Anxiety & OCD
What is a specific phobia?
An irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity
What does PTSD stand for?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
What are the 3 clusters of personality disorders?
A: Odd/eccentric, B: Dramatic/erratic, C: Anxious/fearful
What does DSM stand for?
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
What are the two major categories of mood disorders?
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder
What’s the difference between fear and anxiety?
Fear is an immediate response; anxiety is future-focused and anticipatory
Name two symptoms of PTSD.
Flashbacks, avoidance, hyperarousal, negative thoughts/mood
Name a Cluster B disorder.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Antisocial, Narcissistic, Histrionic
What did Thomas Szasz argue about mental illness?
That it’s a myth used to stigmatize socially unacceptable behavior
Name two symptoms of a manic episode.
High energy, less sleep, racing thoughts, grandiosity, impulsivity
How does classical conditioning explain phobias?
A neutral stimulus becomes associated with fear through pairing with a fearful event
What is dissociative amnesia?
Inability to recall important information, usually after trauma
What is BPD characterized by?
Instability in relationships, mood, and self-image, and impulsivity
What is Jerome Wakefield’s “harmful dysfunction” theory?
A disorder is when a mental mechanism breaks down and causes harm, judged by cultural standards.
What is the diathesis-stress model of MDD?
Mental illness results from a genetic predisposition combined with life stressors
What brain area is involved in panic disorder?
The amygdala and locus coeruleus (linked to norepinephrine)
What is depersonalization?
Feeling detached from oneself or like you're in a dream/robotic state
What’s the difference between APD and psychopathy?
Psychopathy is a more extreme form of Antisocial Personality Disorder
Name two criteria used to diagnose a psychological disorder.
Distress, dysfunction, deviance, and disturbance
What symptoms are needed to diagnose MDD?
At least 5 of 9 symptoms (e.g., depressed mood, fatigue, suicidal thoughts) nearly every day for 2 weeks
How are compulsions reinforced in OCD?
Through negative reinforcement (reducing anxiety caused by obsessions)
What’s controversial about Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Debated validity; symptoms might be suggested or faked; cases increased after media exposure
What is a key risk factor for APD?
Genetic predisposition + environmental stressors, low arousal/fear
What is comorbidity? Give an example.
Having more than one disorder at the same time (e.g., MDD and anxiety)
How is bipolar disorder different from MDD?
Bipolar includes manic episodes, MDD does not; MDD only involves depression