Psychology Chapter: Mental Health Disorders

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Questions and Answers

Which psychological perspective attributes mental health disorders to unresolved unconscious conflict?

Sociocultural models

Cognitive perspective

Psychoanalytic perspective (correct)

Biopsychosocial model

What is a potential negative consequence of labeling a mental health disorder according to the DSM?

Improvement in treatment outcomes

Simplified diagnosis process

Enhanced understanding of the disorder

Increased social stigma (correct)

Which model integrates biological, psychological, and social influences on mental health disorders?

Biopsychosocial model (correct)

Medical model

Social learning perspective

Cognitive perspective

What aspect of mental health disorders does the DSM explicitly exclude?

Treatment methods Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the prevalence of mental health disorders among U.S. teens is correct?

22% of U.S. teens may experience severe impairment or distress due to mental health disorders. Signup and view all the answers

According to the medical model, what is considered a primary cause of mental health disorders?

Biological dysfunction Signup and view all the answers

What does the sociocultural perspective focus on in relation to mental health disorders?

Contextual conditions Signup and view all the answers

Why is the reliability and validity of some DSM diagnostic categories considered to have improved over time?

More accurate diagnostic tools and research have been developed. Signup and view all the answers

Which symptom is NOT classified as cognitive in excessive anxiety disorders?

Panic Signup and view all the answers

In which excessive anxiety disorder might one likely experience fear of losing control?

Panic disorder Signup and view all the answers

Which type of excessive anxiety disorder is not specifically listed in the content?

Social anxiety disorder Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological factor is most associated with excessive anxiety disorders?

Cognitive processes Signup and view all the answers

Which symptom is commonly associated with the emotional aspect of excessive anxiety?

Irritability Signup and view all the answers

What is a common behavioral response to excessive anxiety?

Behaving aggressively Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is NOT specifically mentioned as a biological factor related to anxiety disorders?

Cortisol Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is primarily a sociocultural aspect of anxiety disorders?

Influence of poverty Signup and view all the answers

What defines dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

Existence of two or more distinct identities within a single individual. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common symptom of major depressive disorder?

Intense sadness and hopelessness. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes somatic symptom disorders from other disorders?

Psychological distress manifesting as physical symptoms. Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic is most commonly diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder?

Women of various ages. Signup and view all the answers

How does persistent depressive disorder differ from major depressive disorder?

It is less severe but lasts longer. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of illness anxiety disorder?

Ongoing fear without identifiable physical symptoms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common cognitive symptom in major depressive disorder?

Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about dissociative experiences is most accurate?

They are mild experiences that can occur in daily life. Signup and view all the answers

Which age group is identified as being at high risk for major depressive episodes?

Individuals aged 15 to 24 Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic distinguishing bipolar disorder from major depressive disorder?

Presence of manic episodes Signup and view all the answers

In terms of gender, which demographic is twice as likely to experience depression?

Women of all ages Signup and view all the answers

Which brain structures are linked to depression according to recent research?

Prefrontal cortex and limbic system Signup and view all the answers

What is cyclothymic disorder characterized by?

Chronic shifts with milder manic and moderate depressive periods Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is highlighted as malfunctioning in relation to depression?

Serotonin Signup and view all the answers

What role do stress hormones play in relation to depressive symptoms?

They regulate sleep, appetite, and sexual desire. Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic has the lowest rates of major depressive episodes?

Adults aged 60 or older Signup and view all the answers

What typically characterizes the onset timing of schizophrenia in men compared to women?

Men typically experience onset earlier than women. Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitters are considered key neurobiology factors underlying schizophrenia?

Dopamine and glutamate Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is classified as a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

Avolition Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of antisocial personality disorder?

Impulsive behaviors violating societal norms Signup and view all the answers

Which cluster includes borderline and narcissistic personality disorders?

Cluster B: Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic Disorders Signup and view all the answers

What is commonly the most consistent structural abnormality in individuals with schizophrenia?

Enlarged ventricles Signup and view all the answers

In which personality disorder is there typically a lack of empathy for the harm caused to others?

Antisocial Personality Disorder Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

Alogia Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders

Mental health disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide.
Females are more likely to experience mental health disorders, including serious ones.
22% of U.S. teens are likely to experience a mental health disorder with severe impairment or distress.

Psychological Theories

Medical Model: Mental health disorders can be attributed to biological factors like hormonal imbalances, neurotransmitter issues, or brain dysfunction.
Psychoanalytic Perspective: Mental health disorders stem from unresolved unconscious conflicts.
Social Learning Perspective: Mental health disorders develop due to learning processes such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.
Cognitive Perspective: Thoughts, expectations, assumptions, and other mental processes play a role in developing mental health disorders.
Humanistic Perspective: Mental health disorders result from a distorted perception of self and reality.
Sociocultural Models: Contextual situations and conditions influence unhealthy psychological functioning.
Biopsychosocial Model: Integrates all perspectives, considering the combined impact of biological, psychological, and social factors.

DSM Model for Classifying Abnormal Behavior

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM): Provides diagnostic criteria for almost 300 mental health disorders.
DSM Categories: Lists 20 major categories of mental health disorders.
DSM Limitations: Does not offer treatment guidelines.
Atheoretical Approach: Emphasizes the complex nature of mental illness, considering biopsychosocial factors.

Components of Excessive Anxiety:
- Cognitive: Worry, fear of losing control, exaggerating danger, paranoia, wariness.
- Emotional: Dread, terror, panic, irritability, restlessness.
- Behavioral: Escaping or fleeing, behaving aggressively, freezing or avoiding situations.
Types of Excessive Anxiety Disorders: Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding, trauma-related disorders.
Explanations for Anxiety Disorders:
- Biological Factors: Neurotransmitters, genetic factors, specific brain areas involved in anxiety.
- Psychological Factors: Cognitive processes and learning (classical and operant conditioning, modeling).
- Sociocultural Factors: Poverty, sex and gender, race and ethnicity, cultural factors can influence anxiety levels.

Dissociative Disorders: Involve a loss of awareness of self, surroundings, or current events. Mild dissociative experiences are common.
- Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Characterized by two or more separate identities within the same individual. Each "alter" has a specific function.
- Amnesia: Frequent blackouts or episodes of amnesia occur in individuals with DID.
- Prevalence: The majority of people diagnosed with DID are women.
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders: Physical symptoms occur without a clear physical cause.
- Somatic Symptom Disorders: Marked by physical symptoms without a medical explanation.
- Illness Anxiety Disorder: Persistent worry and fear about having or developing a physical illness. Previously known as hypochondriasis.

Depressive and Bipolar Disorders

Major Depressive Disorder: Characterized by prolonged sadness, hopelessness, and inability to enjoy activities.
- Physical Symptoms: Changes in sleep patterns, appetite, motor functioning, fatigue.
- Cognitive Symptoms: Difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, suicidal thoughts.
Persistent Depressive Disorder: Less severe but long-lasting depression.
Depressive Disorder Variations:
- Prevalence: Depressive disorders are a common diagnosis, often requiring therapeutic intervention.
- Age, Gender, and Ethnicity: Age, gender, and ethnicity influence depressive disorder prevalence.
- Risk Factors: Individuals aged 15 to 24 are at a higher risk for major depressive episodes.
- Gender Differences: Women are twice as likely to experience both mild and severe depression.
Bipolar-Related Disorders: Shifts in mood between two poles—depressed state and manic state.
- Mania: Elevated mood, increased activity and energy.
- Cyclothymic Disorder: Less severe but more chronic form of bipolar disorder, marked by alternating periods of mild mania and moderate depression.

Biological Factors in Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Genetics: Depression and bipolar disorders run in families, indicating a strong genetic component.
Neurotransmitters: Imbalances in serotonin, norepinephrine, and other neurotransmitters may contribute to these disorders.
Stress Hormones: Hormones regulate sleep, appetite, sexual desire, and pleasure, and their dysregulation can contribute to depressive symptoms.
Brain Structures:
- Prefrontal Cortex and Limbic System: Abnormal functioning in these brain areas has been linked to depression.
- Cortex-Limbic System Connections: Disrupted connections might be associated with depressive symptoms.

Schizophrenia

Symptoms:
- Positive Symptoms (Pathological Excesses): Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disordered behaviors.
- Negative Symptoms (Deficits): Flat affect, alogia (poverty of speech), avolition (lack of motivation), and social withdrawal.
Genetics: Individuals genetically related to those with schizophrenia are at a higher risk. A single gene is unlikely to be the sole cause.
Brain Abnormalities:
- Neurotransmitters: Dopamine and glutamate are believed to be involved in schizophrenia.
- Enlarged Ventricles: A consistent brain abnormality in individuals with schizophrenia.

Personality Disorders

Maladaptive Behaviors: Stable, long-term patterns of behavior across various situations.
Diagnostic Clusters:
- Cluster A (Odd, Eccentric): Paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders.
- Cluster B (Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic): Borderline, narcissistic, antisocial, and histrionic personality disorders.
- Cluster C (Anxious or Fearful): Dependent, obsessive-compulsive, and avoidant personality disorders.
Antisocial Personality Disorder:
- Characteristics: Impulsive behaviors that violate the rights of others and societal norms. Manipulation, lack of empathy, self-centeredness, history of harmful or aggressive behaviors.
- Note: "Antisocial" does not necessarily mean the individual wants to be isolated; rather, it reflects their disregard for others.
Borderline Personality Disorder:
- Characteristics: Unstable moods, relationships, self-image, and behavior.

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Description

Explore the prevalence of mental health disorders and the various psychological theories that explain their origins. This quiz covers key perspectives including the medical model, psychoanalytic, social learning, cognitive, and humanistic approaches to mental health. Test your understanding of these critical concepts.