Psychology

Explains abnormal behavior in terms of a single cause. Other information is ingnored.

• That abnormal behavior results from multiple influences. Uses info from several sources. How we treat people now.
• -Biological factors
• -Behavioral factors
• -Emotional influences
• -Social factors (more female dominated)
• -Developmental factors (milestones)

Actively seeing the disorder. Observable characteristics or behaviors

Genetic disposition to develop a disorder under situational circumstances.

One of a pair of genes that determines a particular trait.

A gene that must be paired with another recessive gene to determine a trait

The brain and spinal cord

The somatic and autonomic branches of the nervous system

Cells that conduct transmissions throughout the nervous system that control every thought and action.

• The cell body of the neuron
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• The branches that receive messages from other neurons
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• The trunk of the Neuron that sends messages to other neurons
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• Buds at the end of the axon from which chemical messages are sent.
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• Small gaps that separate neurons.
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How neurons communicate, they are chemical messengers.

The lower and more ancient part of the brain. Controls most of the essential automatic functions. Breathing, sleeping, moving in a coordinated way.

• Contains:
• -Medulla: Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration
• -Pons: Regulates sleep stages
• -Cerebellum: Involved in physical coordination

• -Coordinates movement with sensory input
• -Contains parts of the reticular activating system (RAS)

• The cerebral cortex.
• -Most sensory, emotional and cognitive processing
• -Two specialized hemispheres

• Frontal: Thinking and reasoning abilities
• Parietal: Touch recognition
• Occipital: Integrates visual input
• Temporal: Recognition of sights and sounds, long term memory storage.

• Thalamus: Receives and integrates sensory information
• Hypothalamus: Eating, drinking, aggression, sexual activity.

• Sympathetic: Fight or flight response
• Parasympathetic: Regulates normality

• -Agonists
• -Antagonists
• -Inverse agonists

• -Serotonin
• -Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and Benzodiazepines
• -Norepinephrine and beta blockers
• - Dopamine and L-dopa

• The chemical believed to influence a great deal of our behavior, particularly the way we process info.
• Low levels=less inhibition, instability, impulsivity, overreactions, aggression, suicide, overeating, excessive sexual behavior.

Implicated in psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, and excessive outgoing pleasure seeking activities.

Occurs when animals encounter conditions over which they have no control whatsoever

Short-lived temporary state lasting from several minutes to hours, occurring in response to an external event

More persistent period of affect or emotionality

Influence the form and expression of behavior

-exerts a strong and puzzling effect on psychopathology. Likelihood is increased dependent upon gender. Men more likely to hide or endure phobla, women are more accepted to have phobias.

More friends=more you are likely to live longer

Culturally, socially, and interpersonally situated. Psychopathology occurs in all cultures, but may have diff. names associated with the disorder.

Developmental changes such as Transitional periods may cause pathology to surface.

• -To understand the individual
• -To predict behavior
• -To plan treatment
• -To evaluate treatment outcome

Analogous to a funnel-starts broad and narrows to specific problems

Consistency in measurement of testing.

-What the test measures and how well it does so.

-Fosters consistent use of techniques. Test appropriate for all, or just specific group.

• 1. Clinical Interview
• 2. Mental Status Exam
• 3. Physical Exam

• -Focus on here and now
• -Direct and minimally inferential
• -Target behaviors identified and observed
• -Focus on antecedents, behaviors, and consequences

Reliable and Valid

• Rorshach inkblot test, Thematic Apperception Test
• EXNER: Form of scoring for Rorshach and TAT tests. Reliability and validity tend to be mixed.

MMPI, MMPI-2, MMPI-A: Very statistically sound

• -Allows examination of brain structures and function
• a.CAT scan: Computerized axial tomography
• b. MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• c. PET: Positron emission tomography
• d. Single photon emission computed tomography
• -Provide detailed info. regarding brain function, but are expensive, lack norms and have limited clinical utility.

• -Used to assess brain structure, function, and activity of the nervous system
• a. EEG: Electroencephalagram-Brain wave activity
• b. Cardiorespiratory activity- Heart rate and respiration
• c. Electrodermal response- Sweat gland activity
• d. EMG: Electromyography- Muscle Tension

• -Axis 1: Most Major disorders
• -Axis 2: Stable, enduring problems (ex. personality disorders, mental retardation)
• -Axis 3: Medical conditions related to abnormal behavior
• -Axis 4: Psychosocial problems
• -Axis 5: Global clinician rating of adaptive functioning

Is it optimal for treatment or research? High Comorbidity: Presence of one or more disorders in addition to primary disorder.