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Abnormal Human Growth
Mid-Term
72
Psychology
Graduate
02/20/2011

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

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Term
Mental Disorder
Definition
A clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress (e.g., a painful symptom) or disability (e.g., impairment in one or more important areas of functioning) or with a significantly increased risk of suffering, death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom. In addition, this syndrome or pattern must not be merely an expectable and culturally sanctioned response to a particular event, for example, the death of a loved one. Whatever its original cause, it must currently be considered a manfiestation of a behavioral, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the individual.
Term
psyche by freud
Definition
the mind
Term
id
Definition
present at birth and is the repository of al of the energy needed to run the psyche, including the basic urges for food, water, elimination, warmth, affection, and sex. 
Term
libido
Definition
source of the id's energy
Term
pleasure principle
Definition
the id seeks immediate gratification of its urges. when the id is not satisfied, tension is produced, and the id impels a person to eliminate this tension as quickly as possible. 
Term
ego
Definition
develops in the second 6 months of life. primarily conscious. the task of the ego is to deal with reality. it works on the reality principle instead of the pleasure principle like the id. 
Term
reality principle
Definition
mediates between the demands of reality and the id's demands for immediate gratification.
Term
superego
Definition
a person's conscience. it develops throughout childhood. 
Term
defense mechanism
Definition
strategy used by the ego to protect itself from anxiety. 
Term
repression
Definition
process of pushing impulses and thoughts unacceptable to the ego into the unconscious
Term
HPA Axis
Definition
Hypothalamus-->Corticotropin-Releasing factor-->Pituitary-->ACTH (through blood)-->Adrenal Cortex-->Secretes cortisol and other hormones which elevate blood sugar and increase the metabolic rate throughout the body
Term
reliability
Definition
refers to consistency of measurement
Term
interrater reliability
Definition
refers to the degree to which two independent observers agree on what they have observed. e.g. two or more umpires may not agree as to whether the ball is fair or foul.
Term
test-retest reliability
Definition
measures the extent to which people being observed twice or taking the same test twice, perhaps several weeks or months apart, receive similar scores. 
Term
alternate-form reliability
Definition
the extent to which scores on the two forms of the test are consistent
Term
internal consistency reliability
Definition
assesses whether the items on a test are related to one another. 
Term
validity
Definition
generally related to whether a measure measures what it is supposed to measure. 
Term
content validity
Definition
refers to whether a measure adequately samples the domain of interest. 
Term
criterion validity
Definition
evaluated by determining whether a measure is associated in an expected way with some other measure
Term
Jim was given an intelligence test in March and re-administered the same test one year late. His score both times was the same. This indicates that the intelligence test has:
Definition
high test-rest reliability
Term
generally it is impossible for measures to be:
Definition
valid but not reliable
Term
Britney was taking a test to measure levels of depression. All of the items covered typical symptoms of depression. This inventory would be said to have:
Definition
High content validity
Term
Which of the following situations is most similar to the concept of reliability in making psychiatric diagnoses?
Definition
After watching a new TV show, you and a friend independently decide it was lousy.
Term
fMRI measures blood flow in the brain, called the BOLD signal, which stands for:
Definition
Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent
Term
A common method assessing neurotransmitters is:
Definition
Analyzing metabolites
Term
neurotransmitters are:
Definition
chemical substances important in transferring a nerve impulse from one neuron to another, for example, serotonin and norepinephrine. 
Term
Axis 1
Definition
disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. includes all diagnostic categories except the personality disorders and mental retardation
Term
Axis 2
Definition
mental retardation and personality disorders
Term
Axis 3
Definition
general medical conditions
Term
Axis 4
Definition
psychosocial and environmental problems
Term
Axis 5
Definition
Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF Scale)
Term
Jose has a major depressions and has multiple scleroris. He would be diagnosed on:
Definition
Axis 1: Major depression and Axis 3: multiple sclerosis
Term
comorbidity
Definition
refers to the presence of a second diagnosis
Term
stress
Definition
the subjective experience of distress in response to perceived environmental problems
Term
CAT Scan
Definition
Computerized Axial Tomography. Helps to asses structural brain abnormalities (and is able to image other parts of the body for medical purposes). It is a 2-dimensional, detailed image of the cross secion, giving it optimal contrasts. 
Term
MRI
Definition
Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Superior to the CT scan because it produces pictures of higher quality and does not rely on even the small amount of radiation required by a CT scan. 
Term
fMRI
Definition
Functional MRI. allows researchers to measure both brain structure and brain function. 
Term
PET Scan
Definition
Positron emission tomography. More expensive and invasive procedure. Allows measurement of both brain function and brain structure. Not as precise in measuring brain structure as MRI. 
Term
serotonin
Definition
a neurotransmitter of the central nervous system whose disturbances apparently figure in depression
Term
dopamine
Definition
central nervous system neurotransmitter, a catecholamine that is also a precursor of norepinephrine and apparently figures in schizophrenia and parkinson's disease. 
Term
Case Study
Definition

Collection of detailed biographical information. Excellent source of hypotheses. Can provide information about novel cases or procedures. Can disconfirm a relationship that was believed to be universal. Cannot provide causal evidence, because cannot rule out alternative hypotheses. May be biased by observers theoretical viewpoint.

CAN BE USED TO...1. provide a rich description of a clinical phenomenon. 2. To disprove an allegedly universal hypothesis. 3. To generate hypotheses that can be tested through controlled research.

Term
Correlational Study
Definition
Study of the relationship between two or more variables; measured as they exist in nature. Widely used because we cannot manipulate many risk variables (such as personality, trauma, or genes) or diagnosis in psychopathology research. Epidemiologists often use the correlational method to study the incidence, prevalence, and risk factors of disorders in a representative sample. Behavioral genetic studies often use the correlational method to study the heritability of different mental disorders. Cannot determine causality because of the directionality and third-variable problems.
Term
Experiment
Definition
Includes a manipulated independent variable, a dependent variable, preferably at least one control group, and random assignment. Most powerful method for determining causal relationships. Often used in studies of treatment effectiveness. Also used in analogue studies of the risk factors for mental illness. Single case experimental designs are also common but can have limited external validity.
Term
Anxiety
Definition
Apprehension over an anticipated problem.
Term
Fear
Definition
reaction to immediate danger
Term
Anxiety Disorders
Definition
specific phobias, social phobia, panic disorder (along with agoraphobia), generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (along with acute stress disorder). They are the most common type of psychiatric diagnosis. 1/4 people have them. 
Term
Specific Phobia
Definition
Fear of objects or situations that is out of proportion to any real danger.
Term
Social Phobia
Definition
Fear of unfamiliar people or social scrutiny.
Term
Panic Disorder
Definition
Anxiety about recurrent panic attacks, sometimes accompanied by agoraphobia, a fear of being in places where panic attacks could occur.
Term
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Definition
Uncontrollable worry for at least 6 months.
Term
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
Definition
Obsessions, which are uncontrollable thoughts, impulses or images; or compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or mental acts.
Term
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Definition
Aftermath of a traumatic experience in which the person reexperiences the traumatic event, avoids stimuli associated with the event, and experiences increased arousal.
Term
Acute Stress Disorder
Definition
Symptoms are similar to those of ptsd but occur for less than 4 weeks after the traumatic event. 
Term
Panic Attack
Definition
a sudden attack of intense apprehension, terror, and feelings of impending doom, accompanied by at least four other symptoms such as labored breathing, heart palpitations, nausea, upset stomach, chest pain, dizziness, sweating, hot flashes, etc.  Also could include depersonalization ( a feeling of being outside one's body) or derealization (a feeling of the world's not being real).
Term
Difference between ptsd and adjustment disorder...
Definition
Adjustment takes place after a change (sudden) in someone's life while ptsd occurs after a traumatic. event. 
Term
Medications that reduce anxiety
Definition
Anxiolytics such as benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax) and antidepressants (including tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). 
Term
Single-case design known as reversal design or ABAB design...
Definition

An initial time period, the baseline (A)

A period when a treatment is introduced (B)

A reinstatement of the conditions of the baseline period (A)

A reintroduction of the treament (B)

Term
Dissociative Disorders
Definition
dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder), and depersonalization disorder. all share disassociation which results in some aspects of cognition or experience being inaccessible consciously. 
Term
Dissociative Amnesia
Definition
Memory loss, typically of a stressful experience. The inability to recall important personal information, usually information about some traumatic experience. 
Term
Explicit and Implicit Memory
Definition
Explicit involves the conscious recall of experiences (describing a bike from childhood) while implicit underlies behaviors based on experiences that are not consciously recalled (knowing how to ride a bike).
Term
Dissociative Fugue
Definition
person not only becomes amnesic, but suddenly leaves home and work and assumes a new identity. 
Term
Depersonalization Disorder
Definition
the person's perception or experience of the self is disconcertingly and disruptively altered. It involves no disturbance of memory (unlike the rest of the dissociative disorders). Usually stress related. 
Term
DID
Definition
requires at least 2 separate personalities (alters). at least two of the alters recurrently take control of behavior. inability of at least one of the alters to recall important personal information.
Term
Somatoform Disorders
Definition
psychological problems that take a physical form...that is, the person experiences bodily symptoms that have no known physical cause. 
Term
Pain Disorder
Definition
Pain that is brought on and maintained to a significant extent by psychological factors. pain is sever enough to warrant clinical attention. psychological factors are thought to be important to the onset, severity, or maintenance of pain. the pain is not intentionally produced or fake and is not explained by another psychological condition.
Term
Body dysmorphic disorder
Definition
preoccupation with imagined or exaggerated defects in physical appearance and is not explained by another psychological disorder
Term
hypochondriasis
Definition
preoccupation with fears of having a serious illness. continues in spite of medical reassurance. not explained by a delusional disorder or body dysmorphic disorder. symptoms last at least 6 months. 
Term
somatization disorder
Definition
recurrent, multiple physical complaints that have no biological basis. history of seeking treatment for many physical complaints beginning before the age of 30 and lasting for several years. at least four pain symptoms, one sexual symptom, and one pseudoneurological symptom (e.g. unexplained paralysis). symptoms not due to medical condition or are excessive given the person's medical condition. do not appear to be faked.
Term
conversion disorder
Definition
sensory or motor symptoms without any physiological cause. related to stress or conflict. not intentionally produced and cannot be explained by a medical condition. causes significant distress or functional impairment or warrant medical evaluation. 
Term
malingering
Definition
physical incapacity faked to avoid responsibility
Term
factitious disorder
Definition
intentionally produced symptoms
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