AP psych exam review

Personality disorder characterized by self-preoccupation, inflated estimates of one's abilities and attractiveness, and the need for others to focus on oneself.

A somatic symptom disorder in which a psychological problem manifests itself as a deficit in physiological functioning (e.g. blindess, paralysis). Freud called these "Hysterias".

Group of disorders that involve dysfunction of memory or an altered state of identity (e.g. dissociative identity disorder, dissociative amnesia)

Personality disorder characterized by excessive emotional reactions and excitability, as well as by the need for attention and overly dramatic behavior

This category of disorders includes psychological disorders characterized by physical symptoms without any (known) physical causes. Illness Anxiety Disorder and Conversion Disorder are examples.

a biomedical therapy for severely depressed patients in which a brief electric current is sent through the brain of an anesthetized patient

A somatic symptom disorder characterized by excessive preoccupation with health concerns and incessant worry about developing physical illnesses.

also called multiple personality disorder; person displays more than one distinct personality & these personalities are expressed a different times.

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks

a mental disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression

a neurotransmitter that is associated with Parkinson's disease (too little of it) and schizophrenia (too much of it)

sensory experience without an accompanying sensory stimulus; auditory most common

depressive disorder characterized by two weeks or more of low energy and mood

disorder in which the sufferer purposefully ingests harmful substances or engages in acts of self-harm or mutilation in order to obtain medical attention

side effect of antipsychotic medications; repetitive, uncontrollable muscle movements

most commonly used drug treatment for depression; examples include Prozac and Zoloft

central nervous system depressants used to treat anxiety disorders; examples include Xanax, Valium, and Librium

drugs used to treat psychotic disorders; includes Risperdal, Clozaril, Thorazine

most common drug treatment for bipolar disorder

anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are examples

eating disorder marked by episodes of binge eating followed by purging (through use of laxatives or induced vomiting)

eating disorder wherein the sufferer is irrationally concerned about weight gain and avoids eating, despite being significantly underweight for his/her age and height

caused by exposure to trauma, such as war or violence, which leads to recurring thoughts and anxiety related to the trauma

narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and night terrors are examples

cognitive therapy developed by Albert Ellis; therapist often directly challenges the patient's irrational beliefs

cognitive therapy developed by Aaron Beck; therapist works with the patient to correct maladaptive thoughts and harmful beliefs through hypothesis testing

behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders that requires creation of a fear hierarchy; the patient approaches tasks on the list while practicing relaxation

behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders that requires the patient confront the fearful situation at full force

behavioral treatment (using classical conditioning principles) that seeks to remove the association between a particular stimulus and the fearful response

Freud's "talking cure" that includes techniques like free association, dream interpretation, hypnosis, etc.

Psychoanalytic technique that requires the patient to speak of anything that comes to mind, without censorship

in Freudian theory, when a patient redirects feelings for a (for example) parent or loved one toward the therapist

pauses in speech or gaps in memory that occur during free association; believed by psychoanalysts to indicate attempts at repression

methods pioneered by Fritz Perls; includes the "empty chair" technique, use of "I-statements" and metaphor

therapy developed by Carl Rogers; non-directive

according to Rogers, humans develop to their fullest when others display this: a total acceptance of others' value (without judgment)

conversational method used by client-centered therapists: includes summarizing and clarifying questions, as well as non-verbal signals of understanding

system used to encourage positive behaviors by providing small rewards that can be exchanged for desired items; relies on principles of operant conditioning

treatment for depression that involves passing an electromagnet back & forth close to the person's left eyebrow (left frontal lobe).

the study of the effects of drugs on the mind and behavior

known for her efforts to reform psychiatric institutions and improve living conditions for the mentally ill during the 19th century

known for developing a model of cognitive therapy

founder of Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy

father of psychoanalysis

founder of person-centered (client-centered) therapy

credited with establishing procedure for systematic desensitization

general term for drugs that reduce feelings of anxiety

A disorder characterized by pervasive, "free-floating" anxiety not connected to any one, specific stimulus

Anxiety disorder characterized by irrational and persistent fear of a particular object or situation, along with a compelling desire to avoid it.

a disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions (compulsions).

anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks

psychological disorders characterized by distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety (includes phobias, GAD, panic disorder, etc.)

a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state; occurs in persons with bipolar disorder

a low-grade chronic depression with symptoms that are milder than those of severe depression but are present on a majority of days for 2 or more years; also known as dysthymia

A disorder marked by a history of diverse physical symptoms that appear to be psychological in origin.

psychological disorders characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning

a personality disorder in which the 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

a personality disorder characterized by lack of stability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotion; impulsivity; angry outbursts; intense fear of abandonment; recurring suicidal gestures

Treatments designed to change behavior through the use of established learning techniques (for example, systematic desensitization, token economies); more concerned with change in behavior than any underlying thoughts

A method that uses classical conditioning to create a negative response to a particular stimulus (e.g. a client with a paraphilia might be trained to respond negatively to a previously arousing stimulus). Also known as avoidance conditioning.

psychotherapy that seeks to extinguish or inhibit abnormal or maladaptive behavior by reinforcing desired behavior and extinguishing undesired behavior (i.e. use of operant conditioning techniques to adjust behavior)

use of observational learning processes to help a client change behavior; the process of observing and imitating a behavior (e.g. a therapist might demonstrate how to introduce oneself to a stranger at a party and have the client repeat/mimic the behavior).

Treatments designed to remove irrational beliefs and negative thoughts that are presumed to be responsible for psychological disorders; includes CBT, REBT

stress management technique in which a person consciously tries to prepare ahead of time for potential stressors

looks at unconscious conflicts, defense mechanisms and symptom resolution in a broader manner than Freud; often more brief and present-focused than traditional psychoanalysis

therapies that emphasize the development of human potential and the belief that human nature is basically positive

A role-playing intervention often used in Gestalt psychotherapy in which clients play conflicting parts. This typically consists of clients engaging in an imaginary dialogue between different sides of themselves.

promoted by Gestalt therapists and others, this type of statement illustrates willingness to take responsibility for own feeling and actions by describing our feelings, rather than evaluating others

therapy that treats the family as a system. Views an individual's unwanted behaviors as influenced by, or directed at, other family members. Group therapies, in general, emphasize shared experience and mutual support.

the use of medications, electroconvulsive therapy, or other medical treatments to treat the symptoms associated with psychological disorders

(Risperidone) antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia; Dopamine antagonist

(Haloperidol) tranquilizer used to treat some psychotic disorders and Tourette's syndrome; one of the "old" antipsychotics

An "old" antipsychotic drug thought to block receptor sites for dopamine, making it effective in treating the delusional thinking, hallucinations and agitation commonly associated with schizophrenia.

Antipsychotic drug; Blocks serotonin activity as well as dopamine. Requires regular blood tests to determine any abnormal changes on white blood cells (thus, less commonly used treatment)

drugs that combat depression by affecting the levels or activity of neurotransmitters in the brain (e.g. SSRI's and MAOI's)

brain surgery on human patients intended to relieve severe and otherwise intractable mental or behavioral problems

a now-rare psychosurgical procedure once used to calm uncontrollably emotional or violent patients. The procedure cut the nerves that connect the frontal lobes to the emotion-controlling centers of the inner brain

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

contemporary perspective that assumes biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors combine and interact to produce psychological disorders

version of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published in 2013; includes changes to many diagnostic categories and more emphasis on severity of symptoms in diagnosis

a rule determing insanity, which asks whether the defendant knew what he or she was doing or whether the defendant knew what he or she was doing was wrong

LEGAL (not psychiatric) determination of whether someone was aware enough of their own actions to be held responsible for their behavior.

"mother of behavior therapy"; used classical conditioning to help "Little Peter" overcome fear of rabbits

Creator of Gestalt Therapy

Sexual disorders and deviations in which sexual arousal occurs almost exclusively in the context of inappropriate objects or individuals. (e.g. pedophilia)

neurotransmitter believed to be in short supply for depression-sufferers

Schizophrenic symptoms that involve behavioral excesses or peculiarities, such as hallucinations, delusions, bizarre behavior, and wild flights of ideas.

Schizophrenic symptoms that involve behavioral deficits, such as flattened emotions, social withdrawal, apathy, impaired attention, and poverty of speech.

a lack of emotional responsiveness

false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders

symptom of schizophrenia; a confused state in which thoughts and speech go in all directions with no unifying concept

psychologist who treats people serious psychological problems or conducts research into the causes of behavior; holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders; can prescribe medication; holds an M.D. and likely has extensive training therapy & treatment

refers to the finding of similar efficacy (effectiveness) for widely differing therapies; in Alice in Wonderland, the dodo bird declares "all have won and all must have prizes!"

the healing effect that faith in medicine, even inert medicine, often has; may be one of the reasons people overestimate the effectiveness of any particular psychotherapy

Treats seasonal affective disorder (SAD); scientifically proven to be effective, exposure to daily doses of intense light. Increases activity in the adrenal gland and the superchiasmatic nucleus.

the tendency for unusual events (or emotions) to return toward their average state; may be one reason many suffering from mental disorders seem to improve with time & that benefits of psychotherapy get overestimated

a procedure for statistically combining the results of many different research studies; used to evaluated effectiveness of psychotherapies

a morbid fear of open spaces or places from which quick escape would be difficult (like a large crowd); often occurs with Panic Disorder (though not always)

general category of mood disorders in which people show extreme and persistent sadness, despair, and loss of interest in life's usual activities.