Abnormal Psych test 1

the subfield of psychology devoted to the study of mental disorders

the consistenct of a test, measurment, or category system

the accuracy of a test, measurement, or category system

the immediate trigger or pricipitate of an event

the underlying processes that create conditions making it possible for a precipitating cause to trigger an event

belief in the existence and power of a spirit world

four bodily fluids believed, by hippocrates and greek doctors, to control health and disease

a term used for centuries to describe a syndrome of symptoms that appear neurological, but do not have a neurological cause; now classified as conversion disorder

the physcical and psychological effects of mental states such that belief, confidence, and submission to authority, and hope

overall scientific worldviews, which, according to philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn, radically shift at various points in history

explaining a disorder or other complex phenomon using only a signle idea or perspective

categories that usually work reasonably well in everyday life despite their lack of precision

the view that the development of a disorder requires the interaction of diathesis (predisposing cause) and a stress (precipitating cause)

a disease, due to syphilis infection, that can cause pychosis, paralysis, and death

a rare disorder in which the physical growth of children deprived of emotional care is stunted

a perspective in abnormal psychology that integrates biological, psychological, and social components

a statistical term for a systematic association between variables

the control center for transmitting information and impulses throughout the body, consisting of the brain and the spinal cord

an individual nerve cell

the folded matter on the outside of the brain that controls humans advanced cognitive functions

a subcortical brain structure involved in routing and filtering sensory input

a subcortical brain structure that controls the endocrine, or hormonal, system

a subcortical brain structure involved in the regulation of movement

chemicals that allow nuerons in the brain to communicate by traveling between them

point of connection between neurons

the tiny gap between one neuron and the next at a synapse

the ares of a neuron that recieve neurotransmitters from adjacent neurons

the second generation class of antidepressant medication that block the reuptake of serotonin from the synapse; used in the treatment of depression and other disorders

the network of nerves throught the body that carry information and impulses to and from the CNS

connects the central nervous system with the sensory organs and skeletal muscles

the part of the PNS that regulates involuntary bodily systems, such as breathing and heart rate; it is made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system

the part of the autonomic nervous system that activates the bodys response to emergency and arousal sistuations

the part of the autonomic nervous system that regulates the bodys calming and energy-conserving funtions

the system of glands that controls the production and release of hormones

chemicals released by the endocrine system that regulate sexual behavior, metabolism, and physical growth

studies designed to investigate whether a disorder runs in families

studies which compare concordance rates for identical and nonidentical twins for a given disorder

in a group of twins, the percentage that both have the same disorder

studies designed to compare the concordance rates for a given disorder of biological versus nonbiological parent-child pairs

studies looking for the specific genetic material that may be responsible for the genetic influence on particular disorders

the evolutionary theory and process by which organsims, over generations, tend to change and develop traits and behaviors that enhance survival and reproduction

the surgical destruction of brain tissue connecting the prefrontal lobes with other areas of the brain

the deliberate induction of a seizure and coma using insulin; formerly used to treat certain mental disorders

a treatment for severe depression that invloves passing electric current through the brain to induce siezures

medications designed to affect mental functioning

drugs that increase neurotransmission

drugs that reduce or block neurotransmission

the theoretical perspective that began with freuds work and is associated with emphasis on the unconscious mental processes, emotional conflict, and influence of childhood on adult life

descriptively, mental contents that are outside of awareness; also, the irrational, instinctual part of the mind in freuds topographic theory

a defense mechanism consisting of the forgetting of painful and unacceptable mental content

descriptively; mental contents that are within awareness; also, the rational part of the mind in freuds topographic theory

Freuds first model of the mind, divided into the unconscious, conscious, and presonscious parts

the Freuds topographic model, mental contents that are not the focus of conscious attention but are accessible because they are not repressed

Freuds final model of the mind, divided into the id, ego, and superego

in Freuds structual theory, the part of the mind containing instinctual urges

in freuds structrual theory, the part of the mind that contains moral judgements and evaluates the self

in freuds structural theory, the part of the mind that is oriented to the external world and mediates the demands of the id and superego

unconscious, automatic mental processes that reduce anxiety by warding off unacceptable thoughts and feelings

categories of disorders or diseases according to a classification system

the process of gathering informatio nin order to make a diagnoses

consistency or agreement between mulitple judges

consistency or agreement between multiple administrations of the same test over time

a diagnostic system in which individuals are rated for the degree to which they exhibit certain traits

a diagnostic system, like the DSM system, in which individuals are diagnosed according to whether or not they fit certain categories

not based on any theoretical perspective; based on fact

disorders characterized by the unpleasant and unwanted forms of distress and/or impairment

disorders characterized by extreme and rigid personality traits that cause distress or impairment

the presence of two or more disorders in one person, or a general association between two or more different disorders

behaviors, thought, or feelings that are experience by an individual as distressing and unwelcome

behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that are experienced by an individual as consisten with their sense of self

a scale rating an individual's level of functioning used for AXIS V of the DSM-IV-TR

• psychological disorders
• psychiatric disorders

legal term, not used in field unless used in a legal context

"mental disorder is the 3rd largest cause of death in US"

46.4%

• 1. to define behavior as abnormal you must know the circumstances surrounds behavior
• 2. the context which abnormality occurs can help explain it
• 3. abnormal behavior is influenced by demographic context

• not "either or thing",
• abnormal behaviors are often exaggerations of normal states

part of a healthy developmental process

" a lot of people are doing it"

• Help seeking
• Irrational/dangerous behavior
• Deviance
• Emotional distress
• Significant impairment

violation of cultural norms, expectations, or behaviors

the DSM system

• Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
• published by the american psychiatric association
• in its fourth edition

psychiatrist prescibes medication while a psychologist provides therapy

Five

clinical disorders

V-codes

personality disorders

mental retardation

physical health problems (chronic conditions)

• **focuses on psychosocial and enviromental stressors**
• primary support group- group you count on when you need help
• social enviroment- general social arena
• educational- schooling
• occupational- work related
• housing- lack of acces to safe and affordable housing
• economic- don't have enough money to get by
• access to healthcare services- not able to get healthcare; underinsured
• legal system- related interactions w/ legal system
• other- other psychosocial and enviromental problems (war, natural disaster)

• GAF rating
• Based on
• 1.severity of symptoms
• 2. extent of impairment

social, occupational, academic

• 1. system is not exact
• 2. many individuals dont fit neatly into categories
• 3. lose information- by putting people into one category information not related to that category can be lost
• 4.stigmatizing-- assumptions made by people about diagnosis of people w/ disorders
• 5. system is necessary-- system affords the ability to communicate conviently between professionals
• 6. categorical vs dimensional
• 7. reliability
• 8. contruct validity
• 9. culture- different cultures have different norms and behaviors

• 1. classification allow clinicians to communicate more effectively about their work
• 2. classification facilitates research on the causes of disorders
• 3. classification facilitates decisions about which treatments are most likely to be helpful