Abnormal Psychology Chapter 15

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Questions and Answers

Significant cognitive deterioration, dementia, has been reclassified as?

neurocognitive disorder.

The percentage of the U.S. population today aged 65 and older is approximately?

15 percent.

Studies have shown that when compared to people in their 80s and 90s, the 'oldest old' are considered?

healthy, more agile, and clearheaded.

Psychological disorders among the elderly can be divided into two groups?

the process of aging and disorders of cognition. Signup and view all the answers

Statistically speaking, which of these individuals is at greatest risk for depression?

an older woman in a nursing home Signup and view all the answers

Among the elderly, there is a positive correlation between?

depression and mortality rate. Signup and view all the answers

What is true of depression treatments used in the elderly?

Treatment is not different from treatments used in younger people. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between age and anxiety in the elderly?

As age increases, the rate of anxiety disorders increases. Signup and view all the answers

What does research show is the greatest source of anxiety among the elderly?

health Signup and view all the answers

How does the incidence of alcohol abuse change as people age?

It decreases. Signup and view all the answers

Survey research shows that alcohol-related disorders affect about?

3 to 7 percent of the elderly, more often men. Signup and view all the answers

What typically drives the start of unhealthy drinking patterns later in life?

negative events and pressures of growing older Signup and view all the answers

Why do most elderly people take medications?

to treat anxiety Signup and view all the answers

Approximately what proportion of nursing home residents receive antipsychotic drugs?

one-third Signup and view all the answers

Most elderly people with schizophrenia were initially diagnosed and treated for it?

when they were much younger. Signup and view all the answers

What usually causes psychotic cognitive symptoms among the elderly?

delirium and neurocognitive disorders Signup and view all the answers

Compared with people closer to age 55, people older than 85 are __________ as likely to experience delirium.

more than ten times Signup and view all the answers

How is delirium similar to delusional disorder?

Both increase in rate after age 65. Signup and view all the answers

What is one problem associated with delirium?

Doctors often don't recognize it and may misdiagnose it. Signup and view all the answers

How many people within the elderly population use the Internet and Facebook?

large percentage (around 60 percent) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between major and mild neurocognitive disorder?

whether it interferes with independent functioning Signup and view all the answers

About how many new cases of Alzheimer's disease occur each year?

4.6 million Signup and view all the answers

After age 60, the percentage of people with major neurocognitive disorders?

increases exponentially as age increases. Signup and view all the answers

Alzheimer's is named for the first person to __________ the disease.

identify Signup and view all the answers

About 17 percent of individuals with Alzheimer's disease also experience?

major depressive disorder. Signup and view all the answers

The typical pattern of Alzheimer's for a patient is?

denial, anxiety, withdrawal, dependency. Signup and view all the answers

In those with Alzheimer's disease, physical health usually?

declines less rapidly than mental health. Signup and view all the answers

Sphere-shaped deposits of a small molecule in spaces between neurons in the hippocampus in individuals with Alzheimer's disease are called?

senile plaques. Signup and view all the answers

The molecules that are found in sphere-shaped deposits in spaces between neurons in the hippocampus in individuals with Alzheimer's disease are called?

beta-amyloid protein. Signup and view all the answers

The best evidence we have to date suggests that early-onset Alzheimer's disease is transmitted genetically in families that?

transmit mutations of certain protein-producing genes. Signup and view all the answers

A person who has an excess of plaques due to Alzheimer's would be most likely to have?

cell breakdown and neuron death. Signup and view all the answers

The temporal lobes include which brain structures that are linked to memory function?

hippocampus and amygdala Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Neurocognitive Disorder

Significant cognitive deterioration, previously known as dementia, is now reclassified as neurocognitive disorder.

Aging Population Statistics

Approximately 15 percent of the U.S. population is aged 65 and older.
The "oldest old" (people in their 80s and 90s) are often healthier, more agile, and clearer-headed compared to younger seniors.

Psychological Disorders in the Elderly

Psychological disorders in older adults can be grouped into aging-related processes and cognitive disorders.
An older woman residing in a nursing home is statistically at the highest risk for depression.

Depression and Anxiety in Seniors

There is a positive correlation between depression and mortality rates among the elderly.
Depression treatments for older adults do not differ from those used for younger populations.
Anxiety disorders tend to increase with age, with health concerns being the most significant source of anxiety.

Alcohol Abuse and Elderly

Incidence of alcohol abuse decreases with age, affecting about 3 to 7 percent of the elderly, predominantly men.
Unhealthy drinking patterns often emerge due to negative events related to aging.

Medication Usage

Most elderly individuals take medications primarily for anxiety management.
Approximately one-third of nursing home residents are prescribed antipsychotic drugs.

Cognitive Disorders

Most elderly individuals with schizophrenia were diagnosed at a much younger age.
Psychotic cognitive symptoms are usually caused by delirium or neurocognitive disorders, with more than ten times the risk of experiencing delirium in those older than 85 compared to those around 55.

Delirium Recognition Issues

Delirium and delusional disorder both have increased incidence rates after age 65.
Delirium often goes unrecognized by healthcare providers, leading to potential misdiagnosis.

Technology Adoption in Elderly

About 60 percent of the elderly population uses the Internet and social media platforms like Facebook.

Alzheimer's Disease

Major neurocognitive disorder differs from mild neurocognitive disorder based on how much independent functioning is affected.
Annually, around 4.6 million new cases of Alzheimer's disease are diagnosed.
The risk of major neurocognitive disorders increases exponentially after age 60.

Alzheimer's Disease Characteristics

Alzheimer's disease is named after the physician who first identified it.
Roughly 17 percent of individuals with Alzheimer's also suffer from major depressive disorder.
The common progression pattern in Alzheimer’s patients includes denial, anxiety, withdrawal, and increased dependency.
Mental health generally declines more rapidly than physical health in Alzheimer's patients.

Neurological Aspects of Alzheimer's

Senile plaques are sphere-shaped deposits that form in the hippocampus of people with Alzheimer's.
These plaques consist of beta-amyloid protein.
Early-onset Alzheimer's is often genetically transmitted through mutations in specific protein-producing genes, leading to cell breakdown and neuron death.
The temporal lobes, including the hippocampus and amygdala, are crucial for memory function.

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Test your knowledge on Chapter 15 of Abnormal Psychology with these flashcards. Learn about neurocognitive disorders, aging statistics, and the health status of the oldest old in society. This quiz will help reinforce key concepts from the chapter.