Chapter 13: Psychological Disorders
How do chronic and acute schizophrenia differ?
Chronic and acute schizophrenia differ in that chronic schizophrenia is not likely to be overcome rather than sudden acute schizophrenia following stress.
bipolar disorder
mood disorder in which the person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania
opiates
opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
halluncinogens
psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input
anxiety disorders
psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety
mood disorders
psychological disorders characterized by emotional extremes
binge-eating disorder
significant binge eating, followed by distress, disgust, or guilt, but without the purging, fasting, or excessive exercise that marks bulimia nervosa
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 discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior
What biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors help explain why some people abuse mind-altering drugs?
Biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors that help explain why some people abuse mind-altering drugs include a genetic predisposition including particular traits and genes that influence substance abuse, a feeling of life being meaningless and directionless, experiencing significant stress, expectations and pressures coming from media and peers, and location.
How and why do clinicians classify psychological disorders, and why do some psychologists criticize the use of diagnostic labels?
Clinicians classify psychological disorders using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) because by doing this it makes it easier for clinicians to communicate through one another in clinical and research settings that seek to discover causes and treatments, as well as provident patients with the notion that they are not alone in their symptoms. Some psychologists criticize the use of diagnostic labels because labels can be self-fulfilling, as demonstrated by David Rosenhan when he and other mentally sane participants were admitted and treated for psychological disorders when they went to hospitals and complained of hearing voices.
How do depressants, such as alcohol, influences neural activity and behavior?
Depressants, such as alcohol, influence neural activity and behavior by slowing mental processing, including judgment and reasoning abilities. Alcohol also reduces inhibitions and disrupts memory as do barbiturates and opiates. Depressants can be highly addictive and their inhibiting effects on the brain and depressing effects on the body can sometimes lead to death by overdose or behavior under the influence.
What are dissociative disorders, and why are they controversial?
Dissociative disorders are characterized by dissociating with different parts of the self and they are controversial because its existence is relatively new and local to North America
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
How do learning and biology contribute to the feelings and thoughts found in anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD?
Learning and biology contribute to the feelings and thoughts found in anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD in a variety of ways. Some fears are conditioned and reinforced by cognition, others are predisposed by our genetics and evolution, other fears have altered brain pathways that make it easier to experience feelings of anxiety with that particular stimulus.
What is OCD?
OCD is a disorder in which persistent, unwanted obsessive thoughts lead to compulsive rituals that lead to significant interference with daily life.
How is our understanding of psychological disorders affected by whether we use a medical model or a biopsychosocial approach?
Our understanding of psychological disorders is affected by whether we use a medical model, meaning that we see these disorders as illnesses with symptoms that can be diagnosed and treated, or a biopsychosocial approach by looking at the ways culture influences the experience of a psychological disorder.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a condition experienced by some following a traumatic event in which recurring memories and nightmares haunt sufferers along with general social withdrawal, anxiety, and insomnia.
What patterns of thinking, perceiving, and feeling characterize schizophrenia?
Patterns of thinking, perceiving, and feeling that characterize schizophrenia include false beliefs called delusions and resulting disorganized speech, hallucinations or false perceptions, and inappropriate emotional responses or no emotional response.
Does research indicate a genetic contribution to schizophrenia?
Research does indicate a genetic contribution to schizophrenia that includes the influence of many genes, each with small effects, that could be epigenetic.
What roles to biology, thinking, and social behavior play in developing mood disorders?
Roles biology, thinking, and social behavior play in developing mood disorders includes genetic factors, differences in brain activity, negative thinking patterns and explanatory styles, and acting in ways that confirm negative thinking patterns.
schizophrenia
a psychological disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished inappropriate emotional expression
Why do some people attempt suicide, and why do some people injure themselves?
Some people attempt suicide to escape situations in which they feel enduring pain, they feel as if they are burdening friends and family, they feel disconnected from others, or they feel trapped. Some people injure themselves to relieve themselves of emotional pain via distraction of physical pain, as a form of asking for help or attention, to punish themselves, as a way to get others to change negative behavior, or to fit in with a peer group.
What are substance abuse disorders, and what role do tolerance, withdrawal, and addiction play in these disorders?
Substance abuse disorders are disorders in which an individual craves/uses psychoactive drugs despite significant life disruption and risks. Tolerance plays a role in developing an addiction as more of the substance is needed to achieve the same effect. Withdrawal plays a role in continuing addiction when the individual experiences undesirable side effects when attempting to quit the drug or behavior. Addiction plays a role in substance abuse disorders in that individuals crave and use the substance despite consequences.
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
a psychological disorder marked by extreme inattention and /or hyperactivity and impulsivity
What are the main anxiety disorders, and how do anxiety disorders differ from the ordinary worries and fears we all experience?
The main anxiety disorders are generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias. Anxiety disorders differ from the ordinary worries and fears that we all experience in that anxiety disorders often provoke intense feelings or anxiety without warning or control and often lead to avoidance behavior to prevent feeling anxiety.
What are the main mood disorders?
The main mood disorders are major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.
How do the major stimulants affect neural activity and behavior?
The major stimulants affect neural activity and behavior by elevating mood and speeding up the body's functions. Commonly they do so by affecting the body's production and reuptake of either dopamine or serotonin. Users often feel energetic, ecstatic, or confident, but can also expect to feel extreme crashes in mood that reinforce addiction and sometimes encourage negative behavior.
What are the physiological and psychological effects of LSD and marijuana?
The physiological and psychological effects of LSD include visual "trips" in which the mind conjures hallucinations and perceptions without sensory input and users can expect a variety of emotions depending on their situation, some experience euphoria, others panic. The physiological and psychological effects of marijuana include feelings of euphoria, sometimes paranoia, enhanced sensations, relaxation, slowed reaction time, impaired memory, and damage to lungs if inhaling smoke.
Why is there controversy over attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?
There is controversy over attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder because many believe it is over or misdiagnosed and the effects of the prescriptions used to treat it do reduce hyperactivity but may have adverse effects on individuals with prolonged use.
What are three major eating disorders?
Three major eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
nicotine
a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco
What do we know about the brain chemistry, functions, and structures associated with schizophrenia, and what have we learned about prenatal risk factors?
We know that brain chemistry, functions, and structure associated with schizophrenia include more dopamine receptors, lowered frontal lob activity, and loss of brain tissue replaced with fluid. We have learned that prenatal risk factors of schizophrenia include exposure to viral infections around the midpoint of a pregnancy.
How should we draw the line between normal behavior and psychological disorder?
We should draw the line between normal behavior and psychological disorder when an individual's distressing thoughts, emotions, or behaviors interfere significantly with their day-to-day life.
psychoactive drug
a chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood
post-traumatic 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 and/or actions
mania
a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state
major depressive disorder
a mood disorder in which a person experiences, in the absence of drugs or a medical condition, two or more weeks with five or more symptoms, a least one of which must be either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure
LSD
a powerful hallucinogenic drug; lysergic acid diethylamide
psychological disorder
a syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in a person's thoughts, feelings, or behaviors
Ecstasy (MDMA)
a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen; produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition
alcohol use disorder
alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use
near-death experience
an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death; often similar to drug-induced hallucinations
generalized anxiety disorder
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 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, followed by worry about a possible next attack
bulimia nervosa
an eating disorder in which a person alternates binge eating with purging, fasting, or excessive exercise
addiction
compulsive craving of drugs or certain behaviors despite known harmful consequences
substance abuse disorder
continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk
barbiturates
drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment
stimulants
drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions; caffeine, nicotine, and more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamines
depressants
drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions; ex. alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates
amphetamines
drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes
anorexia nervosa
eating disorder in which a person maintains a starvation diet despite being significantly underweight; sometimes accompanied by excessive exercise
delusions
false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany schizophrenia and other disorders
THC
the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations
tolerance
with repeated use, the desired effect requires larger doses
