Theories and Theorists
What theory did Sigmund Freud develop?
Psychoanalyatic/Psychodynamic
Name one specificier that an individual with Major Depressive Disorder can have.
-Anxious distress
-Mixed features (manic/hypomanic symptoms)
-Psychotic features
-Seasonal pattern ("Seasonal Affective Disorder")
-Peripartum onset ("Postpartum Depression")
TRUE or FALSE: As many as 28% of adults have occasional panic attacks during times of stress, but only 3-5% of people will develop panic disorder at some time.
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE: Family environment plays no role in the onset of bipolar disorder episodes.
FALSE
What is the most common biological treatment for anxiety and mood disorders?
Antidepressants/SSRIs/SNRIs
Name one of the two individuals responsible for developing cognitive approaches/cognitive therapies.
Albert Ellis and/or Aaron Beck
Name and define one of the two negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
-Restricted affect refers to a severe reduction in or absence of emotional expression in people with schizophrenia.
-Avolition is an inability to initiate or persist in common, goal-directed activities. Asociality is the lack of desire to interact with other people.
Research has found higher rates of depression and suicidality in LGBTQ+ populations. Explain why this might be.
Despite increased acceptance, LGBTQ+ people still face significant discrimination, prejudice,
denial of civil and human rights, harassment, and family rejection, which can lead to new or
worsened psychological symptoms and, in turn, increased risk of suicide
What is considered the strongest risk factor for the development of schizophrenia?
Genes
Explain/define the difference between suicide, suicidal intent, and suicidal ideation.
- Suicide is a completed act. It is defined as “death from injury, poisoning, or suffocation where there is evidence (either explicit or implicit) that the injury was self-inflicted and that the decedent intended to
kill themself”
-If an individual reports suicidal intent, they most likely have a plan and the means to commit suicide with a defined date/time/goal of when they will attempt suicide.
-Suicidal ideation includes thoughts of feeling like you would be better off dead or hurting yourself. Suicidal ideation can be passive and linger for long periods of time. Suicidal ideation does not mean that the individual plans to kill themself.
Explain the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning associates an involuntary response with a stimulus (Pavlov's salivating dogs). Operant conditioning associates a voluntary behavior with a consequence (think of touching a hot stove and getting burned).
What are the key diagnostic differences between Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder?
-In GAD, there is excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
-In PD, recurrent unexpected panic attacks (abrupt surges of intense fear or discomfort that
reach a peak within minutes) occur, and a subsequent fear of panic attacks develops.
- In SAD, an individual experiences marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others, such as social interactions, being observed, and performing in front of others.
Which gender is more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD and why?
Women are more likely to be diagnosed than men because they are also more likely to experience and report sexual assault, sexual abuse,
and rape.
Explain and give an example of how cohort effects can increase/decrease rates of depression in generations.
￭ Unlike older generations, younger adults are more comfortable disclosing mental health
issues and seeking help (more reporting = higher rates)
￭ Social media, ‘08 recession, political events, COVID-19.... the list goes on!
Which disorder is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) primarily used for? Explain how it works.
-ERP is primarily used for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
-ERP works by helping people gradually face the thoughts, situations, or triggers they’ve been avoiding—without falling back on the behaviors they normally use to feel safer or more certain.
Name one pro and con of each approach to understanding disorders (biological, psychological, and sociocultural).
Biological
⚬ Pros: biological/medical treatments have been proven to be very effective; helpful in the
development and implementation of psychiatric medications; aligns with the dominant medical
model in healthcare
⚬ Cons: frames mental illness as a “disease”; medications are not a cure-all and can have significant
side effects; ignores psychological and environmental impacts of mental health
Psychological
⚬ Pros: behavior therapies are highly effective for disorders such as panic and anxiety disorders;
cognitive approaches can be very helpful for disorders such as eating disorders and substance use
disorders; humanistic approaches have a more positive and less pathological view
⚬ Cons: behavior principles do not fully account for disorders such as schizophrenia; cognitive theories
have difficulty proving that maladaptive thoughts precede and cause disorders; does not fully
account for the medical/chemical impact of disorders
Sociocultural
⚬ Pros: less blame on the individual with the disorder; raises consciousness about detrimental social
conditions
⚬ Cons: generally vague explanations of how disorders are caused; why do only some people develop a
disorder if a larger group experiences it?
List one of the 4 ways that an individual can have exposure to trauma, according to the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
• Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s)
• Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others
• Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or a close
friend; the event(s) must have been violent or accidental
• Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic
events (exposure through electronic media and pictures does not count, unless
work-related)
The average age of bipolar disorder onset is 25 years old. What are some of the common outcomes of earlier onset?
An earlier age of onset tends to have greater depressive symptoms severity and higher levels of comorbid anxiety and substance use
Describe the Contrast Avoidance Model for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
￭ Excessive worrying “helps” people with GAD avoid possible threats by maintaining a
constant level of anxiety that is more tolerable than leaving themselves open to sharp
increases in negative emotion
￭ Using worry to feel emotionally prepared for the worst-case outcomes
Why is lithium regarded as the best biological treatment for bipolar disorder?
It prevents both new depressive and new manic episodes, as well as reducing suicidal
thoughts
Explain the diathesis-stress model and how we use it to understand the development of disorders. Provide an example of each factor within the model.
*insert chart from Week 2 lecture*
- Bipolar I: Manic episodes must occur, lasting at least 1 week, and result in hospitalization or severe consequences (i.e., only sleeping 2 hours a night and still feeling energized)
-Bipolar II: Hypomanic and depressive episodes must occur, lasting at least 4 days, and manic episodes cannot be present (i.e., taking on a lot of new hobbies at the same time, becoming so depressed that you cannot leave your bed)
￭ Lowest prevalence rates found in sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa/Middle
East regions
￭ Recent research has found higher prevalence estimates of schizophrenia in China
than in any other country worldwide
Explain Cognitive-Behavioral theories of individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
⚬ Individuals with OCD may tend towards rigid, moralistic thinking
⚬ They judge their intrusive thoughts harshly ⟶ become anxious and guilty for
having them ⟶ the anxiety makes it harder to dismiss that thought, developing
into an obsession
Describe how cognitive and treatments each work in people with schizophrenia.
⚬ Cognitive treatments include helping patients recognize and change demoralizing
attitudes they may have toward their illness so that they will seek help when needed
⚬ Behavioral treatments include the use of operant conditioning and modeling to teach
patients skills such as initiating conversations and completing activities (i.e., cooking,
cleaning)