Abnormal Psychology

101 flashcards by MentisLibrary

DSM-5 categories, symptom criteria, prevalence, and treatment approaches, written the way a textbook defines them. Educational definitions only, covering stigma and the history that shaped how these disorders are classified.

What is abnormal psychology?
The scientific study of unusual patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior, including how mental disorders are defined, classified, explained, and treated.
What are the four Ds often used to define abnormality?
Deviance from norms, distress, dysfunction in daily life, and danger.
What is the DSM-5?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, the American Psychiatric Association's classification system for mental disorders.
What is the ICD-11?
The World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases, eleventh revision, which includes a chapter on mental and behavioral disorders and is the global standard for health statistics.
What major structural change did DSM-5 make?
It removed the multiaxial system used in DSM-IV and reorganized chapters to reflect developmental and diagnostic relatedness.
What is the diathesis-stress model?
The view that a disorder emerges when an underlying vulnerability, whether genetic, biological, or psychological, is combined with sufficient environmental stress.
What is the biopsychosocial model?
An approach explaining disorders as the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors rather than any one cause.
What is comorbidity?
The presence of two or more disorders in the same person.
What is the difference between prevalence and incidence?
Prevalence is the proportion of a population with a condition at a given time; incidence is the rate of new cases over a period.
What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?
A sign is observable by another person; a symptom is reported by the individual.
What is a syndrome?
A cluster of signs and symptoms that tend to occur together.
What is etiology?
The study of the causes and origins of a disorder.
What is prognosis?
The expected course and outcome of a disorder.
What is the difference between categorical and dimensional classification?
Categorical classification treats a disorder as present or absent; dimensional classification places symptoms on continua of severity.
What is RDoC?
Research Domain Criteria, a National Institute of Mental Health research framework organizing study around biological and behavioral dimensions rather than DSM categories.
What is major depressive disorder?
A disorder defined by at least one two-week episode of depressed mood or loss of interest plus additional symptoms such as sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, or worth changes, causing significant impairment.
What is anhedonia?
A markedly reduced ability to experience pleasure or interest in previously enjoyed activities.
What is persistent depressive disorder?
Depressed mood occurring most days for at least two years in adults, with additional symptoms, at a level that may be less severe but longer lasting than a major depressive episode.
What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder?
A depressive disorder in which marked mood symptoms occur in the week before menses and remit shortly after onset, across most cycles.
What is bipolar I disorder?
A disorder defined by the occurrence of at least one manic episode, which may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes.
What is bipolar II disorder?
A disorder involving at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode, with no full manic episode.
What is a manic episode?
A distinct period of abnormally elevated or irritable mood with increased energy lasting at least one week, causing marked impairment or requiring hospitalization.
How does hypomania differ from mania?
Hypomania lasts at least four consecutive days, is observable to others, but does not cause marked impairment or psychosis and does not require hospitalization.
What is cyclothymic disorder?
Numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms over at least two years that never meet full criteria for a hypomanic or major depressive episode.
What is generalized anxiety disorder?
Excessive, difficult-to-control worry about multiple domains occurring more days than not for at least six months, with symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, or muscle tension.
What is a panic attack?
An abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort peaking within minutes, with symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fear of losing control.
What is panic disorder?
Recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus at least one month of persistent worry about further attacks or a significant maladaptive change in behavior because of them.
What is agoraphobia?
Marked fear or anxiety about two or more situations such as public transport, open spaces, enclosed spaces, crowds, or being outside the home alone, because escape might be difficult.
What is a specific phobia?
Marked fear or anxiety about a particular object or situation that is out of proportion to actual danger, actively avoided, and persistent for six months or more.
What is social anxiety disorder?
Marked fear of social situations where the person may be scrutinized, driven by fear of acting in a way that will be negatively evaluated, lasting six months or more.