Study Guide Exam 5
What are anxiety disorders, symptoms?
Anxiety disorders = are characterized by excessive and persistent fear and anxiety, and by related disturbances in behavior. - Although anxiety is universally experienced, anxiety disorders cause considerable distress. As a group, anxiety disorders are common: approximately 25%-30% of the U.S. population meets the criteria for at least one anxiety disorder during their lifetime 1. Social anxiety disorder = (formerly called social phobia) is characterized by extreme and persistent fear or anxiety and avoidance of social situations in which the person could potentially be evaluated negatively by others (APA, 2013). - As with specific phobias, social anxiety disorder is common in the United States; a little over 12% of all Americans experience social anxiety disorder during their lifetime (Kessler - The heart of the fear and anxiety in social anxiety disorder is the person's concern that he may act in a humiliating or embarrassing way, such as appearing foolish, showing symptoms of anxiety (blushing), or doing or saying something that might lead to rejection (such as offending others). - The kinds of social situations in which individuals with social anxiety disorder usually have problems include public speaking, having a conversation, meeting strangers, eating in restaurants, and, in some cases, using public restrooms. 2. Panic disorder = panic disorder experience recurrent (more than one) and unexpected panic attacks, along with at least one month of persistent concern about additional panic attacks, worry over the consequences of the attacks, or self-defeating changes in behavior related to the attacks (e.g., avoidance of exercise or unfamiliar situations) - suddenly and inexplicably—you begin sweating and trembling, your heart starts pounding, you have trouble breathing, and you start to feel dizzy and nauseous. This episode lasts for 10 minutes and is terrifying because you start to think that you are going to die. - If you experience another one of these episodes two weeks later and worry for a month or more that similar episodes will occur in the future, it is likely that you have developed panic disorder. 3. generalized anxiety disorder = a relatively continuous state of excessive, uncontrollable, and pointless worry and apprehension. - People with generalized anxiety disorder often worry about routine, everyday things, even though their concerns are unjustified. - For example, an individual may worry about her health and finances, the health of family members, the safety of her children, or minor matters (e.g., being late for an appointment) without having any legitimate reason for doing so. - A diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder requires that the diffuse worrying and apprehension characteristic of this disorder—what Sigmund Freud referred to as free-floating anxiety—is not part of another disorder, occurs more days than not for at least six months, and is accompanied by any three of the following symptoms: restlessness, difficulty concentrating, being easily fatigued, muscle tension, irritability, and sleep difficulties.
Know the difference between distress and eustress.
1. Distress = when stress exceeds this optimal level, it is no longer a positive force—it becomes excessive and debilitating - People who reach this level of stress feel burned out; they are fatigued, exhausted, and their performance begins to decline. If the stress remains excessive, health may begin to erode as well 2. Eustress = is a good kind of stress associated with positive feelings, optimal health, and performance. - stress increases, so do performance and general well-being (eustress); when stress levels reach an optimal level (the highest point of the curve), performance reaches its peak. - Increasing one's level of stress will cause performance to change in a predictable way. - A person at this stress level is colloquially at the top of his game, meaning he feels fully energized, focused, and can work with minimal effort and maximum efficiency.
What is panic disorder, symptoms? Panic attacks, symptoms?
1. Panic disorder = panic disorder experience recurrent (more than one) and unexpected panic attacks, along with at least one month of persistent concern about additional panic attacks, worry over the consequences of the attacks, or self-defeating changes in behavior related to the attacks (e.g., avoidance of exercise or unfamiliar situations) - suddenly and inexplicably—you begin sweating and trembling, your heart starts pounding, you have trouble breathing, and you start to feel dizzy and nauseous. This episode lasts for 10 minutes and is terrifying because you start to think that you are going to die. - If you experience another one of these episodes two weeks later and worry for a month or more that similar episodes will occur in the future, it is likely that you have developed panic disorder. 2. A panic attack = is defined as a period of extreme fear or discomfort that develops abruptly and reaches a peak within 10 minutes. - Its symptoms include accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling, choking sensations, hot flashes or chills, dizziness or lightheadedness, fears of losing control or going crazy, and fears of dying (APA, 2013). - Sometimes panic attacks are expected, occurring in response to specific environmental triggers (such as being in a tunnel); other times, these episodes are unexpected and emerge randomly (such as when relaxing).
What are problem-focused and emotion-focused coping approaches?
1. Problem-focused coping = one attempts to manage or alter the problem that is causing one to experience stress (i.e., the stressor). - Problem-focused coping strategies are similar to strategies used in everyday problem-solving: they typically involve identifying the problem, considering possible solutions, weighing the costs and benefits of these solutions, and then selecting an alternative - A problem-focused approach to managing stress means we actively try to do things to address the problem. - problem-focused coping is more likely to occur when encountering stressors we perceive as controllable, while emotion-focused coping is more likely to predominate when faced with stressors that we believe we are powerless to change 2. Emotion-focused coping, in contrast, consists of efforts to change or reduce the negative emotions associated with stress. - These efforts may include avoiding, minimizing, or distancing oneself from the problem, or positive comparisons with others ("I'm not as bad off as she is"), or seeking something positive in a negative event ("Now that I've been fired, I can sleep in for a few days"). - In some cases, emotion-focused coping strategies involve reappraisal, whereby the stressor is construed differently (and somewhat self-deceptively) without changing its objective level of threat - In a certain sense, emotion-focused coping can be thought of as treating the symptoms rather than the actual cause.
Treatment methods for psychological disorders? Client-centered therapy (Rogers, unconditional positive regard), cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis (Freud), group therapy, family therapy?
1. Rogerian (client-centered therapy) = non-directive form of humanistic psychotherapy developed by Carl Rogers that emphasizes unconditional positive regard and self-acceptance - Rogers (1951) felt that the term patient suggested the person seeking help was sick and looking for a cure. - Since this is a form of nondirective therapy, a therapeutic approach in which the therapist does not give advice or provide interpretations but helps the person to identify conflicts and understand feelings, Rogers (1951) emphasized the importance of the person taking control of his own life to overcome life's challenges. - In client-centered therapy, the therapist uses the technique of active listening. 2. cognitive-behavioral therapy = form of psychotherapy that aims to change cognitive distortions and self-defeating behaviors - Work to change cognitive distortions and self-defeating behaviors - EX: Patient learns to identify self-defeating behaviors to overcome an eating disorder - In essence, this approach is designed to change the way people think as well as how they act. helps clients examine how their thoughts affect their behavior. 3. group therapy = treatment modality in which 5-10 people with the same issue or concern meet together with a trained clinician 4. family therapy = special form of group therapy consisting of one or more families
What are Type A and Type B personalities and characteristics of each?
1. Type A behavior pattern = These individuals tend to be intensively driven workaholics who are preoccupied with deadlines and always seem to be in a rush. - The major components of the Type A pattern include an aggressive and chronic struggle to achieve more and more in less and less time. Specific characteristics of the Type A pattern include an excessive competitive drive, chronic sense of time urgency, impatience, and hostility toward others - that people who are prone to heart disease tend to think, feel, and act differently than those who are not. - heart disease was over seven times more frequent among the Type As than the Type Bs 2. Type B = those who are more relaxed and laid-back
What is bi-polar disorder, symptoms? Mania, symptoms?
Bipolar disorder (commonly known as manic depression) = often experiences mood states that vacillate between depression and mania; that is, the person's mood is said to alternate from one emotional extreme to the other (in contrast to unipolar, which indicates a persistently sad mood). - Mania is a state of extreme elation and agitation. When people experience mania, they may become extremely talkative, behave recklessly, or attempt to take on many tasks simultaneously. The most recognized of these disorders is bipolar disorder. - manic episode is characterized as a "distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and abnormally and persistently increased activity or energy lasting at least one week," that lasts most of the time each day - manic episode, some experience a mood that is almost euphoric and become excessively talkative, sometimes spontaneously starting conversations with strangers; others become excessively irritable and complain or make hostile comments. The person may talk loudly and rapidly, exhibiting flight of ideas, abruptly switching from one topic to another. These individuals are easily distracted, which can make a conversation very difficult.
What is the DSM-5?
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) = The DSM-5 includes many categories of disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and dissociative disorders). - Each disorder is described in detail, including an overview of the disorder (diagnostic features), specific symptoms required for diagnosis (diagnostic criteria), prevalence information (what percent of the population is thought to be afflicted with the disorder), and risk factors associated with the disorder. - one that is used by most mental health professionals in the United States - shows lifetime prevalence rates—the percentage of people in a population who develop a disorder in their lifetime—of various psychological disorders among U.S. adults.
What is the general adaptation syndrome? What are its stages?
General adaptation syndrome = the body's nonspecific physiological response to stress. - consists of three stages: (1) alarm reaction, (2) stage of resistance, and (3) stage of exhaustion - In short, Selye's general adaptation syndrome suggests that stressors tax the body via a three-phase process—an initial jolt, subsequent readjustment, and a later depletion of all physical resources—that ultimately lays the groundwork for serious health problems and even death. 1. Alarm reaction = describes the body's immediate reaction upon facing a threatening situation or emergency, and it is roughly analogous to the fight-or-flight response - During an alarm reaction, you are alerted to a stressor, and your body alarms you with a cascade of physiological reactions that provide you with the energy to manage the situation. - A person who wakes up in the middle of the night to discover her house is on fire, for example, is experiencing an alarm reaction. 2. stage of resistance = When the exposure to a stressor is prolonged, the organism will enter this stage - During this stage, the initial shock of alarm reaction has worn off and the body has adapted to the stressor. - Nevertheless, the body also remains on alert and is prepared to respond as it did during the alarm reaction, although with less intensity. 3. stage of exhaustion = When the exposure to a stressor continues over a longer period of time they will enter this stage - At this stage, the person is no longer able to adapt to the stressor: the body's ability to resist becomes depleted as physical wear takes its toll on the body's tissues and organs. - As a result, illness, disease, and other permanent damage to the body—even death—may occur.
What is health psychology?
Health psychology = a subfield of psychology devoted to understanding the importance of psychological influences on health, illness, and how people respond when they become ill. - Health psychology emerged as a discipline in the 1970s, a time during which there was increasing awareness of the role behavioral and lifestyle factors play in the development of illnesses and diseases - They study the connection between stress and illness as well as investigate issues such as why people make certain lifestyle choices (e.g., smoking or eating unhealthy food despite knowing the potential adverse health implications of such behaviors). They also design and investigate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at changing unhealthy behaviors. One of the more fundamental tasks of health psychologists is to identify which groups of people are especially at risk for negative health outcomes, based on psychological or behavioral factors.
What is human factors psychology?
Human factors psychology = is the study of how workers interact with the tools of work and how to design those tools to optimize workers' productivity, safety, and health. - These studies can involve interactions as straightforward as the fit of a desk, chair, and computer to a human having to sit on the chair at the desk using the computer for several hours each day. - They can also include the examination of how humans interact with complex displays and their ability to interpret them accurately and quickly. - In Europe, this field is referred to as ergonomics.
What are different types of stressors (acute, chronic, life events, daily hassles)?
In general, stressors can be placed into one of two broad categories: chronic and acute. 1. Chronic stressors = include events that persist over an extended period of time, such as caring for a parent with dementia, long-term unemployment, or imprisonment. 2. Acute stressors = involve brief focal events that sometimes continue to be experienced as overwhelming well after the event has ended, such as falling on an icy sidewalk and breaking your leg 3. Potential stressors = come in many shapes and sizes. They can include major traumatic events, significant life changes, daily hassles, as well as other situations in which a person is regularly exposed to threat, challenge, or danger. - Many potential stressors we face involve events or situations that require us to make changes in our ongoing lives and require time as we adjust to those changes. 4. traumatic events stressors = situations in which a person is exposed to actual or threatened death or serious injury. Stressors in this category include exposure to military combat, threatened or actual physical assaults (e.g., physical attacks, sexual assault, robbery, childhood abuse), terrorist attacks, natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, floods, hurricanes), and automobile accidents. 5. Daily hassles = the minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives (e.g., rush hour traffic, lost keys, obnoxious coworkers, inclement weather, arguments with friends or family)—can build on one another and leave us just as stressed as life change events 6. Life events = requiring significant changes in a person's normal life routines are stressful, whether these events are desirable or undesirable.
What is industrial-organizational psychology?
Industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology = is a branch of psychology that studies how human behavior and psychology affect work and how they are affected by work. - Industrial and organizational psychologists work in four main contexts: academia, government, consulting firms, and business. - Most I-O psychologists have a master's or doctorate degree. - The field of I-O psychology can be divided into three broad areas: industrial, organizational, and human factors.
What are the contexts (settings) that industrial-psychologists work in?
Industrial and organizational psychologists work in four main contexts: academia, government, consulting firms, and business.
What is industrial psychology?
Industrial psychology = is concerned with describing job requirements and assessing individuals for their ability to meet those requirements. - In addition, once employees are hired, industrial psychology studies and develops ways to train, evaluate, and respond to those evaluations. As a consequence of its concern for candidate characteristics, industrial psychology must also consider issues of legality regarding discrimination in hiring.
What is a mood disorder? Major depressive disorder, symptoms?
Mood disorders (Figure 15.15) are characterized by severe disturbances in mood and emotions—most often depression, but also mania and elation. - All of us experience fluctuations in our moods and emotional states, and often these fluctuations are caused by events in our lives. 1. major depressive disorder = include "depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day" (feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or appearing tearful to others), and loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities - In addition to feeling overwhelmingly sad most of each day, people with depression will no longer show interest or enjoyment in activities that previously were gratifying, such as hobbies, sports, sex, social events, time spent with family, and so on. - significant weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain and/or significant - decrease or increase in appetite; - difficulty falling asleep or sleeping too much; - psychomotor agitation (the person is noticeably fidgety and jittery, demonstrated by behaviors like the inability to sit, pacing, hand-wringing, pulling or rubbing of the skin, clothing, or other objects) or psychomotor retardation (the person talks and moves slowly, for example, talking softly, very little, or in a monotone); - fatigue or loss of energy; - feelings of worthlessness or guilt; - difficulty concentrating and indecisiveness; and suicidal ideation: thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), thinking about or planning suicide, or making an actual suicide attempt.
What is organizational psychology?
Organizational psychology = is a discipline interested in how the relationships among employees affect those employees and the performance of a business. - This includes studying worker satisfaction, motivation, and commitment. This field also studies management, leadership, and organizational culture, as well as how an organization's structures, management and leadership styles, social norms, and role expectations affect individual behavior. - As a result of its interest in worker wellbeing and relationships, organizational psychology also considers the subjects of harassment, including sexual harassment, and workplace violence.
What are personality disorders, symptoms? Anti-social personality disorder, symptoms? Narcissistic personality disorder, symptoms?
Personality disorders = exhibit a personality style that differs markedly from the expectations of their culture, is pervasive and inflexible, begins in adolescence or early adulthood, and causes distress or impairment - Generally, individuals with these disorders exhibit enduring personality styles that are extremely troubling and often create problems for them and those with whom they come into contact. - Their maladaptive personality styles frequently bring them into conflict with others, disrupt their ability to develop and maintain social relationships, and prevent them from accomplishing realistic life goals. 1. antisocial personality disorder = (sometimes referred to as psychopathy) shows no regard at all for other people's rights or feelings. - This lack of regard is exhibited a number of ways and can include repeatedly performing illegal acts, lying to or conning others, impulsivity and recklessness, irritability and aggressiveness toward others, and failure to act in a responsible way (e.g., leaving debts unpaid) - The worst part about antisocial personality disorder, however, is that people with this disorder have no remorse over one's misdeeds; these people will hurt, manipulate, exploit, and abuse others and not feel any guilt. - Signs of this disorder can emerge early in life; however, a person must be at least 18 years old to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. - A useful way to conceptualize antisocial personality disorder is boiling the diagnosis down to three major concepts: disinhibition, boldness, and meanness 2. Narcissistic = overinflated and unjustified sense of self-importance and preoccupied with fantasies of success; believes he is entitled to special treatment from others; shows arrogant attitudes and behaviors; takes advantage of others; lacks empathy
What is positive psychology?
Positive psychology= can be thought of as the science of happiness; it is an area of study that seeks to identify and promote those qualities that lead to greater fulfillment in our lives. - This field looks at people's strengths and what helps individuals to lead happy, contented lives, and it moves away from focusing on people's pathology, faults, and problems. According to Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi (2000), positive psychology, - Some of the topics studied by positive psychologists include altruism and empathy, creativity, forgiveness and compassion, the importance of positive emotions, enhancement of immune system functioning, savoring the fleeting moments of life, and strengthening virtues as a way to increase authentic happiness - In a war-torn world in which conflict, hatred, and distrust are common, such an extended "positive peace psychology" could have important implications for understanding how to overcome oppression and work toward global peace
What is schizophrenia, symptoms?
Schizophrenia = is a devastating psychological disorder that is characterized by major disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior. - Most people with schizophrenia experience significant difficulties in many day-to-day activities, such as holding a job, paying bills, caring for oneself (grooming and hygiene), and maintaining relationships with others. - First, schizophrenia is not a condition involving a split personality; that is, schizophrenia is not the same thing as dissociative identity disorder (better known as multiple personality disorder). Symptoms: the main symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, disorganized or abnormal motor behavior, and negative symptoms 1. Hallucination = is a perceptual experience that occurs in the absence of external stimulation. 2. Delusions = are beliefs that are contrary to reality and are firmly held even in the face of contradictory evidence. Many of us hold beliefs that some would consider odd, but a delusion is easily identified because it is clearly absurd. - paranoid delusions, which involve the (false) belief that other people or agencies are plotting to harm the person. - grandiose delusions, beliefs that one holds special power, unique knowledge, or is extremely important. - somatic delusion, which is the belief that something highly abnormal is happening to one's body (e.g., that one's kidneys are being eaten by cockroaches). 3. Disorganized thinking = refers to disjointed and incoherent thought processes—usually detected by what a person says. The person might ramble, exhibit loose associations (jump from topic to topic), or talk in a way that is so disorganized and incomprehensible that it seems as though the person is randomly combining words. 4. Disorganized or abnormal motor behavior = refers to unusual behaviors and movements: becoming unusually active, exhibiting silly child-like behaviors (giggling and self-absorbed smiling), engaging in repeated and purposeless movements, or displaying odd facial expressions and gestures. - catatonic behaviors, which show decreased reactivity to the environment, such as posturing, in which the person maintains a rigid and bizarre posture for long periods of time, or catatonic stupor, a complete lack of movement and verbal behavior. - Negative symptoms = are those that reflect noticeable decreases and absences in certain behaviors, emotions, or drives
What is a phobia, symptoms?
Specific phobia = (formerly known as simple phobia) experiences excessive, distressing, and persistent fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (such as animals, enclosed spaces, elevators, or flying) - Even though people realize their level of fear and anxiety in relation to the phobic stimulus is irrational, some people with a specific phobia may go to great lengths to avoid the phobic stimulus (the object or situation that triggers the fear and anxiety). - Typically, the fear and anxiety a phobic stimulus elicits is disruptive to the person's life. - For example, a man with a phobia of flying might refuse to accept a job that requires frequent air travel, thus negatively affecting his career.
Know various definitions of stress as indicated in your textbook including Han Selye's.
Stress = is to view it as a process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that he appraises as overwhelming or threatening to his well-being - Today, we often use the term loosely in describing a variety of unpleasant feeling states; for example, we often say we are stressed out when we feel frustrated, angry, conflicted, overwhelmed, or fatigued. Despite the widespread use of the term, stress is a fairly vague concept that is difficult to define with precision. 1. Stimulus-based definitions. Some have conceptualized stress as a demanding or threatening event or situation (e.g., a high-stress job, overcrowding, and long commutes to work). Such conceptualizations are known as stimulus-based definitions because they characterize stress as a stimulus that causes certain reactions. - Stimulus-based definitions of stress are problematic, however, because they fail to recognize that people differ in how they view and react to challenging life events and situations. 2. Response-based definitions. Others have conceptualized stress in ways that emphasize the physiological responses that occur when faced with demanding or threatening situations (e.g., increased arousal). These conceptualizations are referred to as response-based definitions because they describe stress as a response to environmental conditions. - Hans Selye, a famous stress researcher, once defined stress as the "response of the body to any demand, whether it is caused by, or results in, pleasant or unpleasant conditions" (Selye, 1976, p. 74). Selye's definition of stress is response-based in that it conceptualizes stress chiefly in terms of the body's physiological reaction to any demand that is placed on it. - Neither stimulus-based nor response-based definitions provide a complete definition of stress.
What is agoraphobia, symptoms?
agoraphobia = is listed in the DSM-5 as a separate anxiety disorder. Agoraphobia, which literally means "fear of the marketplace," is characterized by intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance of situations in which it might be difficult to escape or receive help if one experiences symptoms of a panic attack (a state of extreme anxiety that we will discuss shortly). - These situations include public transportation, open spaces (parking lots), enclosed spaces (stores), crowds, or being outside the home alone. - About 1.4% of Americans experience agoraphobia during their lifetime
What is ADHD, symptoms?
attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) = childhood disorder characterized by inattentiveness and/or hyperactive, impulsive behavior - it was discovered that many hyperactive children—those who are fidgety, restless, socially disruptive, and have trouble with impulse control—also display short attention spans, problems with concentration, and distractibility. - A child with ADHD shows a constant pattern of inattention and/or hyperactive and impulsive behavior that interferes with normal functioning (APA, 2013). Some of the signs of inattention include great difficulty with and avoidance of tasks that require sustained attention (such as conversations or reading), failure to follow instructions (often resulting in failure to complete school work and other duties), disorganization (difficulty keeping things in order, poor time management, sloppy and messy work), lack of attention to detail, becoming easily distracted, and forgetfulness. - Hyperactivity is characterized by excessive movement, and includes fidgeting or squirming, leaving one's seat in situations when remaining seated is expected, having trouble sitting still (e.g., in a restaurant), running about and climbing on things, blurting out responses before another person's question or statement has been completed, difficulty waiting one's turn for something, and interrupting and intruding on others.
What is dissociative identity disorder?
dissociative identity disorder = (formerly called multiple personality disorder). People with dissociative identity disorder exhibit two or more separate personalities or identities, each well-defined and distinct from one another. - They also experience memory gaps for the time during which another identity is in charge (e.g., one might find unfamiliar items in her shopping bags or among her possessions), and in some cases may report hearing voices, such as a child's voice or the sound of somebody crying - Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is highly controversial. Some believe that people fake symptoms to avoid the consequences of illegal actions (e.g., "I am not responsible for shoplifting because it was my other personality"). In fact, it has been demonstrated that people are generally skilled at adopting the role of a person with different personalities when they believe it might be advantageous to do so. - Despite its controversial nature, DID is clearly a legitimate and serious disorder, and although some people may fake symptoms, others suffer their entire lives with it. People with this disorder tend to report a history of childhood trauma, some cases having been corroborated through medical or legal records
What is the fight-or-flight response?
fight-or-flight response = occurs when a person experiences very strong emotions—especially those associated with a perceived threat - During the fight-or-flight response, the body is rapidly aroused by activation of both the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system. This arousal helps prepare the person to either fight or flee from a perceived threat. - the fight-or-flight response is a built-in mechanism that assists in maintaining homeostasis—an internal environment in which physiological variables such as blood pressure, respiration, digestion, and temperature are stabilized at levels optimal for survival. - Cannon viewed the fight-or-flight response as adaptive because it enables us to adjust internally and externally to changes in our surroundings, which is helpful in species survival.
What is OCD, symptoms?
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) = experience thoughts and urges that are intrusive and unwanted (obsessions) and/or the need to engage in repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). - A person with this disorder might, for example, spend hours each day washing his hands or constantly checking and rechecking to make sure that a stove, faucet, or light has been turned off. - Obsessions are more than just unwanted thoughts that seem to randomly jump into our head from time to time, such as recalling an insensitive remark a coworker made recently, and they are more significant than day-to-day worries we might have, such as justifiable concerns about being laid off from a job. Rather, obsessions are characterized as persistent, unintentional, and unwanted thoughts and urges that are highly intrusive, unpleasant, and distressing. - Compulsions are repetitive and ritualistic acts that are typically carried out primarily as a means to minimize the distress that obsessions trigger or to reduce the likelihood of a feared event. - Compulsions often include such behaviors as repeated and extensive hand washing, cleaning, checking (e.g., that a door is locked), and ordering (e.g., lining up all the pencils in a particular way), and they also include such mental acts as counting, praying, or reciting something to oneself
What is PTSD, symptoms?
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) = Extremely stressful or traumatic events, such as combat, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks, place the people who experience them at an increased risk for developing psychological disorders. - The term post-traumatic stress disorder was developed given that these symptoms could happen to anyone who experienced psychological trauma. - For a person to be diagnosed with PTSD, she must be exposed to, witness, or experience the details of a traumatic experience (e.g., a first responder), one that involves "actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence" (APA, 2013, p. 271). - These experiences can include such events as combat, threatened or actual physical attack, sexual assault, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and automobile accidents. - Symptoms of PTSD include intrusive and distressing memories of the event, flashbacks (states that can last from a few seconds to several days, during which the individual relives the event and behaves as if the event were occurring at that moment, avoidance of stimuli connected to the event, persistently negative emotional states (e.g., fear, anger, guilt, and shame), feelings of detachment from others, irritability, proneness toward outbursts, and an exaggerated startle response (jumpiness).
