All Flashcards
How is classical conditioning applied in the development of phobias?
A neutral stimulus becomes associated with a fearful experience, leading to a conditioned fear response to that stimulus.
How can the biopsychosocial model be used to understand bipolar disorder?
It considers genetic predispositions (biological), stressful life events (social), and maladaptive coping strategies (psychological) in understanding the disorder.
How does social isolation contribute to depressive disorders?
Lack of social support and increased feelings of loneliness can exacerbate symptoms of depression and hinder recovery.
How do cultural pressures contribute to eating disorders?
Societal emphasis on thinness and body image ideals can lead to body dissatisfaction and unhealthy eating behaviors.
How can understanding neurotransmitter imbalances help in treating mental disorders?
Medications can be used to target specific neurotransmitter systems to alleviate symptoms, such as SSRIs for serotonin in depression.
How does exposure to trauma impact brain function in PTSD?
Trauma can alter the function of the amygdala (fear processing) and hippocampus (memory), leading to intrusive memories and hyperarousal.
How is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) used to treat anxiety disorders?
CBT helps individuals identify and challenge maladaptive thinking patterns and develop coping strategies to manage anxiety.
How can family therapy help in treating eating disorders?
Family therapy addresses family dynamics and communication patterns that may contribute to or maintain the eating disorder.
How is the understanding of genetic factors used in assessing risk for mental disorders?
Family history is considered when assessing an individual's risk for developing mental disorders, informing prevention and early intervention strategies.
How can early intervention programs help children at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders?
Early intervention can provide support and therapies to address developmental delays and improve outcomes for children with or at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
What is the dopamine hypothesis regarding schizophrenia?
The theory that an imbalance of dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain contributes to the symptoms of schizophrenia.
What is learned helplessness?
A behavioral concept where individuals believe they have no control over negative events, contributing to depressive disorders.
What is the biopsychosocial model?
A model that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding and treating psychological disorders.
What is classical conditioning?
A learning process where an association is made between a neutral stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus, leading to a conditioned response; relevant in anxiety disorders and OCD.
Explain the concept of 'thought-action fusion' in OCD.
The maladaptive thinking pattern in OCD where individuals believe that having a thought about an action is morally equivalent to actually performing the action.
What is the role of the amygdala in anxiety disorders?
The amygdala plays a key role in processing fear and anxiety; abnormalities in its structure or function can contribute to anxiety disorders.
What is the significance of family history in mental disorders?
Family history indicates a genetic predisposition; individuals with a family history of mental illness have a higher risk of developing similar disorders.
What is the impact of cultural ideals of thinness on eating disorders?
Cultural ideals promoting thinness can contribute to body image distortion, low self-esteem, and the development of eating disorders, particularly in vulnerable individuals.
Describe the role of neurotransmitter imbalances in depressive disorders.
Imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are implicated in depressive disorders, affecting mood regulation.
What is the role of negative reinforcement in maintaining compulsions?
Compulsions are negatively reinforced because they temporarily reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions, thus perpetuating the cycle of OCD.
Explain how trauma can lead to dissociative disorders.
Severe trauma, especially in childhood, can lead to dissociation as a coping mechanism, disrupting consciousness, memory, and identity.
What is the definition of neurodevelopmental disorders?
Disorders that appear early in life and impact behavior, cognition, or social skills due to differences in brain development.
What is the definition of delusions?
False beliefs, such as persecutory or grandiose beliefs, that are a symptom of schizophrenic spectrum disorders.
What is the definition of hallucinations?
False perceptions, such as hearing voices, that are a symptom of schizophrenic spectrum disorders.
What is the definition of negative symptoms?
Absence of typical behaviors, such as flat affect or avolition, seen in schizophrenic spectrum disorders.
What is the definition of Major Depressive Disorder?
A depressive disorder characterized by persistent sad, empty, or irritable moods, and changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, and self-esteem.
What are manic episodes?
Periods of inflated self-esteem, decreased sleep, talkativeness, racing thoughts, and risky behaviors associated with bipolar disorders.
What is a specific phobia?
An anxiety disorder characterized by an intense fear of specific objects or situations.
What is a compulsion?
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety, often associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?
A dissociative disorder characterized by two or more distinct personality states.
What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
A trauma disorder characterized by intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood/cognition, and hyperarousal following a traumatic event.
What is Anorexia nervosa?
An eating disorder characterized by restriction, fear of weight gain, and distorted body image.