psych chapter 13

At some point during the past year, approximately _____ percent of American college students have felt so depressed that they found it difficult to function.

30

Women constitute approximately _____ percent of those suffering from generalized anxiety disorder.

65

Psychoactive drugs are substances that:

produce changes in thought, feeling, and behavior.

hallucinogens

psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and trigger sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

anxiety disorders

psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety.

binge-eating disorder

significant bingeeating episodes, followed by distress, disgust, or guilt, but without the purging or fasting that marks bulimia nervosa.

How should we draw the line between normal behavior and psychological disorder?

According to psychologists and psychiatrists, psychological disorders are marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior. Such dysfunctional or maladaptive thoughts, emotions, or behaviors interfere with daily life, and thus are disordered.

Why might alcohol make a person more helpful or more aggressive?

Alcohol is a disinhibitor—it makes us more likely to do what we would have done when sober, whether that is being helpful or being aggressive.

What factors contribute to the onset and development of schizophrenia?

Biological factors include abnormalities in brain structure and function and genetic differences. Environmental factors such as nutritional deprivation, exposure to virus, and maternal stress contribute by activating the genes that increase risk.

Researchers believe that conditioning and cognition are aspects of learning that contribute to anxiety-related disorders. What biological factors contribute to these disorders?

Biological factors include inherited temperament differences and other gene variations; experience-altered brain pathways; and outdated, inherited responses that had survival value for our distant ancestors.

People who suffer from _____ are so preoccupied by unwanted repetitive thoughts and/or actions that they have difficulty functioning in their daily lives.

OCD

This reformer insisted that madness was not demon possession but a sickness of the mind caused by severe stresses and inhumane conditions.

Philippe Pinel

Studies have found that people who begin drinking in their early teens are much more likely to develop alcohol use disorder than are those who begin at age 21 or after. What possible explanations might there be for this correlation?

Possible explanations include (a) biological factors (a person could have a biological predisposition to both early use and later abuse, or alcohol use could modify a person's neural pathways); (b) psychological factors (early use could establish taste preferences for alcohol); and (c) social-cultural factors (early use could influence enduring habits, attitudes, activities, or peer relationships that could foster alcohol use disorder).

Are psychological disorders universal or culture-specific? Explain with examples.

Some psychological disorders are culture-specific. For example, bulimia nervosa occurs mostly in food-rich Western cultures, and taijin-kyofusho appears largely in Japan. Other disorders, such as schizophrenia, are universal—they appear in all cultures.

The psychodynamic and learning perspectives agree that dissociative identity disorder symptoms are ways of dealing with anxiety. How do their explanations differ?

The psychodynamic explanation of DID symptoms is that they are defenses against anxiety generated by unacceptable urges. The learning perspective attempts to explain these symptoms as behaviors that have been reinforced by relieving anxiety.

A feeling of intense dread that can be accompanied by chest pains, choking sensations, or other frightening sensations is called

a panic attack

antisocial personality disorder

a personality disorder in which a person (usually a man) exhibits a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members; may be aggressive and ruthless or a clever con artist.

cocaine

a powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant; temporarily increases alertness and produces feelings of euphoria.

LSD

a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid (lysergic acid diethylamide).

methamphetamine

a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system with speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels.

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

a psychological disorder marked by extreme inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity.

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

a rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities. (Formerly called multiple personality disorder.)

nicotine

a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco.

psychological disorder

a syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in a person's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior.

Ecstasy (MDMA)

a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition.

near-death experience

an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations.

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

an anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, fearful, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal.

phobia

an anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation.

panic disorder

an anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable minutes-long episodes of intense dread in which a person may experience terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations; often followed by worry over a possible next attack.

anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder in which a person (usually an adolescent female) maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly underweight; sometimes accompanied by excessive exercise.

bulimia nervosa

an eating disorder in which a person alternates binge eating (usually of high-calorie foods) with purging (by vomiting or laxative use) or fasting.

personality disorder

an inflexible and enduring behavior pattern that impairs social functioning.

The depressants include alcohol, barbiturates,

and opiates

Last week, Tate went into the hospital for a painful medical procedure. Amazingly, he did not seem worried beforehand, and he showed no signs of autonomic nervous system arousal. In addition, Tate seems to lack a conscience for wrongdoing. It is possible that Tate would be diagnosed as having:

antisocial personality disorder

Nicotine triggers the release of the neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine, which diminish _____ and boost _____.

appetite, alertness and mental efficiency

Dr. Brooks has a client who suffers from substance abuse. In therapy, she suggests that his abusive home environment, limited sense of life purpose, and deficient dopamine reward circuits might account for his abuse. Dr. Brooks is MOST clearly using a _____ approach to understanding addictive behaviors.

biopsychosocial

Dr. Cobbs believes that psychological disorders are influenced by genetic predispositions and physiological states. He is also aware that inner psychological dynamics, social dynamics, and culture influence psychological disorders. Dr. Cobbs believes in a _____ model.

biopsychosocial

Many psychologists reject the disorders-as-illness view and instead maintain that other factors may also be involved—for example, the person's bad habits and poor social skills. This view represents the _____ approach.

biopsychosocial

The learning perspective proposes that phobias are

conditioned fears

dissociative disorders

controversial, rare disorders in which conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings.

Long-term use of Ecstasy can

damage serotonin-producing neurons.

A person with positive symptoms of schizophrenia is most likely to experience

delusions

Alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates are all in a class of drugs called ____.

depressants

Two major disorders that are found worldwide are schizophrenia and _____.

depression

substance use disorder

disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk.

Unfocused tension, apprehension, and arousal are symptoms of _________ _______ disorder.

generalized anxiety

People with schizophrenia may hear voices urging self-destruction, an example of a(n) ________.

hallucination

Use of marijuana

impairs motor coordination, perception, reaction time, and memory

A large pharmaceutical company is conducting a clinical trial for a new antidepressant to treat major depressive disorder. They are concerned with the efficacy and safety of the new medication. Their perspective is most in line with the _____ model.

medical

A therapist says that psychological disorders are sicknesses and people with these disorders should be treated as patients in a hospital. This therapist believes in the ______ model.

medical

Those who experience unpredictable periods of terror and intense dread, accompanied by frightening physical sensations, may be diagnosed with a ________ disorder.

panic

Rates of bipolar disorder have risen dramatically in the twenty-first century, especially among

people 19 and under

Anxiety that takes the form of an irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation is called a _______

phobia

If a person is focusing anxiety on specific feared objects, activities, or situations, that person may have a ______.

phobia

Those with symptoms of recurring memories and nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, and/or insomnia for weeks after a traumatic event may be diagnosed with ______ ______disorder.

post-traumatic stress

Psychologists who emphasize the importance of negative perceptions, beliefs, and thoughts in depression are working within the _____-______ perspective.

social-cognitive

Amanda blames herself for her recent job loss. Her therapist suggests that her depression results from this blaming of herself rather than the slumping economy. Her therapist's suggestion BEST illustrates a:

social-cognitive perspective

The discovery that the disease _____ invades the brain and distorts the mind fueled interest in discovering the physical causes of other mental disorders.

syphilis

Qwan often finds himself anxious in social situations. He avoids eye contact with others and regularly dismisses his fears of blushing uncontrollably as shyness. If Qwan were Japanese, he might be suffering from:

taijin-kyofusho.

DSM-5

the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; a widely used system for classifying psychological disorders.

medical model

the concept that diseases, in this case psychological disorders, have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and, in most cases, cured, often through treatment in a hospital.

withdrawal

the discomfort and distress that follow ending the use of an addictive drug or behavior.

An important psychological contributor to drug use is

the feeling that life is meaningless and directionless.

THC

the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations.

epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change.

After continued use of a psychoactive drug, the drug user needs to take larger doses to get the desired effect. This is referred to as __________.

tolerance

Through continued usage, an individual's brain may adapt to compensate for the effects of a drug. This adaptation is called:

tolerance

One potential fear of the new classification of "disruptive mood dysregulation disorder" is that it will:

turn a normal temper tantrum into a mental disorder.

chronic schizophrenia

(also called process schizophrenia) a form of schizophrenia in which symptoms usually appear by late adolescence or early adulthood. As people age, psychotic episodes last longer and recovery periods shorten.

acute schizophrenia

(also called reactive schizophrenia) a form of schizophrenia that can begin at any age, frequently occurs in response to an emotionally traumatic event, and has extended recovery periods.

alcohol use disorder

(popularly known as alcoholism) alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use.

What is the biopsychosocial approach, and why is it important in our understanding of psychological disorders?

Biological, psychological, and social-cultural influences combine to produce psychological disorders. This approach helps us understand that our well-being is affected by the interaction of many forces: our genes, brain functioning, inner thoughts and feelings, and the influences of our social and cultural environment.

Which of the following statements is true of bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia is marked by weight fluctuations within or above normal ranges.

Most psychologists and psychiatrists use _____ to classify psychological disorders

DSM descriptions and codes

Tonya is interested in studying psychological disorders. If she wants to study the classification system MOST often used in the United States, she should read the _____.

DSM-5

Near-death experiences are strikingly similar to the experiences evoked by _____.

LSD

What does it mean to say that "depression is a whole-body disorder"?

Many factors contribute to depression, including the biological influences of genetics and brain function. Social-cognitive factors also matter, including the interaction of explanatory style, mood, our responses to stressful experiences, and changes in our patterns of thinking and behaving. Depression involves the whole body and may disrupt sleep, energy, and concentration.

What withdrawal symptoms should your friend expect when she finally decides to quit smoking?

Nicotine-withdrawal symptoms include strong cravings, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, distractibility, and difficulty concentrating. However, if your friend sticks with it, her symptoms will gradually go away over the next six months.

Anna is embarrassed that it takes her several minutes to parallel-park her car. She usually gets out of the car once or twice to inspect her distance both from the curb and from the nearby cars. Should she worry about having a psychological disorder?

No. Anna's behavior is unusual, causes her distress, and may make her a few minutes late on occasion, but it does not appear to significantly disrupt her ability to function. Like most of us, Anna demonstrates some unusual behaviors. Since they are not disabling or dysfunctional, they do not suggest a psychological disorder.

What is the value, and what are the dangers, of labeling individuals with disorders?

Therapists and others apply disorder labels to communicate with one another in a common language. Clients may benefit from knowing they are not the only ones with these symptoms. One danger of labeling is that labels can trigger assumptions that will change people's behavior toward those labeled.

How do biological and psychological factors contribute to antisocial personality disorder?

Twin and adoption studies show that biological relatives of people with this disorder are at increased risk for antisocial behavior. Researchers have also observed differences in the brain activity and structure of antisocial criminals. Negative environmental factors, such as poverty or childhood abuse, may channel genetic traits such as fearlessness in more dangerous directions—toward aggression and away from social responsibility.

Can someone become "addicted" to shopping?

Unless it becomes compulsive or dysfunctional, simply having a strong interest in shopping is not the same as having a physical addiction to a drug. It does not involve obsessive craving in spite of known negative consequences.

What is the process that leads to drug tolerance?

With repeated exposure to a psychoactive drug, the user's brain chemistry adapts and the drug's effect lessens. Thus, it takes bigger doses to get the desired effect.

psychoactive drug

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood.

schizophrenia

a disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished, inappropriate emotional expression.

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

a disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, and/or insomnia lingering for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience.

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

a disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions), actions (compulsions), or both.

bipolar disorder

a disorder in which a person alternates between the hopelessness and weariness of depression and the overexcited state of mania. (Formerly called manic-depressive disorder.)

major depressive disorder

a disorder in which a person experiences, in the absence of drugs or another medical condition, two or more weeks with five or more symptoms, at least one of which must be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.

tolerance

a dwindling effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect.

delusions

a false belief, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders.

psychotic disorders

a group of disorders marked by irrational ideas, distorted perceptions, and a loss of contact with reality.

mania

a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state in which dangerously poor judgment is common.

Crack is a form of _____ and is therefore a _____.

cocaine; stimulant

Of the perspectives on anxiety disorders discussed in the text, the _____ perspective is MOST likely to emphasize hypervigilance toward anxiety-related stimuli.

cognitive

depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce (depress) neural activity and slow body functions.

stimulants

drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

barbiturates

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment.

amphetamines

drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes.

A lawyer is distressed by feeling the need to wash his hands 100 times a day. He has little time left to meet with clients, and his partners are wondering whether he is a risk to the firm. His behavior would probably be labeled disordered, because it is ______ —that is, it interferes with his day-to-day life.

dysfunctional or maladaptive

This drug became popular in the 1990s in nightclubs and all-night raves.

ecstasy

A personality disorder, such as antisocial personality, is characterized by

enduring and inflexible behavior patterns that impair social functioning.

Dissociative identity disorder is controversial because

it is almost never reported outside North America.

PET scans of murderers' brains have revealed

lower-than-normal activation in the frontal lobes.

Men who are diagnosed with schizophrenia have more _____ symptoms than women.

negative

_____ symptoms are to an absence of appropriate behaviors as _____ symptoms are to a presence of inappropriate behaviors. Please choose the correct answer from the following choices, and then select the submit answer button.

negative, positive

Cutting and burning the skin, inserting things under the nails or skin, and self-administering tattoos are all forms of:

nonsuicidal self-injury

Treatment for depression often includes drugs that increase supplies of the neurotransmitters _____and _____.

norepinephrine; serotonin

Marina became consumed with the need to clean the entire house and refused to participate in any other activities. Her family consulted a therapist, who diagnosed her as having _____-_____ disorder.

obsessive-compulsive

Chances for recovery from schizophrenia are best when

onset is sudden, in response to stress.

A reduction in anxiety, pupil constriction, slower respiration, and feelings of lethargy are associated with:

opiates

opiates

opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.