A 
Abnormal and persistent elevated mood for 1+ week 
-has at least 3 of the following 
•Distractible 
•Insomnia 
•Grandiosity 
•Flight of ideas (racing thoughts)
•Agitation 
•Speech (pressured)
•Thoughtlessness (risky behaviour)

More rapid onset than depressive episodes
•may include psychotic symptoms

38
Q

Hypomania

A

Typically does not impair functioning to the same degree as mania NOR are there psychotic symptoms

Individual may be more energetic and optimistic

39
Q

Bipolar II

A

Hypomania with at least 1 major depressive episode

40
Q

Cyclothymic disorder

A

Combination of hypomanic episodes and dysthymia

41
Q

Monoamine / catecholamine theory of depression

A

Revolves around the 2 neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine

  • high levels = mania
  • low levels = depression
42
Q

Most common psychiatric disorder for women?

A

Anxiety disorders

43
Q

Generalized anxiety disorder

A

Disproportionate and persistent worry about many things

  • lasting at lest 6 months
  • can have physical symptoms like muscle tension, sleep problems and fatigue
44
Q

Specific phobias

A

Most common type of anxiety disorder

Irrational fear of something to the point that you are compelled to avoid it

Focused on a specific object or situation

45
Q

Social anxiety disorder

A

Persistent fear when exposed to a social situation or performance situation

46
Q

Agoraphobia

A

Anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of being in places or situations where it might be hard for the person to escape

47
Q

Panic disorder

A 
Repeated occurrence of panic attacks, periods of:
•fear and apprehension 
•trembling
•sweating
•hyperventilation 
•sense of unreality 
•"sense of impending doom"

Frequently accompanied by agoraphobia because of the fear of having a panic attack while in public

48
Q

Obsessive compulsive disorder

A

Obsessions: intrusive thoughts and impulses
Compulsions: repetitive tasks that relieve the tension caused by the obsessions
•cause significant impairment in a persons life

49
Q

Body dysmorphic disorder

A

Unrealistic negative evaluation of bodily appearance

-usually directed towards a certain body part

50
Q

Post traumatic stress disorder

A

Occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event
-intrusion symptoms, avoidance symptoms, negative cognitive symptoms, and arousal symptoms that are present for at least 1 month

51
Q

Intrusion symptoms

A

Recurrent reliving of the event
•flashbacks
•nightmares
•prolonged distress

52
Q

Avoidance symptoms

A

Deliberate attempts to avoid objects, places, people associated with the trauma

53
Q

Negative cognitive symptoms

A
  • inability to recall key features of the event
  • negative mood or emotions
  • feeling distanced from others
  • persistent negative view
54
Q

Arousal symptoms

A
  • Increased startle response
  • irritability
  • anxiety
  • self destructive/reckless behaviour
  • sleep disturbances
55
Q

Acute stress disorder

A

Same symptoms of PTSD lasting less than 1 month but longer than 3 days

56
Q

Dissociative disorders

A

Avoids stress by escaping from their identity
-otherwise has an intact sense of reality

Examples:
•dissociative amnesia
•dissociative identity disorder
•depersonalization/derealization disorder

57
Q

Dissociative amnesia

A

Inability to recall past experiences

-not due to a neurological disorder

58
Q

Dissociative fugue

A

Sudden, unexpected move or purposeful wandering away from one’s usual routine
-can be confused about identity or assume a new identity

59
Q

Dissociative identity disorder

A

where 2 or more personalities recurrently take over the personality of the individual

  • components of identity fail to integrate
  • usually the person suffered physical or sexual abuse as a child
60
Q

Depersonalization/Derealization disorder

A

Depersonalization: Individuals feel detached from their own mind and body

  • out of body experience
  • failure to recognize one’s own appearance

Derealization: Individuals feel detached from their surroundings
-world has a dreamlike quality

61
Q

Somatic symptom disorder

A

Have at least 1 somatic symptoms (bodily) that may or ma not be linked to another condition but is accompanied with disproportionate concerns about its seriousness

62
Q

Illness anxiety disorder

A

Patient is consumed with thought about having or developing a serious medical condition

63
Q

Conversion disorder

A

characterized by unexplained symptoms affecting voluntary motor or sensory functions
-usually appear after high levels of stress or a traumatic event

ex: paralysis or blinding without any neurological cause
* la belle indifférence - patient is not concerned

64
Q

Personality disorder

A

Behaviour that is inflexible and maladaptive
-causes distress or impaired functioning in at least 2 of: cognition, emotion, impulse control, interpersonal

Ego-syntonic or ego-dystonic

65
Q

Ego-syntonic

A

Individual perceives their behaviour as a result of the personality disorder as being correct

66
Q

Ego-dystonic

A

Individual sees the personality disorder as something that is thrust upon them and is intrusive

67
Q

Cluster A disorders

A

Paranoid, schizotypal, and schizoid personality disorders

Marked by behaviour that is odd or eccentric

“weird” cluster of disorders

68
Q

Cluster B disorders

A

Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic personality disorders

Marked by behaviour that is dramatic, emotional, or erratic

“Wild” cluster of disorders

69
Q

Cluster C disorders

A

Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorders

Anxious or fearful behaviour is exhibited

“worried” cluster of disorders

70
Q

Paranoid personality disorder

A

Marked by a pervasive mistrust of people

-can indicate the prodromal stage of schizophrenia

71
Q

Schizotypal personality disorder

A

Pattern of odd or eccentric thinking

  • can have ideas of reference (not as extreme as delusions)
  • and magical thinking - superstition or belief in magic

like the + symptoms of schizophrenia

72
Q

Schizoid personality disorder

A

Pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotions
-few friends and poor social skills

Like the - symptoms of schizophrenia

73
Q

Antisocial personality disorder

A

Pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others AND lack of remorse for these actions

  • 3x more common in males
  • many serial killers or prolific criminals have this disorder
74
Q

Borderline personality disorder

A

Pervasive instability in interpersonal behaviour, mood, and self image

  • often fear of abandonment
  • lack of security in self image, sexuality, goals, values
  • suicide attempts and self harm are common
  • may use splitting as a way to cope
75
Q

Splitting

A

Defense mechanism for individuals with borderline personality disorder in which the view others as either ALL good or ALL bad
-angel vs. devil mentality

76
Q

Histrionic personality disorder

A

Constant attention seeking behaviour

-exceptionally extroverted and dramatic

77
Q

Narcissistic Personality disorder

A

Grandiose sense of self-importance and uniqueness

  • constant need for admiration and attention
  • fantasies of success
  • feeling of entitlement in interpersonal relationships etc.
  • very fragile self esteem
78
Q

Avoidant personality disorder

A

Extreme shyness and fear of rejection

  • sees themselves as socially inept and isolated despite desire for social affection
  • stay in the same job, relationship, etc. despite wanting change
79
Q

Dependent personality disorder

A

Continuous need for reassurance

-tend to be dependent on one specific person

80
Q

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

A

Perfectionist and inflexible, tends to like rules and order

  • lack of desire to change
  • excessive stubbornness
  • maintenance of careful routines
  • lack of sense of humour
81
Q

Biological causes of Schizophrenia

A

Most potential causes are genetic

Trauma at birth - hypoxemia

excessive marijuana use as a teenager

Excess of dopamine in the brain
-drugs to treat it block dopamine receptors

82
Q

Biological causes of Depressive disorders

A
  • Abnormally high glucose metabolism by the amygdala
  • Hippocampal atrophy (after long duration of illness)
  • Abnormally high levels of glucocorticoids
  • Decreased: norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine
83
Q

Biological causes of Bipolar disorders

A
  • Increased: norepinephrine and serotonin (mania)
  • Higher risk if parent is bipolar (genetic)
  • Higher risk for persons with MS
84
Q

Biological causes of Alzheimer’s - genetics

A

Mutations in the presenilin genes on chromosomes 1 and 14 contribute to having the disease

Mutations on the apolipoprotein E gene on chromosome 19 contribute the the likelihood of getting the disease

Mutations on the ß-amyloid precursor gene on the chromosome 21 is known to contribute to it

85
Q

Biological marker of Alzheimer’s diagnosis

A
  • Flattened sulci in the cerebral cortex
  • Enlarged ventricles
  • Deficient blood flow in the parietal lobes = cognitive decline
  • Reduction in acetylcholine AND in choline acetyltransferase (makes acetylcholine)
  • Reduced metabolism in the temporal and parietal lobes
  • Plaques of ß-amyloid
  • Neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein
86
Q

ß-amyloid

A

misfolded protein in ß-pleated sheet form that forms plaques in Alzheimer’s patients

87
Q

Parkinson’s disease - signs and symptoms

A

Bradykinesia - slowness in movement

Resting tremor - appears when muscles are not in use

Pill-rolling tremor- tremor of the fingers as if rolling something between them

Masklike facies - facial expression with static and expressionless features (open mouth, wide eyes)

Cogwheel rigidity - muscle tension that halts movement

Shuffling gate with stooped posture

88
Q

Parkinson’s disease - biological basis

A

Decreased dopamine production in the substantia nigra

  • layer of cells in the brain that permit proper functioning of the basal ganglia
  • basal ganglia are needed to initiate and terminate movement

Common drug is l-DOPA, precursor that is converted to dopamine in the brain

MCAT Behavioural Sciences (12 decks)

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