tos-outline-ab-psy-2-reviewer

• Psychological Disorder


  Psychological dysfunction within an individual associated with distress or impairment in functioning and a response that is not typical or culturally expected
• 4 D's of Psychological Disorder

  • Psychological Dysfunction
  • Distress or Impairment
  • Atypical or Not Culturally Expected (Deviance)
  • Dangerousness
• Psychopathology


  Scientific study of mental disorders
• Clinical Psychology


  Applied branch of psychology that seeks to understand, assess, and treat psychological conditions in a clinical setting
• Abnormal Psychology


  Branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotions, and thought which may or may not indicate an underlying condition
• Normal Behavior


  One behavior that is like other people in the society
• Criteria for determining Abnormal Behavior

  • Norm-violation
  • Statistical rarity
  • Personal Discomfort
  • Deviation
  • Maladaptiveness
• Clinical Assessment


  The systematic evaluation and measurement of psychological, biological, and social factors in an individual presenting with a possible psychological disorder
• Diagnosis


  Process of determining whether the particular problem afflicting the individual meets all criteria for a psychological disorder
• One-Dimensional


  Looking for a single cause
• Multidimensional


  Looking for a systemic cause
• Genes


  Long molecules of DNA at various locations on chromosomes, within cell nucleus
• 46 Chromosomes, 23 Pairs, 22 Pairs of Autosomes, 1 pair Sex Chromosomes
• Phenotypes


  Observable characteristics
• Genotypes


  Unique genetic makeup
• Endophenotypes


  Genetic mechanisms that ultimately contribute to the underlying problems causing the symptoms and difficulties experienced by people with psychological disorders
• Basic Genetic Epidemiology


  Statistical analysis of family, twin, and adoption studies; if the disorder can be inherited and how much is attributable to genetics
• Advanced Genetic Epidemiology


  Studies the factors that influence the disorder
• Gene Finding


  What gene influences the behavior
• Molecular Genetics


  Biological analysis of individual DNA samples; biological processes genes affect to produce symptoms of the disorder
• Family Studies


  Examine behavioral pattern or emotional trait in the context of the family
• Proband


  Family member with the trait singled out for study
• Adoption Studies


  Identify adoptees who have a particular behavioral pattern or psychological disorder and attempt to locate first-degree relatives who were raised in different family settings
• Twin Studies


  Usually conducted to identical twins because they share genetic makeup
• Those people who reported more severe stressful life events and had at least one short allele of the 5-HTT gene were at greater risk of developing depression (Caspi et al., 2003) (serotonin-transporter gene)
• Epigenetics


  Factors other than inherited DNA sequence, such as new learning or stress, that alter the phenotypic expression of genes
• Neuroscience


  Study of the nervous system, especially the brain to understand behavior, emotions, and cognitive processes
• Neurotransmitters


  • Glutamate
  • GABA
  • Serotonin
  • Dopamine
  • Epinephrine
  • Norepinephrine
  • Endorphins
  • Acetylcholine
• Agonist


  Effectively increase the activity of the neurotransmitters (Excitatory)
• Antagonist


  Decrease or block neurotransmitter (Inhibitory)
• Inverse Agonists


  Produces effects opposite to those produced by the neurotransmitters
• Reuptake


  Neurotransmitter is released, quickly broken down and brought back to the synaptic cleft
• Brain Stem


  Lower and more ancient part of the brain; essential for autonomic functioning such as breathing, heartbeat, etc.
• Brain Stem Regions


  • Hindbrain
  • Cerebellum
  • Midbrain
  • Thalamus and Hypothalamus
• Limbic System


  Located around the edge of the center of the brain, regulates emotional experiences and expressions and, to some extent, our ability to learn and to control impulses
• Limbic System Structures


  • Hippocampus
  • Cingulate Gyrus
  • Septum
  • Amygdala
• Basal Ganglia


  Base of the forebrain, includes caudate nucleus, damage involved changing our posture or twitching or shaking, related to Parkinson's Disease
• Cerebral Cortex Lobes


  • Frontal
  • Parietal
  • Occipital
  • Temporal
• Prefrontal Cortex


  Area responsible for higher cognitive functions
• HPA Axis


  Hypothalamus, Pituitary Gland, Adrenal Cortex