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Abnormal Psychology
Unit 1&2
186
Psychology
Undergraduate 3
02/06/2012

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Term
Abnormal Psychology
Definition
studies the causes and progression of psychological disorders

aka psychopathology
Term
psychological disorder
Definition
significant personal distress

significant impairment in daily life

significant risk of harm
Term
distress
Definition
anguish or suffering

severe distress=may be from event (doesn't constitute disorder)
*can be masked or hidden
Term
impairment in daily life
Definition
significant reduction in ability to function in soem area of life
atypical for the context
Term
psychosis
Definition
impaired ability to perceive reality, normal functioning not possible

*hallucinations
*delusions
Term
hallucinations
Definition
sensations which appear real but are not
any of 5 senses
*most common are voices
Term
delusions
Definition
persistent false beliefs held despite evidence that they are incorrect or exaggerated
Term
risk of harm
Definition
behaviors that may cause risk to self or others outside the normal range

therapist mush say something if creditable threat
Term
Koro
Definition
culture specific syndrome

recognized in DSM
i.e. west african cutting
Term
culture specific syndrome or folk illness or culture bound syndrome
Definition
combination of psychiatric and somatic symptoms that are considered to be recognizable diseases only within a specific society or culture
Term
Drapetomania
Definition
mental illness in 1851

caused black slaves to flee captivity

today it is considered psuedoscience
Term
hysteria
Definition
17th century thought as a female disease that cause disturbances in the uterus

late 19th century came to be referred to as sexual dysfunction
Term
ancient views of psychopathology
Definition
supernatural forces

greeks-mental illness as a form of bodily illness

rose from abnormalities in the brain (hipporcates)
Term
Middle ages and Renaissance on psychopathology
Definition
rise of christianity=based back on forces of evil
middle ages=supernatural forces
renaissance=witches
Term
18th and 19th centuries on psychopathology
Definition
descartes=abnormalities in mind
locke=insanity caused by irrational thinking
asylums
franz mesmer and mesmerism=moral treatment
benjamin rush=treated ill with respect and provided basic needs and treatment
dorthea dix=fought for humane treatment

asylums became over crowded and understaffed, so sedation and management became goals
Term
moral treatment
Definition
an environment where the mentally ill were treated with kindness and respect, functioned as part of the community
Term
free association
Definition
technique in which patients are encouraged to say whatever thought comes to mind

"talking cure"-help reduce conscious conflicts
Term
Id
Definition
sexual and aggressive drives

immediate gratification

pleasure principle
Term
superego
Definition
conscious which works to impose morality
Term
ego
Definition
mediates between id's demands from immediate gratification and superego's high moral standards along with constraints of external reality
Term
neurosis
Definition
pattern of thoughts, feelings, or behavior that expresses and unresolved conflict between ego and the id or between the ego and superego
Term
defense mechanisms
Definition
repression, denial, rationalization, projection, reaction formation, sublimation
Term
humanistic psychology
Definition
Maslow

focuses on free will, innate goodness, creativity. and the self

client centered therapy:Rogers
Term
mental processes
Definition
internal operations that underlie cognitive and emotional functions (such as perception, memory and guilt feelings) and human behavior
Term
mental contents
Definition
specific material that is stored in the mind and operated on by mental processes
Term
diathesis-stress model
Definition
psychological disorders are triggered when a person with a predisposition-a diathesis- for the particular disorder experiences an environmental event that causes significant stress
Term
biopsychosocial approach
Definition
disorders arise from the combined influences biological, psychological and social factors

problems:
*no specific focus on the organ responsible for cognition and affect-the brain
Term
Neuropsychosocial approach
Definition
psychological disorders arise from the combined influence of neurological, psychological and social factors-which will affect and are affected by one another through feed back loops

2 defining features:
*way it characterizes factors
*way it characterizes interactions
Term
etiology
Definition
set of factors that contributes to the occurrence of a disease
Term
feedback loops
Definition
effect of one factor depends on the effect of others
Term
central nervous system (CNS)
Definition
brain and spinal cord

memory, consciousness, perception and voluntary action
Term
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Definition
sensory-somatic nervous system

connects brian to world via
*senses (inputs)
*muscles (outputs)
Term
automatic nervous system (ANS)
Definition
controls involuntary functions

heart, brain, blood vescles

2 parts
*sympathetic nervous system
*parasympathetic nervous system
Term
sympathetic nervous system
Definition
revs you up in times of emergency
*speeds heartbeat, dilates pupils
slows down non-essential function

fight or flight response

part of ANS
Term
parasympathetic nervous system
Definition
settle you down after crisis
*slows heart rate, contracts pupils
dysfunctions associated with various psychological problems
Term
frontal lobe
Definition
crucial role in feeling emotions and using emotional responses in:
*decision making, thinking and problem solving
sometimes referred to as executive functioning
Term
cortex
Definition
outer layer of cells on surface of brain

contains majority of brains neurons

means bark
Term
neurons
Definition
brain cells that process information related to physical, mental and emotional functioning
Term
limbic system
Definition
key role in emotions and contains:
*hypothalamus
*hippocamus
*amygdala
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
governs bodily functions associated with eating, drinking and controlling temper

key role in aspect of emotion and our experience in pleasure
Term
hippocamus
Definition
stores new information
Term
amygdala
Definition
central to producing and perceiving strong emotions, fear
Term
neuron parts
Definition
cell body
axon
dendrite
Term
cell body (soma)
Definition
nucleus-regulates function of neuron
cell membrane- forms outer covering

when excited channels in membrane open to balance out chemicals, allows it to fire to other neurons
Term
axon
Definition
sends signals when a neuron fires

covered in myelin sheath (not all)
Term
action potential
Definition
wave of chemical activity that moves from the cell body down the axon
Term
dendrites
Definition
receive signals from other neurons

highly branched to receive many signals at once
Term
glial cells
Definition
support system of neurons

directly stimulate neurons

modulate input from other neurons
Term
neuromodulators
Definition
chemicals that alter the way neurotransmitters affect the receiving neuron
Term
dopamine
Definition
reward and motivation

too little ADHD and depression

too much schizophrenia
Term
serotonin
Definition
inhibitory

mood, sleep, motivation

too little depression and OCD

too much reduce motivation
Term
acetylcholine
Definition
stores new memory

fight or flight

too little production of delusions

too much spasms, tremors, and convulsions
Term
adrenaline
Definition
fight or flight

too much depression

too much over arousal
Term
norepinephrine
Definition
attention and fight or flight

too little distractibility, fatigue, depression

too much schizophrenia and anxiety disorders
Term
glutamate
Definition
registering pain and formation of new memories

too little schizophrenia

too much substance abuse
Term
GABA
Definition
inhibitory

too little anxiety and panic disorder

too much undermines motivation
Term
endogenous cannabinoids
Definition
involved in attention, memory, appetite and control of movements

too little chronic pain

too much eating disorder, memory impairments, attention difficulties and possibly schizophrenia
Term
receptors
Definition
specialized sites on dendrites and cell bodies that respond only to specific modules

neurotransmitter molecules bind to the receptors and affect them by exciting or inhibiting them
Term
hormones
Definition
neurotransmitter substance released directly into blood stream

effect more general and widespread than that of neurotransmitters released in synapse

can activate or modulate activity of neurons

produced in endocrine system

cortisol
Term
cortisol
Definition
hormone, help body cope with challenges by making more resources available

produced by the adrenal glands

abnormal amounts linked to anxiety and depression
Term
genes
Definition
segment of DNA that controls the production of particular proteins
Term
Genotype
Definition
sum of organisms genes
Term
phenotype
Definition
sum of observable traits
Term
complex inheritance
Definition
transmission of traits expressed along a continuum by the interaction of sets of genes
Term
behavioral genetics
Definition
investigate the degree to which the variability of characteristics in population arises from genetic vs environmental problems
Term
heritability
Definition
estimate how much of the variation in a characteristic within a population can be attributed to genetics
Term
passive interactions
Definition
parents genes affect the child's environment

child passively receives these influences
Term
evocation interaction
Definition
a person inherited traits encourage other people to behave in particular ways

a person's social environment will be affected by their genes
Term
active interaction
Definition
we all actively seek out some environments and avoid others

our genes influence which environments feel most comfortable to us
Term
attention
Definition
results in selection or enhancing certain stimuli
Term
perception
Definition
results registering and identifying specific stimuli
Term
memory
Definition
storing, retaining and recalling information including that which is emotionally relevant to a particular disorder
Term
cognitive distortion
Definition
dysfunctional, maladaptive thoughts are the root cause of psychological problems
Term
emotion
Definition
short lived experience evoked by a stimulus that produces
*a mental response
*a typical behavior
*a positive or negative subject feeling
Term
affect
Definition
emotion or mood (e.g. sadness) within abnormal psychology

display of emotion
Term
inappropriate affect
Definition
expression of emotion that is not appropriate to what a person is saying or to the situation
Term
flat affect
Definition
absent or diminished emotional expression
i.e. speaking robotically or showing little or no facial expression
Term
lability or labile affect
Definition
affect that changes very rapidly
i.e. bipolar disorder
Term
mood
Definition
persistent emotion not attached to a specific stimuli

exists in the background and influences mental processes, mental contents and behavior
Term
attributions
Definition
assigning causes for particular occurances
Term
self serving attributional bias
Definition
when people attribute positive events, but not negative ones, to their own characteristic or abilities
Term
approach emotions
Definition
positive emotions such as love and happiness

activate left frontal lobe
Term
withdrawal emotions
Definition
negative emotions such as fear and sadness

active in right frontal lobe
Term
temperament
Definition
person's typical emotional state and emotional reactivity

largely innate

influences behavior in early childhood and even infancy
Term
harm avoidance
Definition
reacting negatively to harm and avoiding it
associated with actions of serotonin
Term
reward dependence
Definition
behaviors are repeated to gain past desired outcomes

associated with actions of norepinephrine
Term
persistence
Definition
continued efforts in the face of frustration when attempting to accomplish something

associated with low levels of dopamine
Term
social drift
Definition
those who are mentally ill "drift" to a lower SES level because of their impairments
Term
diagnosis
Definition
identification of the nature of a disorder

assigning symptoms to specific classification

may suggest possible cause or treatments
Term
clinical assessment
Definition
obtaining relevant information and making a judgement based on data collected
Term
diagnostic bias
Definition
systematic error in diagnosis

cause certain groups to receive a particular diagnosis disproportionally
Term
stigmatizing label
Definition
influence how others view and treat the person

may change how the patient behaves and feels about himself or herself
Term
prognosis
Definition
likely cause and outcome of a disorder
Term
incidence
Definition
total number of new cases identified in a given period
Term
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM -IV-TR)
Definition
describes characteristics of many psychological disorders

identifies criteria, kinds, numbers, duration of relevant symptoms
Term
comorbidity
Definition
the presence of more than one disorder at a time in a given patient
Term
axis's of DSM
Definition
I: clinical disorders
II:personality disorders and mental retardation
III: general medical conditions
IV: psychological and environmental problems
V: global assessment of functioning
Term
heterogeneous
Definition
group with the same disorder
Term
functional neuro-imaging
Definition
identifies brain areas related to specific aspects of a disorder
Term
Positron emission tomography (PET)
Definition
measures blood flow in the brain

requires introducing a small amount of a radioactive substance into the bloodstream
Term
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Definition
to obtain images of brain functioning

reveals the extent to which different brain areas are activated during particular tests
Term
clinical interview
Definition
meeting between clinician and patient

clinician asks questions related to patient's symptoms and functioning
Term
malingering
Definition
intentionally providing a false report of symptoms or exaggerating existing symptoms

either for material gain or to avoid unwanted events
Term
factitious disorder
Definition
falsely reporting or inducing medical or psychological symptoms

assume "sick" role and receive attention
Term
cognitive assessment
Definition
WAIS-IV
WISC-IV

70 and below indicate mental impairment
Term
personality assessment
Definition
MMPI-2
projective tests-describe ambiguous stimuli
Rorschach test-10 ink blots
Thematic apperception test (TAT)
Term
Assessing Social factors
Definition
family functioning
community
culture
Term
confidentiality
Definition
ethical requirement not to disclose information about a patient (even whether someone is a patient or not) to others unless legally compelled to do so
Term
privileged communication
Definition
confidential information that is protected from being disclosed during legal proceedings

legal term related to confidentiality
Term
insanity
Definition
legal term not in DSM

addresses whether someone was criminally responsible at the time they committed a crime
Term
criminally responsible
Definition
defendant's crime was the product both an action or attempted action and intention to perform that task
Term
M'Naghten Test or Rule
Definition
determines whether a defendant, at the time of committing the act, knew what he/she was doing and, if so, knew that the act was wrong
Term
irresistible impulse test
Definition
did the defendant know that the criminal behavior was wrong but none the less performed it because of an irresistible impulse
Term
Durham Test
Definition
was the irresistible impulse to perform criminal behavior due to a mental defect or disorder present at the time of the alleged crime

unclear about what is considered mental defect or disorder

only used in New Hampshire
Term
American Legal Institute test (ALI)
Definition
2 possible test for insanity
*person lacks a substantial capacity to appreciate that the behavior was wrong
*person has a diminished ability to make his/her behavior conform to the law, an irresistible impulse

knowledge (cognition) and impulse (violation)
Term
Insanity defense reform act
Definition
ask whether person, because of severe mental defect or disorder, has a diminished capacity to understand right from wrong

ended irresistible impulse element

having a disorder in it self doesn't constitute an insanity defense
Term
competency to stand trial
Definition
mental state during the time leading up to the trail that enable a defendant to participate in their own defense

must be able to:
*understand the proceedings that will take place
*understand the facts in the case and legal options available
*consult with his/her lawyer
*assist the lawyer in building the defense
Term
dangerous
Definition
legal term: to someone's potential to harm self or others
*severity:how much harm might the person inflict
*immense: how soon might the harm occur
*frequency: how often might the person be dangerous
*probability: how likely is the person to be dangerous
Term
civil commitment
Definition
involuntary commitment to a mental health facility of a person deemed to be a significant risk of harming themselves or a specific other person
Term
parens patriae
Definition
government acts as a caregiver, a "parent" to persons unable to care for themselves
Term
mandated outpatient commitment
Definition
goal to develop less restrictive alternatives to inpatient care

legally mandated treatment

hope to prevent cycle:
*getting discarded from inpatient care
*stopping medication
*becoming dangerous
* ending up back in hospital or jail
Term
Lake v Cameron 1966
Definition
supreme court ruled that those forced to receive treatment through civil commitment should be given the least restrictive alternate available
Term
Rouse v Cameron 1967
Definition
court ruled that appropriate treatment must be provided, even if it might not be successful
Term
Wyatt v Strickney 1971
Definition
outlined the need for each patient to have an individualized treatment plan
Term
O'Connor v Donaldson 1975
Definition
court ordered that civil commitment may not be used to simply confine people against their will indefinitely
Term
treatment
Definition
use of a procedure or substance to:
*reduce or eliminate psychological disorders
*reduce or eliminate target symptoms
*improve quality of life
Term
target symptoms
Definition
symptoms addressed by the treatment
Term
SSRI's
Definition
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

used for anxiety and depression
Term
biomedical treatments
Definition
change brain functioning, hormonal activity or another aspect of bodily functioning

medication, ECT, TMS, biofeedback, neurosurgery
Term
psychopharmacology
Definition
use of medication to reduce or eradicate symptoms of psychological disorders

study of such treatment

goals of medication:
*to affect neurological factor increase or decrease brain activity

influence psychological and social factors
Term
agonists
Definition
mimic the effects of a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator

activate a particular type of receptor
Term
antagonists
Definition
bind to a receptor site on a dendrite (or cell body)

prevent the neurotransmitter in the synapse from binding to that receptor (or cause less of it to bind)
Term
reuptake inhibitors
Definition
partially block the process by which a neurotransmitter is reabsorbed into the terminal button

increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft
Term
antipsychotic medication
Definition
reduce certain psychotic symptoms

aka neuroleptic medications or major tranquilizers

some newer agents used for bipolar disorders as well

used to treat schizophrenia
Term
depression treated with...
Definition
SSRI's and SNRI's have largely replaced older medications (generally more effective and safer)
Term
anxiety treatment
Definition
long term: SSRI's, SNRI's, and TCA's
short term: benzodiazepines
Term
benzodiazepines
Definition
minor tranquilizers

help reduce anxiety quietly
Term
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Definition
used to treat depression when other things don't work (only used when nothing else works)

cause controlled brain seizures
Term
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TSM)
Definition
sends short, strong magnetic pulses into the cerebral cortex via coils placed on the scalp
Term
biofeedback
Definition
person is trained to bring normally involuntary or unconscious bodily activities under voluntary control
Term
Neurosurgery
Definition
brain structures are destroyed or their connections severed

lobotomies used to be common
*only used in extreme cases
Term
psychic determinism
Definition
all behavior has underlying psychological causes

represents responses to those unconscious drives or urges

3 psychic structures in the brain
*id
*ego
*superego
Term
psychoanalysis
Definition
intensive psychotherapy

based on Freuds view that psychopathology arises from unconscious conflicts

insight main catalyst of change

time consuming and expensive
Term
dream analysis
Definition
therapists interprets content of a patient's dreams

manifest: content of dream itself
latent: hidden, true meaning of the dream expressed by the unconscious
Term
therapeutic alliance
Definition
positive relationship between therapist and patient
Term
free association
Definition
patient report aloud their train of thought, uncensored
Term
interpretation
Definition
therapist infers the unconscious meaning or motivation behind a patient's words and behaviors

shares these inferences with the patient
Term
resistance
Definition
patients are likely, overtly or covertly, consciously or unconsciously to hinder treatment
Term
transference
Definition
patients interact with the therapist in the same manner that they did with parents or other important figures

encouraged by therapist to explore patients feelings
Term
client centered therapy
Definition
intended to promote personal growth so that a client can reach his/her full potential

symptoms arise from incongruence between the real self and ideal self
Term
behavior therapy
Definition
used most with autistic children and children with behavioral disorders or cognitive defects

new learning can allow patients to develop more adaptive behaviors, cognitions and emotions

effective as long as they can control environment and contingencies of behavior
Term
cognitive therapy
Definition
mental contents influence feelings and behaviors

correcting irrational thoughts and incorrect beliefs will lead to better mood and more adaptive behavior
Term
ABC's
Definition
A=antecedents of the behavior
B=behavior itself
C=consequences of the behavior
Term
habituation
Definition
process by which repeated exposure reduces the emotional response to a stimulus

common treatment for anxiety disorders, particular phobias
Term
exposure
Definition
repeated contact with a feared or arousing stimulus in a controlled setting

leads to habituation
Term
virtual reality exposure
Definition
exposure to a computer-generated representation of the stimulus

used to treat PTSD, fear of flying, social phobias
Term
in vivo exposure
Definition
exposure to actual stimulus
Term
systematic desensitization
Definition
learn to relax in the presence of a feared stimulus

not as efficient or effected

progressive muscle relation
Term
exposure with response prevention
Definition
used to treat compulsive behaviors

patient is prevented from engaging in his/her usual maladaptive response after being exposed to a stimulus
Term
stimulus control
Definition
changing the frequency of a maladaptive conditioned response by controlling the frequency or intensity of exposure to the stimulus that elicits the response
*substances related disorders
*eating disorders
*sexual disorders
Term
behavior modification
Definition
use of operant conditioning principles to change maladaptive behavior
Term
shaping
Definition
reinforcing small and progressively larger components of changed behaviors until the desired complex behavior is exhibited

successive approximations
Term
extinction
Definition
process of eliminating behaviors by not reinforcing it
Term
token economy
Definition
treatment program that uses secondary reinforcers to change behavior

"tokens" are exchanged for small items or privileges
Term
secondary reinforcers
Definition
objects and events that do not directly satisfy a biological need but are desirable
Term
rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
Definition
irrational thoughts are transformed into rational ones leading to more positive emotions and adaptive behaviors

promotes self-acceptance
reduce self-blame
Term
ABCDEF procedure
Definition
A=activating event
B=patients belief
C=emotional consequence
D=dispute any irrational beliefs by highlighting their destructive or illogical quality
E=effect or effective new philosophy
F=fortify the effect through further action
Term
cognitive restructuring
Definition
problems arise as a result of faulty automatic thoughts

thoughts can diminish as the patient tests them and adopts more rational and realistic thoughts

identify and reduce cognitive distortions

modify automatic negative thoughts
Term
psychoeducation
Definition
educating patients about research finding and therapy procedures relevant to other situations
Term
family therapy
Definition
involves either the family as a whole or some portion of it
Term
systems therapy
Definition
designed to change the communication or behavior patterns of one or more family members in the context of the family as a whole

goal is to identify and change maladaptive patterns of interaction and communication among family members
Term
validate
Definition
therapist demonstrates an understanding of each family members feelings and desires
Term
reframe
Definition
therapist offers new ways to conceive of the family's or identified patients problems
Term
paradoxical intention
Definition
therapist suggests that the problem behavior be allowed to continue or increase in its intensity or frequency
Term
group therapy
Definition
usually talk, but also on support

several patients with similar needs meet together with one or two therapists

psychodynamic or cognitive behavioral orientation
Term
outpatient treatment
Definition
more of a location than type of therapy

treatment that does not involve an overnight stay in a hospital

may occur in:
*therapist office
*community mental health center
*outpatient unit of hospital
*church, synagogue or mosque
Term
inpatient treatment
Definition
treatment in a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric unit of a general hospital

patient is a threat to self or others or unable to care for themselves
Term
partial hospitalization
Definition
treatment provided at a hospital or other facility during the day

less intensive than inpatient treatment/more intensive than outpatient

aka step-down treatment
Term
residential treatment (group homes)
Definition
patient stay in a staffed facility

must go elsewhere during the day

take part in evening groups
Term
self help groups
Definition
supplement or replacement therapy

focus on a particular problem or disorder

leader not clinically trained

diminished feelings of shame of isolation

provide support and valuable information
Term
bibliotherapy
Definition
use of self help materials as part of therapy
Term
prevention programs
Definition
designed to prevent or inhibit the developemnt or progression of psychological problems or disorders
Term
dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Definition
elements of CBT

emphasis on validating patients experience

zen buddhist approach accepting thoughts and feelings without judging

dialectics components allowing opposing beliefs and feelings coexist
Term
cyber therapy
Definition
internet based therapy

include: e-therapy (emails alone) and email exchanges and face-to-face sessions
Term
play therapy
Definition
use of toys, games and play based activities to elicit therapeutic change

psychodynamically and cognitive behavioral
Term
interpersonal therapy (IPT)
Definition
intended to improve the patient's skills in relationships sothat they become more satisfying

psychological problems are exacerbated when personal relationships aren't functioning

four main themes:
*unresolved grief
*role transition
*role dispute
*interpersonal deficit
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