Abnormal Psych Exam 1

Front 1

What are the 4 D's of "abnormal" behavior?

Back 1

1) Deviance (including statistical rarity)

2) Distress

3) Dysfunction

4) Dangerous

Front 2

What's the problem with defining abnormal behavior by causing Distress?

Back 2

Symptoms of mental illness don't always cause distress. Ex: personality disorders, delusions

Front 3

What's the problem with defining abnormal behavior in terms of Dysfunction?

Back 3

What if the mental illness is rational? Ex: PTSD victim could be seen as rational for avoiding cars.

Front 4

What's the problem with defining abnormal behavior in terms of being Dangerous?

Back 4

Most ppl aren't dangerous and assuming they are contributes to stigma

Front 5

What are the 3 general components of treatment for abnormal psychology?

Back 5

1) There's a sufferer who seeks relief from a healer.

2) There's a trained, socially acceptable healer whose expertise is accepted by the sufferer

3) A series of contacts happen between the healer and sufferer

Front 6

Trephination

Back 6

ancient practice of boring holes into the skull for treatment

Front 7

What are the 2 opposing perspectives on abnormal psychology that emerged in the early 1900s?

Back 7

1) Somatogenic perspective=Abnormal functioning has physical causes. (Led to lobotomies)

2) Psychogenic Perspective=Abnormal functioning has psychological causes. (Led to outpatient treatment)

Front 8

What discovery in the 1950s led to a decrease in institutionalization and a rise in outpatient care?

Back 8

Psychotropic medication (antipsychotics, antidepressants, antianxiety meds)

Front 9

What are the 3 concerns of having medical Insurance determine key care decisions?

Back 9

1) shortens treatment

2) Favors treatment whose results may be short term.

3) treatment determined by companies--not professionals

Front 10

What is the Biological Model?

Back 10

Assumes a biological root to the cause of abnormality; concerned with genetics, neurotransmitters and hormone activities.

Front 11

What is the Psychodynamic Model?

Back 11

States that a person's behavior is determined by underlying, unconscious, dynamic psychological factors (Id, Ego, Superego).

Deterministic--there are no "accidents" (ex: Freudian slips)

Front 12

What are the 5 stages of development according to the Psychodynamic model?

Back 12

1) Oral

2) Anal

3) Phallic

4) Latency

5) Genital

Front 13

What is the Behavioral Model? What does the treatment focus on?

Back 13

States that our actions are largely determined by our observable experiences in life and learning. Concentrates wholly on behavior and environmental factors. Treatment centers around replacing disordered behavior with good behavior.

Front 14

What are the 3 kinds of conditioning associated with the Behavioral model?

Back 14

1) Operant conditioning=ppl behave in ways that they get rewarded for

2) Modeling=ppl learn responses by observing and repeating behavior

3) Classical Conditioning=When 2 events occur close together, person responds the same to both

Front 15

What is the Cognitive Model?

Back 15

A present-focused model (unlike the Psychodynamic one) that focuses on internal processes like assumptions, attitudes, and info processing of the patient. "Maladaptive thinking is the cause of maladaptive behavior". Addresses faulty assumptions, attitudes and illogical thinking processes.

Front 16

What is the Humanistic-Existential Model?

Back 16

Combo model:

Humanist view: emphasis on ppl as inherently good/cooperative; focuses on drive for self-actualization.

Existentialist view: emphasis on self-determination and ppl making choices for themselves.

Front 17

Regarding the Humanistic-Existential model, what is Roger's theory of Humanistic therapy?

Back 17

Believes in basic human need for unconditional positive regard. If not received, leads to "conditions of worth" that prevent self-actualization due to cognitive distortion.

-Therapist's job is to provide unconditional positive regard, exhibit empathy, provide supportive environment.

Front 18

What is the Sociocultural Model?

Back 18

"Abnormal behavior is best understood in the light of social/cultural forces that influence the individual"

Front 19

What is the Biopsychosocial Model?

Back 19

"Abnormality results from a combination of genetic, biological, emotional, developmental, cognitive and societal influences"

Front 20

What are the most common types of mental disorders?

Back 20

Anxiety disorders

Front 21

What are the 5 major kinds of anxiety disorders?

Back 21

1) Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

2) Phobias

3) Agoraphobia

4) Social Anxiety Disorder

5) Panic Disorder

Front 22

What does the Sociocultural model say about GAD?

Back 22

"GAD is most likely to develop in ppl faced w/ truly dangerous social conditions." ex: natural disaster victims are more likely to develop GAD.

-Poverty is one of the most powerful forms of societal stress

-Race is also tied to GAD prevalence

Front 23

What does the Psychodynamic model say about GAD?

Back 23

Overprotective parents can play a role in GAD development

Front 24

What did Albert Ellis and Aaron Beckof the Cognitive Perspective say about GAD?

Back 24

-Albert Ellis said that GAD develops when the following irrational assumptions are applied to life:

1) We must be loved/approved of by every significant person in the community

2) it's catastrophic when things don't go the way they're planned.

-Aaron Beck said that GAD sufferers constantly held silent assumptions that imply imminent danger:

1) A situation/person is unsafe until proven safe

2) It's best to assume the worst

Front 25

What 3 recent research theories have popped up as a result of the Cognitive Theory?

Back 25

1) Metacognitive theory: ppl worry about worrying

2) Intolerance of Uncertainty Theory

3) Avoidance Theory: "worrying serves a function for those with GAD by venting/distracting from unusually high amounts of bodily arousal"

Front 26

What are the 2 therapies for GAD to come from the Cognitive Theory?

Back 26

1) Ellis's Rational Emotive therapy (RET):

-involves thinking about the thought processes even more to point out irrational assumptions and suggest more appropriate assumptions.

2) Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy:

-focuses on changing client's relationship to their thoughts. Acceptance of thoughts is key.

Front 27

What does the Biological Perspective say about GAD?

Back 27

GAD must be caused by bio factors (supported by pedigree studies). However, shared environment can't be ruled out.

-GABA inactivity may be to blame (GABA reduces anxiety)

Front 28

What are the 2 major kinds of treatment for GAD according to the Biological model?

Back 28

1) Drug therapy (recently: antidepressants and antipsychotics)

2) Relaxation training/Progressive muscle relaxation: "physical relaxation will lead to mental relaxation"

Front 29

What are the 2 broad kinds of phobias?

Back 29

1) Agoraphobia

2) Social Anxiety Disorder

Front 30

What are the 4 common themes of phobias?

Back 30

1) animal type

2) Situational type (getting on a plane, etc)

3) natural environment type (heights, water, etc)

4) Blood-injection-Injury type

Front 31

True or False: the vast majority of phobia sufferers seek treatment.

Back 31

FALSE, either because phobia doesn't interfere with life or it's embarrassing.

Front 32

What did Watson's research prove?

Back 32

His Little Albert experiment proved that classical conditioning can lead to phobia development. Phobias are maintained through avoidance.

Front 33

What are the 2 kinds of treatment for specific phobias?

Back 33

1) Desensitization (gradual)

-in vivo (live) OR

-covert (imaginary)

2) Flooding: sudden, total exposure to feared thing

Front 34

What is Agoraphobia?

Back 34

The fear of being in a situation where escape might be difficult, should one become incapacitated or panicky.

-Rationale behind fear is important for diagnosis

Front 35

DSM criteria for agoraphobia?

Back 35

fear/anxiety of 2/more of the following:

-public transportation

-being in open spaces

-being in closed spaces

-being in a crowd

-being outside of home alone

Front 36

What are the 2 explanations for agoraphobia?

Back 36

1) Modeling (from parents, etc) might play a role

2) Since many with agoraphobia also have panic attacks, panic attacks could be the root cause.

Front 37

How is agoraphobia treated?

Back 37

Same as specific phobias: by exposure.

Also support groups and home-based self help programs

Front 38

When does agoraphobia tend to develop?

Back 38

adulthood

Front 39

What is Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)?

Back 39

Severe, persistent, irrational fear of social/performance situations in which embarrassment or judgement by others might occur.

-sufferers tend to be self-critical

Front 40

When does SAD often develop?

Back 40

childhood

Front 41

What is the leading explanation of SAD and which model does it come from?

Back 41

Comes from Cognitive theorists:

Sufferers hold unrealistic expectations that work against them and anticipate social disaster as a result. Sufferers tend to overestimate how badly they did in social situations

Front 42

What 2 components of SAD must be addressed by treatment?

Back 42

1) Overwhelming social fear

2) lack of social skills

Front 43

What are the 3 kinds of treatment for SAD?

Back 43

1) meds (antidepressants)

2) psychotherapy (+ meds)

3) Social skills training

Front 44

What are panic attacks?

Back 44

Periodic, short bursts of panic that occur suddenly, peak and pass. Happens in absence of real threat and sufferers fear they'll die, go insane or lose control.

Front 45

What is the DSM criterion for having a Panic Disorder?

Back 45

Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. At least one attack must be followed by persistent worry of future panic attacks and maladaptive behavior

Front 46

When does a Panic disorder typically develop?

Back 46

late adolescence/early adulthood

Front 47

Panic disorder sufferers often develop ________ as well.

Back 47

Agoraphobia

Front 48

What 3 things does the biological model say about panic disorders?

Back 48

-ppl w/ panic disorders have increased norepinephrine

-potential genetic inheritance

-possible role of amygdala (involved in fight/flight response)

Front 49

What does the cognitive model say about panic disorders?

Back 49

-panic attacks happen b/c ppl misinterpret bodily events

-ppl might experienced heightened levels of bodily sensations

-sufferers might have higher sensitivity to anxiety due to being always in tune with the body

Front 50

How does Cognitive therapy treat Panic disorders?

Back 50

Tries to correct ppl's misinterpretations regarding their bodily sensations.

May try to induce physical sensations mimicking panic

Front 51

What are obsessions?

Back 51

Obsessions: recurrent/persistent thoughts, urges or images that are intrusive and unwanted. Attempts to ignore them triggers anxiety.

Front 52

What are compulsions?

Back 52

"voluntary" (but feels mandatory) behaviors/mental acts that a person performs but also recognizes as irrational.

Front 53

What is unique about the prevalence rates of OCD compared to other anxiety disorders?

Back 53

Men and women are equally affected and race/SES background don't affect prevalence.

Front 54

What are the 5 common forms of obsessions in OCD?

Back 54

1) wishes (that someone will die, etc)

2) impulses (to swear in church, etc)

3) images

4) ideas

5) doubts (ex: Did I lock the door?)

Front 55

What does the psychodynamic model say about OCD?

Back 55

"Battle between the id and ego"

-Freud believed OCD was related to anal stage of development

Front 56

What are the 4 other OCD-related disorders?

Back 56

1) Hoarding disorder

2) Trichotillomania

3) Excoriation (skin-picking disorder)

4) Body dysmorphic disorder

Front 57

What's the difference between Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD?

Back 57

Acute Stress Disorder: symptoms begin within 4 weeks of traumatic event and symptoms last less than a month.

PTSD: symptoms can begin anytime after traumatic event and last for longer than Acute Stress Disorder

Front 58

What are the 4 major symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder/PTSD?

Back 58

1) Reexperiencing the trauma (thru flashbacks, nightmares)

2) Avoidance (of trauma-related things)

3) Reduced responsiveness

4) Increased arousal, anxiety or guilt