Psychology Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders

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Questions and Answers

What is Psychopathology?

Scientific study of psychological disorders (correct)
Study of personality types
Study of physical health
Study of social behaviors

What defines a psychological disorder?

A pattern of behavioral and psychological symptoms causing distress or impairing function.

What is the DSM-IV-TR?

A model for therapy
A treatment guideline
A research paper
A diagnostic manual for mental disorders (correct)

What characterizes anxiety?

An unpleasant emotional state with physical arousal and feelings of tension. Signup and view all the answers

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Disorders characterized by extreme anxiety that disrupts functioning. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Characterized by excessive, persistent anxiety symptoms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Panic Attack?

A sudden episode of extreme anxiety that escalates. Signup and view all the answers

What defines Panic Disorder?

Experiencing frequent and unexpected panic attacks. Signup and view all the answers

Define a Phobia.

A strong, irrational fear of a specific object or situation. Signup and view all the answers

What is Specific Phobia?

An irrational fear that interferes with daily functioning. Signup and view all the answers

Explain Agoraphobia.

An extreme fear of experiencing panic in public and being unable to escape. Signup and view all the answers

What is Social Phobia?

An extreme fear of being judged in social situations. Signup and view all the answers

What does Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) involve?

Chronic anxiety symptoms following trauma. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Anxiety triggered by intrusive thoughts and repetitive actions. Signup and view all the answers

What are Obsessions in OCD?

Recurrent and intrusive thoughts causing severe anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

What are Compulsions in OCD?

Repetitive acts performed to reduce anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a Mood Disorder?

Persistent disruptions in mood causing functional impairment. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Major Depression?

Extreme, persistent feelings of despondency and worthlessness. Signup and view all the answers

What is Dysthymic Disorder?

Chronic, low-grade depression without severe impairment. Signup and view all the answers

Explain Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Depression episodes tied to seasonal changes, often in winter. Signup and view all the answers

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Mood disorder with alternating periods of depression and euphoria. Signup and view all the answers

Describe a Manic Episode.

Sudden state of extreme euphoria and rapid thoughts. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Cyclothymic Disorder?

Moderate but frequent mood swings that aren't severe as bipolar disorder. Signup and view all the answers

Define Anorexia Nervosa.

An eating disorder with excessive weight loss and fear of gaining weight. Signup and view all the answers

What is Bulimia Nervosa?

Binge eating followed by purging to avoid weight gain. Signup and view all the answers

What are Personality Disorders?

Inflexible patterns of behavior and emotions deviating from cultural norms. Signup and view all the answers

Define Paranoid Personality Disorder.

Pervasive distrust and suspicion of others' motives. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Pattern of disregarding and violating others' rights. Signup and view all the answers

Define Dissociative Experience.

A disruption in consciousness, memory, or identity. Signup and view all the answers

What are Dissociative Disorders?

Frequent disruptions in awareness and memory affecting functioning. Signup and view all the answers

Explain Dissociative Amnesia.

Inability to recall important personal information. Signup and view all the answers

What is Dissociative Fugue?

Sudden travel away from home with identity confusion. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

Involves extensive memory disruptions and multiple identities. Signup and view all the answers

What is Schizophrenia?

Impairment caused by distinct beliefs and thought processes. Signup and view all the answers

Define Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia.

Excesses or distortions of normal functioning including delusions. Signup and view all the answers

What are Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Deficits in normal functioning such as flat affect. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Delusion?

A false belief that persists despite contradictory evidence. Signup and view all the answers

What are Hallucinations?

False perceptions that seem real to the individual. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Dopamine Hypothesis suggest?

Schizophrenia may relate to excessive dopamine activity in the brain. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychopathology and Disorders

Psychopathology is the scientific study of psychological disorders, encompassing their origins, symptoms, and development.
A psychological disorder or mental disorder involves patterns of symptoms that cause personal distress or impair daily functioning.

Diagnostic Tools

The DSM-IV-TR provides detailed symptoms and diagnostic criteria for various psychological disorders.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state marked by physical arousal, tension, apprehension, and worry.
Anxiety disorders are characterized by extreme anxiety leading to disturbances in cognitive, behavioral, or interpersonal functioning.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent and excessive anxiety symptoms.
Panic Attacks: Sudden episodes of intense anxiety that escalate rapidly.
Panic Disorder: Frequent, unexpected panic attacks.
Phobia: An irrational fear that may not disrupt daily functioning.
Specific Phobia: An extreme fear that interferes with daily activities.
Agoraphobia: Fear of panic attacks in public, leading to avoidance of situations.
Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder): Intense fear of embarrassment in social scenarios.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Chronic anxiety symptoms following an extreme trauma.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) provoke anxiety, leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that aim to reduce it.

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders involve significant disruptions in emotional states affecting functioning.
Major Depression is marked by persistent feelings of despair and worthlessness.
Dysthymic Disorder: Chronic low-grade depression that doesn’t severely impair functioning.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Depression episodes associated with seasonal changes, often less sunlight exposure.
Bipolar Disorder features alternating cycles of debilitating depression and extreme euphoria (mania).
Manic Episode: Characterized by intense euphoria and increased energy.

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa: Extreme weight loss spurred by an irrational fear of gaining weight and distorted self-perception.
Bulimia Nervosa: Involves binge eating followed by purging behaviors to prevent weight gain.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders entail inflexible behavioral patterns that deviate from cultural norms and impact interpersonal functioning.
Examples include:
- Paranoid Personality Disorder: Persistent distrust and suspicion of others.
- Antisocial Personality Disorder: A pattern of violating others’ rights, often associated with psychopathy.
- Borderline Personality Disorder: Characterized by instability in emotions and relationships.

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Experiences involve disruptions in consciousness, memory, and identity.
Dissociative Amnesia: Inability to recall personal information.
Dissociative Fugue: Sudden travel away from home accompanied by amnesia and identity confusion.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Presence of two or more distinct identities and extensive memory disruptions.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia impairs functioning through distorted beliefs, perceptions, and thought processes.
Positive Symptoms: Include delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.
Negative Symptoms: Reflect deficits in normal functioning, such as flat affect and apathy.
Delusions: False beliefs that persist despite contradictory evidence.
Hallucinations: Vividly realistic false perceptions.
Dopamine Hypothesis: Posits a link between schizophrenia and excessive dopamine activity in the brain.

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Description

This quiz focuses on Chapter 14, which covers key concepts and terms related to psychological disorders. It includes definitions and essential terminology from psychopathology and the DSM-IV-TR. Test your understanding of these fundamental ideas in psychological science.