psychology chapter 14

disruptions in emotional, behavioral, or thought processes that lead to personal distress or block one's ability to achieve important goals

the area of psychological investigation concerned with understanding the nature of individual pathologies of mind, mood, and behavior

the label given to psychological abnormality by classifing and categorizing the observed behavior patterninto an approved diagnostic system

the current diagnostic and statistical manual of the American Psychological Association that classifies, defines, and describes mental disorders

the experience of more than one disorder at the same time

mental disorder in which a person does not have signs of brain abnormalities and does not display grossly irrational thinking or violate basic norms but does experience subjective distress; a category dropped form DSM-III

severe mental disorder in which a person experiences impairments in reality testing manifested through thought, emotional, or perceptual difficulties; no longer used as diagnostic category after DSM-III

the legal (not clinical) designation for the state of an individual judged to be legally irresponsible or incompetent

the causes of, or factor related to, the development of a disorder

mental disorder marked by psychological arousal, feeling of tension, and intense apprehension without apparant reason

an anxiety disorder in which an individual feels anxious and worried most of the time for at least six months when not threatened by any specific danger or object

an anxiety disorder in which sufferers experience unexpected, severed panic attacks that begin with a feeling of intense apprehension, fear, or terror

an extreme fear of being in public places or open spaces from which escape may be difficult or embarrasing

a rational reaction to an objectively identified external danger that may induce a person to flee or attck in self-defense

a persisten and irrational fear of a specific object, acitivity, or situation that is excessive and unreasonable, given the reality of the threat

a persistant, irrational fear that arises in anticipation of a public situation in which an individual can be observed by others

phobia that occurs in response to a specific type of object or situation

a mental disorder characterized by obsessions-recurrent thoughts, images, or impulses that recur or persist despite efforst to suppress them--and compulsions--repetive, purposeful acts performed according to certain rules or in a ritualized manner

a mood disturbance such as severe depression or depression alternating with mania

a mood disorder characterized by intense feelings of depression over an extended time, without the manic high phase of bipolar depression

a mood disorder characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania

a component of bipolar disorder characterized by feelings of extreme elation, unbounded euphora without sufficient reason, and grandiose thoughts or feelings about personal abilities

a general pattern of non responding in the presense of noxious stimuli that often follows after an organism has previously experienced noncontigent, inescapable aversive stimuli

a chronic, inflexible, maladaptive pattern of perceiving, thinking, and behaving that seriously impairs an individual's ability to function in social or other settings

a disorder defined by instability and intensity in personal relationships as well as turbulent emotions and impulsive behaviors

a disorder characterized by stable patterns of irresponsible or unlawful behavior that violates social norms

a disorder in which people have physical illnesses or complaints that cannot be fully explained by actual medical condition

a disorder in which individuals are preoccupied with having or getting physical ailments despite reassurances that they are healthy

a disorder characterized by unexplained physical complaints in several categories over many years

a disorder in which psychological conflic or stress brings about loss of motor or sensory function

a personality disorder marked by a disturbancein the integration of identiy, memory, or consciousness

the inability to remember important personal experiences, caused by psychological factors in teh absense of any organic dysfunction

a disorder characterized by a flight from home or work accompanied by a loss of ability to recall the personal past

a dissociative mental disorder in which two or more distinct personalities exist within the same individual; formely known as multiple personality disorder

severe form of psychopathology characterized by the breakdown of integrated personality functioning, withdrawal from reality, emotional distortions, and distubed thought processes

false or irrational belief meantined despite clear evidence to the contrary

a hypothesis about the cause of certain disorders, such as schizophrenia, that suggests that genetic factors predispose an individual to a certain disorder but that environmental stress factors must impinge in order for the potential risk to manifest itself

a disorder of childhood characterized by inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity

a developmental disorder characterized by severe disruption of children's ability to form social bonds and use of language

the negative reaction of people to an individual or group because of some assumed inferiority or source of difference that is degraded