Overview of Psychopathology Lecture 1

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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'psychopathology' primarily refer to?

A narrow classification of mental disorders

A stigmatizing label for abnormal behavior

Only DSM-based mental disorders

Signs and symptoms associated with mental illness (correct)

Which element is NOT considered a part of psychopathology?

Suffering

Maladaptation

Psychological Thriving (correct)

Statistical Deviancy

What is a significant disadvantage of classifying mental disorders?

Improved understanding of mental conditions

Enhanced diagnostic reliability

Increased stigma and stereotyping (correct)

Reduction in over diagnosis

How does 'prevalence' differ from 'incidence' in mental health studies?

Prevalence refers to all cases at a given time, while incidence refers to new cases over a time period. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the DSM?

To serve as the standard for diagnosis in healthcare Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'lifetime morbid risk'?

The proportion of individuals in a population who will develop a condition in their lifetime Signup and view all the answers

What does the equation P=G+E signify in relation to psychopathology?

The interaction of genetics and environmental factors in health Signup and view all the answers

Which type of experimental design is characterized by manipulation occurring naturally?

Quasi-experimental design Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a symptom associated with increased arousal as per Criterion E?

Irritable or aggressive behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum duration of disturbance required for diagnosis under Criterion F?

More than 1 month Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a risk factor considered social determinants of stress?

High intelligence Signup and view all the answers

How does a passive gene-environment correlation affect behavior?

It occurs when genes and environment are linked but does not directly cause changes. Signup and view all the answers

In psychological assessment, which method is generally used to gather history?

Clinical History Signup and view all the answers

What type of psychological test involves open-ended questions?

Projective tests Signup and view all the answers

Which anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive fear of social situations?

Social anxiety disorder Signup and view all the answers

What is a hallmark symptom of a major depressive episode?

Suicidal ideation Signup and view all the answers

Which assessment tool is primarily used for measuring personality?

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Bipolar 1 from Bipolar 2 disorder?

At least one manic episode Signup and view all the answers

What defines pathological anxiety compared to normal anxiety?

Can be present without genuine threats Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential part of differential diagnosis in anxiety assessments?

Comparative analysis with mood disorders Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical outcome for individuals with a higher risk for depression according to learned helplessness theory?

Prolonged reluctance to attempt change Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the combination of genetic and environmental factors that contribute to mental illness?

Diathesis stress Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following genetic effects refers to the influence of alleles taken singly across multiple loci?

Additive genetic Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between a shared environment and a non-shared environment?

Shared environment contributes to sibling similarities, while non-shared contributes to differences Signup and view all the answers

What psychological perspective analyzes only observable behavior?

Behavioral perspective Signup and view all the answers

Which response system is related to the production of glucocorticoids during stress?

Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal axis Signup and view all the answers

Which concept describes the wear and tear on the body due to chronic dysregulation of stress responses?

Allostatic load Signup and view all the answers

What type of conditioning is described where a conditioned stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus?

Fear conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of stressors that includes how long they last?

Chronicity Signup and view all the answers

What type of stress response is characterized by the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine?

Sympathetic-Adrenomedullary System Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a stressor?

Inflexibility Signup and view all the answers

Which type of disorder is characterized by a maladaptive response to a common stressor occurring within three months?

Adjustment disorder Signup and view all the answers

What does the term heritability refer to in the context of phenotypic variance?

The degree to which genetic differences account for phenotypic differences Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a maladaptive reaction to trauma, resulting from exposure to a traumatic event?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of anorexia nervosa?

Intense fear of gaining weight Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes bulimia nervosa?

Binge eating with compensatory behaviors at least once a week Signup and view all the answers

Which symptom is NOT typically associated with schizophrenia?

High levels of physical energy Signup and view all the answers

What does Criterion A for schizophrenia require?

Presence of two or more positive symptoms Signup and view all the answers

What type of symptoms are delusions and hallucinations categorized as in schizophrenia?

Positive symptoms Signup and view all the answers

In treatment for schizophrenia, what is a characteristic of atypical antipsychotics?

They tend to have fewer side effects than first-generation antipsychotics. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common outcome of excessive purging in individuals with bulimia nervosa?

Electrolyte imbalance Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a recommended intervention for a patient with suicidal behavior?

Encourage isolation to minimize distress Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about eating disorders is true?

Bulimia is characterized by inappropriate compensatory behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What contributes to the treatment resistance often seen in individuals with anorexia nervosa?

High levels of perfectionism and hypercritical attitudes Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a motor symptom in schizophrenia?

Catatonia Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the prodromal phase of schizophrenia?

A period before the onset of overt symptoms Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of social skills training in the treatment of schizophrenia?

Group therapy for learning interpersonal skills Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of drug use disorder is similar to alcohol use disorder?

Clearing evidence from model organisms Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychopathology Lecture Notes

Lecture 1: Overview of Psychopathology
- Descriptive psychopathology focuses on signs and symptoms associated with mental illness. Abnormal behavior is often stigmatized, but psychopathology is a more neutral term.
- The elements of psychopathology include suffering, maladaptation, statistical deviancy, and other factors.
- DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is the standard diagnostic tool in healthcare. DSM categories are descriptive, concrete, and problematic.
- DSM-III-Reliability differentiates between mental disorders (classified by DSM) and psychopathology (a broader term encompassing various behaviors and suffering).
- Concrete definitions prevent psychologists from over-diagnosing.
Lecture 2
- Classification of psychological disorders has disadvantages, including stigma, stereotyping, and potential blame placed on individuals instead of the disorder itself.
- Incorrect classification systems can be problematic.
- Incidence refers to the proportion of new cases within a specific period (e.g., one year).
- Prevalence refers to the proportion of individuals affected at a given time (all cases).
Etiology 1: Genes and Environment (P=G+E)
- Genes influence brain structure, which can lead to psychological symptoms.
- Diathesis-stress model combines genetic vulnerabilities and environmental factors as influences on mental illness.
- Genetic variation within a person, and from person to person, can lead to different phenotypes (or observable traits).
- Polygenetic influences mean many genes contribute to vulnerability and monogenetic is a single genetic influence.
Etiology 2: Biometrics
- Additive genetic effects of alleles are considered individually.
- Dominance genetic effects are considered with combinations of alleles within a locus.
- Epistasis genetic effects are complex interactions of allele combinations across different loci.
- Shared Environment effects contribute to sibling similarities, while non-shared effects contribute to differences.
- Measurement errors in phenotype and short-term stability may impact phenotypic variance.
- Heritability describes the extent of phenotypic variance due to genetic differences.
- Genetic influences aren't necessarily fixed or predetermined.
Etiology 3: Psychodynamic and Behavioral Perspectives
- Psychodynamic perspective focuses on unconscious behaviors driving conscious behavior.
- Behavioral perspective focuses on observable behaviors and conditioned responses (via classical fear conditioning).
Stress and Psychopathology
- Stressors can be positive and negative.
- Coping strategies, effective management of negative events is what defines the health of the individual, adaptive or toxic.
- Allostatic load – refers to the physical and mental stress response from chronic dysregulation.
- Specific stressors and their effect on the body are significant.
Symptom Criteria:
- Various criteria (e.g., intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, maladaptive emotions) for classifying anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, or eating disorders are detailed.
Mood Disorders
- Symptoms of depression and mania are discussed.
- Chronic conditions require ongoing support, such as individual and group therapy.
- Gender differences exist in suicidal ideation and behavior.
Clinical assessment and diagnosis:
- Methods for gathering information about behaviors, symptoms, and history are detailed along with assessment strategies.
Personality Tests
- Different types of personality tests, including projective and objective tests, and their application are detailed.
Schizophrenia:
- Defining features, such as disturbed thought patterns, delusions, hallucinations, and flattened emotions, are outlined along with potential treatments and associated factors.
Anxiety Disorders:
- Differentiating different anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety etc., based on criteria, symptoms and triggers are discussed along with their treatment options.

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Description

Explore the foundational concepts of psychopathology, including the elements that define mental illness and the significance of diagnostic tools like the DSM. This quiz focuses on the categories and classifications of psychological disorders and their implications. Test your understanding of the nuanced aspects of mental health and the importance of accurate definitions in diagnosis.