Chapter 12: Psychological Disorders

Front 1

What is a psychological disorder?

Back 1

A psychological disorder is a pattern of behavior or mental process that causes either distress, impairment, or both.

Front 2

• How do we determine which behaviors are “abnormal”?

Back 2

The questions to ask are: Are self and others in danger, Are the differences significantly impairing functioning, and is the person in great distress?

Front 3

• Can we ever test theories of etiology? Why or why not?

Back 3

Etiology is the cause or origin of a disorder and this cannot be tested because of ethics.

Front 4

• What do each of the following theories say about the etiology of psychological disorders?

Back 4

o Biological- Genetics may underlie some disorders; may also have something to do with brain structure & functions (neurotransmitters & neuroendocrinology (hormones, etc.))
o Psychodynamic- Unconscious processes underlie symptoms
o Behavioral- Behavioral tendencies are learned; maladaptive behaviors/thoughts were reinforced by others
o Cognitive- Distortions and deficits in thinking cause abnormal behavior
o Humanistic- Self-actualization thwarted results in disorders
o Sociocultural- Social ills contribute to disorders; some disorders are culture-bound
o Biopsychosocial- Cognitive distortions, Automatic thoughts, and other biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors interact to cause disorders

Front 5

• What are the steps of working with disorders? What are the components of assessment?

Back 5

1) Assessment: Clinical interview, Behavioral observations, Testing
2) Diagnosis
3) Treatment

Front 6

• What manual is used for diagnosis?

Back 6

Diagnosis and Statistical Manual (DSM)

Front 7

• What percentage of individuals who commit suicide told someone about their plans?

Back 7

70%

Front 8

• What are the two features of anxiety?

Back 8

Psychological and Physical

Front 9

• What are panic attacks?

Back 9

Panic attacks are the peak of fear or discomfort occurs within 10 minutes

Front 10

What are the three types of delusions covered in class?

Back 10

1) Delusions of grandeur = think you are more important than you are (e.g. being Jesus)
2) Delusions of persecution = everyone is out to get you
3) Delusions of reference = others referring to you all of the time

Front 11

• What are positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Back 11

The deficiency seen in schizophrenia

Front 12

What are negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Back 12

The excessive symptoms seen in schizophrenia

Front 13

• What are the core features of each of the three types of schizophrenia?

Back 13

Paranoid Type – Have systematized delusions and often hallucinations
Disorganized Type – Delusions are disorganized, inappropriate emotions, much social impairment
Catatonic Type – Sit in fixed positions for long periods of time

Front 14

• What are the three features of autism?

Back 14

Social interaction impairments, communication impairments, stereotyped and repetitive patterns of interests, behaviors and activities

Front 15

• What happens in dissociative disorders?

Back 15

There are sudden changes in consciousness, self-identity, memory, emotions, and thoughts.

Front 16

• What did dissociative identity disorder used to be called?

Back 16

Multiple Personality Disorder

Front 17

• What characterizes somatoform disorders?

Back 17

Complaint of physical problems without any physical cause

Front 18

• In what disorder is la belle indifference sometimes seen?

Back 18

Conversion Disorder

Front 19

• What is a personality disorder? When does it begin?

Back 19

A personality disorder is a lasting pattern of behavior and inner experience. The pattern has roots in adolescence or young adulthood.

Front 20

• What is the other term for antisocial personality disorder?

Back 20

Psychopathic

Front 21

o Reliability

Back 21

The consistency of a method of assessment, such as a psychological test or a manual describing the symptoms of psychological disorders

Front 22

o Validity

Back 22

The extent to which a method of assessment measures the traits or behavior patterns it is supposed to assess

Front 23

o Etiology

Back 23

The cause or origin of a disorder

Front 24

Delusions

Back 24

Beliefs that are inaccurate

Front 25

Hallucinations

Back 25

Inaccurate sensory and perceptual experiences

Front 26

Rapid flight of ideas

Back 26

Rapid speech and topic changes, characteristic of manicky behavior

Front 27

Obsession

Back 27

Disordered ideas, thoughts, or images

Front 28

Compulsion

Back 28

Disordered repetitive behaviors