Term
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Definition
| the scientific study of abnormal behavior to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning |
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Term
| The "4 D's" of Abnormality |
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Definition
Deviance – The person’s behaviors differ from societal norms
Distress – The disorder causes distress or discomfort to the individual
Dysfunction – The disorder must disturb daily functioning
Danger – The person may harm his/her self or others (not to stigmatize) |
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Term
| Prehistoric View of Mental Illness |
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Definition
Evil spirits inhabit a person’s body or mind
Trephination – Using a sharp object to cut into the inhabited person’s skull to let evil spirits escape |
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Term
| View of Mental Illness in Christ's Era |
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Definition
| Mark 5 - "Unclean Spirits" |
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Term
| View of Mental Illness in Greek and Roman Era |
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Definition
Natural causes of disease -- Hippocrates – Disease is from an imbalance of the four humors (black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, blood)
Treatments – More rest, celibacy, exercise |
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Term
| View of Mental Illness in Middle Ages |
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Definition
Recurrence of evil spirits
Exorcisms become common -- tormenting the evil spirit to come out of the person |
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Term
| View of Mental Illness During the Renaissance |
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Definition
Believed to be from natural causes -- the brain is susceptible to illness
Improvements in care of “patients”
Asylums – A place for people to “hide out” and be “made well” -- staff shortages and lack of funding turned them into overcrowded “prisons” where patients were chained to walls and locked in rooms |
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Term
| View of Mental Illness in the 1800s |
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Definition
Rise of moral treatment (humane techniques)
People with mental illnesses were not seen as damaged goods, but merely broken down from stresses of life, etc.
Staff shortages and lack of funding again caused moral treatment to decline |
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Term
| View of Mental Illness in the 1900s |
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Definition
Somatogenic Perspective
Mental illness starts from within the body
General paresis and syphilis -- people saw commonalities (physical illness can cause mental disorders)
Psychogenic Perspective
Disease starts from within the mind
Mesmerism/Hypnotism – Made people worse and better -- therefore, disorder must start in the brain
Psychoanalysis – Freud – Unconscious forces affect mind and behavior |
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Term
| Today's Views of Abnormal Psychology |
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Definition
Biological – From natural causes
Psychoanalytic – Unconscious mental processes
Behavioral – Learned “abnormalities”
Cognitive – Thoughts/perceptions affect behavior
Humanistic – Existential “philosophy on life”
Sociocultural – Social context and culture affects
Biopsychosocial – “All inclusive” |
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Term
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Definition
Outpatient Care – Person lives at home or in a community and sees a psychologist as needed or scheduled
Psychotropic Medications/Drugs – “Fix” people
Talk Therapy – In combination with medication, has the greatest impact in helping patients. Patients talk through their problems, how they’re feeling, etc. |
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Term
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Definition
Mental illness starts within (natural causes)
Chief organ that is inspected is the brain
Anatomy – Structures of the brain; improper development/formation
Chemistry – Profound effect on behavior |
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Term
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Definition
Cell body – The cell’s life support center
Dendrites – Receive messages from other cells
Axon – Passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands
Neural Impulse (Action Potential) – Electrical signal traveling down the axon
Terminal Branches of Axon – Passes on information to other cells
Myelin Sheath – Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed up impulses
(Send) Cell body -> Axon -> Terminal branches -> -> (Receive) Dendrites -> Cell body |
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Term
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Definition
Chemical messengers that make sure cell signals get across synaptic gap
Too much or too little can result in psychological disorders
Not enough serotonin released – Depression
Deficiency in Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) – Anxiety |
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Term
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Definition
Genes and inheritance
Depression, anxiety, schizophrenia
Viral infections
Schizophrenia (in mid 20s)
Mothers who contract influenza while pregnant are at greater risk for children who will develop schizophrenia
Evolution
Adaptive traits such as anxiety – Good thing that some people are afraid of bad/dangerous things |
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Term
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Definition
Drugs – SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
Allows more serotonin left in the synaptic cleft to balance out depressive symptoms
Usually body reabsorbs left over serotonin
Electro convulsive therapy
Two electrodes connected to either side of head sends electrical waves through the brain (mini seizure)
Proven effective for depression not treatable with drugs
Psychosurgery (rare)
Surgery done to try and relieve symptoms |
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Term
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Definition
Id – Impulses, spur of moment decisions
Operates on the pleasure principle; immediate gratification
Gratifies basic drives
Ego – Reality principle
Grows out of Id
Balancing between Id and Superego
Superego
Grows out of ego
Reflection of values from parents and society
What you should and shouldn’t do
OUR CONSCIENCE |
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Term
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Definition
Repression – Block out undesirable/unwanted thoughts and desires
Regression – Revert to earlier patterns of behavior
Reaction formation – Say/do the opposite of what you think (because what you think may not be acceptable)
Projection – Place onto an object or someone else your undesired thoughts or wishes
Rationalization – Using logic to defend actions/thoughts
Displacement – Acting out undesirable thoughts/feelings onto a safer target (don’t snap at boss, but go home and kick dog or yell at spouse
Denial – Denying the existence of the thought/action |
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Term
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Definition
| Get a person to the point where they have insight; bring peoples unconsciousness into light and release emotion |
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Term
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Definition
Let a client talk about ANYTHING to allow stream of consciousness come out
Therapist’s job is to interpret |
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Term
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Definition
Therapist interprets dreams
Manifest – What occurred in the dream
More important is latent content – What the dream actually means
Looking for symbols, patterns, etc. to “decode” |
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Term
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Definition
| Client transfers feeling toward people in past onto therapist (projection) |
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Term
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Definition
| Nothing is accidental – everything has meaning when it comes to someone’s psychological state (dreams, Freudian slips, etc.) |
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Term
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Definition
| Association between events that occur closely together (if one occurs, you know the next one is coming) |
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Term
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Definition
| Learning to engage in certain behaviors because of rewards received |
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Term
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Definition
| Giving a reward for a desired action |
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Term
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Definition
| Removing something that is unwanted |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| Behavioral Therapy -- Systematic Desensitization |
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Definition
Relaxation – Learning how to relax (breathing, etc)
Hierarchy of fear – Therapist leads client through hierarchy of fears
Client has to be relaxed in order to pass onto the next step |
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Term
| Behavioral Therapy -- Aversive Conditioning |
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Definition
Having a negative response to something that used to be pleasant/pleasing
Uses temporal association |
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Term
| "All or Nothing" Thinking Process |
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Definition
| Everything is always good or always bad; no in between |
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Term
| "Catastrophizing" Thinking Process |
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Definition
| Exaggerating the negative in every situation/event |
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Term
| "Comparing" Thinking Process |
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Definition
| Judge yourself by someone else’s standards, compare self to others, competing with others, never develop your own values |
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Term
| "Emotional Reasoning" Thinking Process |
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Definition
| Allow self to be lead or dominated by emotions; staying in bad relationship for love |
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Term
| "Fortune Telling" Thinking Process |
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Definition
| Feel as if you should be able to see what will happen in the future; upset when you “didn’t see it coming” |
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Term
| "Mind Reading" Thinking Process |
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Definition
| Get in a habit of thinking you know what other people are thinking, or other people know what you are thinking |
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Term
| "Overgeneralization" Thinking Process |
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Definition
| If happens once, it will always happen that way |
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Term
| "Perfectionism" Thinking Process |
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Definition
| Requiring oneself to be perfect or not make mistakes |
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Term
| "Unquestioning Acceptance of Critics" Thinking Process |
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Definition
| Believe any criticism (even constructive) to be true; other people know you better than you know yourself |
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Term
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Definition
Challenge the illogical thought process of the client
Pointing out inconsistencies of logic or thought process
Teach healthier ways to think of things |
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Term
| Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
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Definition
| Teaching someone to think of things in healthier ways and how to practice healthier behaviors instead |
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Term
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Definition
Self-actualization – Everyone can become their “best self”
Accept self – Both good and bad
Develop values that will guide their life |
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Term
| Humanistic -- 3 Necessities for Client Centered Therapy |
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Definition
Unconditional positive regard – Accept client as they are
Empathy – Feel for AND with the client
See things from their perspective
Genuineness – Be honest and real within the professional relationship |
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Term
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Definition
A philosophy – Give meaning to existence
What is your purpose?
Authenticity
Self awareness
Existential Therapy
Take responsibility for your life and your problems to live a life of meaning
Place ownership back on the client – they can take control of their life |
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Term
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Definition
Examine behavior from the individual’s cultural context
Some things that are “abnormal” in the dominant culture may be perfectly acceptable in other cultures
Emphasis on how experiences of minorities affect their mental health
Racism, discrimination, prejudice, poverty
Can lead to depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, etc |
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Term
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Definition
| How consistent a particular tool or measurement is |
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Term
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Definition
| Whether or not the test measures what it is supposed to be measuring |
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Term
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Definition
| Does the test look like or appear to measure what it says it is going to measure? |
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Term
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Definition
| the assessment predict future behavior? (SATs/ACT) |
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Term
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Definition
| Is the tool/test in agreement with a similar tool for the same symptoms? |
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Term
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Definition
Having an open conversation with the client and allowing the client to lead the process; “open-ended”
Easier to build a relationship and develop report; more “human” or personal
May not get as much information as you would with other forms—only what the person gives you |
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Term
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Definition
Systematic and standardized
A series of questions asked in particular order; no deviation from questions
A lot of information is gained if the client is willing to participate
Can seem like an interview and prevent the client from opening up |
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Term
| Semi-Structured Interview |
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Definition
“The best of both worlds”
Therapist starts with a set list of questions, but OK with the conversation going in a different direction |
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Term
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Definition
Client is presented with a neutral stimuli and gives a response to it
Ink blot tests, etc.
Problems with these due to psychologist bias and interpretation |
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Term
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Definition
| Ask client to answer questions about themselves based on certain disorders |
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Term
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Definition
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Text Revision
“The Bible of Disorders”
Classification book of disorders
Multi-axial system |
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Term
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Definition
| Axis I – What they are coming to treatment for (anxiety disorders, depression, somatoform disorder, etc.) Axis II – Chronic conditions (mental retardation, personality disorders) Axis III – Medical conditions (cancer, diabetes, etc. --- anything impacting initial disorder) Axis IV – Relevant information about home life, work, school, legal issues, family issues, social issues, natural disasters, etc. Axis V – GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning) score from 0-100 Indication of how well/poorly a person is doing |
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Term
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Definition
Gives those in psychology a way to talk about disorders
Makes sense to most |
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Term
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Definition
Labeling and stigmas, especially with mental illnesses
Risk of self-fulfilling prophecy where the client becomes what you say they are.
Emphasis on what is wrong or the negatives of the person – what is wrong?
Assumption that disorders must fall into discrete categories and there is no overlap
Makes it seem as if mental illnesses are placed into categories |
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Term
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Definition
Normally busy bodies, so we must use caution not to quickly diagnose
“Driven by a motor” |
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Term
| ADHD in School Age Children |
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Definition
Normally diagnosed then since they’re expected to sit still in school or pay attention
Hyperactive is noticed more often
May start to learn ways to cope with symptoms |
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Term
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Definition
Can generally sit still, but merely feel restless
Masked better because they can choose their career path |
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Term
| Biological Causes of ADHD |
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Definition
Abnormal activity of excess dopamine (chemical)
Brain structure -- abnormal frontal Striatial |
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Term
| Associated Features of ADHD |
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Definition
Behavior problems and additional diagnoses
Learning disorder also diagnosed
Poor peer relationships
Child with ADHD is seen as annoying
Low self-esteem
Not easy, especially when you’re expected to sit still, memorize, be perfect, get criticized by teacher, etc.
Blame child for disorder, “Why can’t you just sit still?”
School problems
Not getting along well with teacher/other students
Family problems
Preexisting problems can make disorder worse
Diagnosis itself can cause problems
Misunderstanding, different perspectives of behavior/disorder |
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Term
| Prevalence, Course and Family Problems of ADHD |
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Definition
More often occurs in males than females
3-7% of school children meet diagnostic criteria
Do people outgrow ADHD?
People gain better control of symptoms, find “tricks” for dealing with problems
Some outgrow the criteria for the disorder (ADHD in partial remission)
Strong genetic link |
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Term
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Definition
Help them stay organized
Planners, “where things should go,” etc.
Therapy to address:
Interpersonal issues
- Social skills training to interact with peers
Self esteem
Behavioral therapies
- Operant conditioning – Reward child for getting/doing something right
Psychoeducation and training for parents
- Helping them understand and how to help
Drugs- Ritalin |
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Term
| Associated Features of Oppositional Defiant Disorder |
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Definition
Conflicts with adults
Sometimes they seek it out, sometimes it comes to them
Family disruptions
Serious marital discord – Greater risk for development of disorder
Disruption of care giving (foster system)
Harsh or inconsistent parenting style
Low self esteem
Cocky and “over the top” is usually a façade for how they actually feel
More likely to engage in substance use and abuse at an early age
ADHD and/or learning disorders commonly diagnosed with this |
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Term
| Prevalence, Course, and Family Pattern of Oppositional Defiant Disorder |
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Definition
More common in males pre-puberty; common in both after puberty
2-16% of population
Gradual onset
Genetic link
Especially antisocial personality disorder
Maternal depression
Possibility for development if mother was depressed during childbearing |
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Term
| Associated Features of Conduct Disorder |
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Definition
Lack of empathy
Higher accident rates
More possibility for risky behavior, substance use, risky sexual behavior
Misread others intentions/facial expressions
School and work problems
Angry at teachers/bosses, stop attending
Poor academic achievement
Learning disorders and ADHD also diagnosed with these
Family disruptions
History of physical or sexual abuse |
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Term
| Prevalence, Course, and Family Pattern of Conduct Disorder |
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Definition
Males more than females
>1-10% of population meet criteria
Behaviors decline in adulthood
Genetic link
Role of environment
Neighborhoods with constant violence
Link to antisocial personality disorder (most severe) |
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Term
| Ways to Help Young Children with ODD/CD |
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Definition
Parent-child interaction therapy
Teaching realistic expectations, how the parent can be more effective and set appropriate boundaries, how to discipline child |
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Term
| Ways to Help School Age Children with ODD/CD |
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Definition
Parent management training
Family therapy is involved, behavioral therapies, coming up with goals and how to track them, what rewards will be |
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Term
| Ways to Help Teens with ODD/CD |
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Definition
Enrollment in anger management groups
Problem solving training
Teaching adaptive, healthy ways to deal with issues
Use role-playing to learn better ways
Behavioral therapies
Operant conditioning -- Rewards for positive behaviors |
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Term
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Definition
Genetics
Chromosomal abnormalities
Up to 10% diagnosed with autism have these
Birth complications
Prenatal difficulties
Brain structure
Abnormalities in cerebellum (responsible for motor movements and ability to read facial and social cues)
Increased brain volume and white matter
Possible link to vaccines?? |
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Term
| Associated Features of Autism |
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Definition
Mental retardation (for some)
Special gifts
Ability to focus on one specialized topic/area
Self injurious behaviors
Head banging, etc.
Sensitive to sensory stimuli
Bright lights, loud noises, touch (too much OR not enough) |
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Term
| Prevalence, Course, and Familial Pattern of Autism |
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Definition
More common in males
1/600 has the diagnostic criteria
Strong genetic link
Especially seen in siblings |
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Term
| Ways to Help Autistic Children |
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Definition
Intensive behavioral therapies and treatments
The sooner the better
Intensive – Usually in-home therapist, and parents are also trained (expensive and time consuming)
- Not guaranteed to work
Trained in basic social skills |
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Term
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Definition
No delay or problems with communication or speech
Interested in friendships and social relationships, but may be inappropriate with others and have difficulty with social cues
Take words at face value, don’t take in other non-verbal cues |
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