Master this deck with 21 terms through effective study methods.
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PTSD-D, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Dissociative Symptoms, is classified as a post-traumatic disorder. It involves symptoms of dissociation that occur in response to trauma, raising questions about its classification as a dissociative disorder.
The classification of mental illnesses is debated due to the heterogeneity of disorders, comorbidity between them, and the overlapping symptoms that challenge clear categorization. This complexity complicates diagnosis and treatment.
Genetic studies, such as those conducted by the Brainstorm Consortium, reveal shared genetic factors among various psychiatric disorders, helping to identify correlations and potential biological underpinnings of these conditions.
The Brainstorm Consortium examined genome studies from over 200,000 patients, highlighting that many psychiatric disorders share genetic components, which can inform future research and treatment strategies.
Psychobiology is a key factor in understanding psychological disorders, as it encompasses the biological, psychological, and social influences that contribute to mental health conditions.
Cognitive factors, such as attentional biases and disordered thought patterns, significantly influence the severity and maintenance of psychological disorders, making cognitive-behavioral therapy an effective treatment option.
Attentional biases refer to the tendency to focus on mood-congruent information, such as threats or negative stimuli, which can exacerbate conditions like anxiety and depression by reinforcing negative thought patterns.
A combination of medication and talking therapy is often the most effective approach for treating psychological disorders, as it addresses both biological and cognitive aspects of the conditions.
Prolonged stress negatively affects hippocampal morphology due to the high density of glucocorticoid receptors, which can lead to changes in memory and emotional regulation.
Biomarkers of pathological dissociation include neurofunctional indicators such as decreased hippocampal volumes, which can help differentiate between dissociative disorders and PTSD.
In PTSD, the stress response is linked to alterations in hippocampal function, which can affect memory processing and emotional responses to trauma.
Dissociative disorders are characterized by a response to long-term, severe trauma, leading to dissociation, while PTSD primarily involves a response to past trauma with symptoms such as flashbacks and hyperarousal.
The amygdala is involved in processing fear and threat responses, while the prefrontal cortex regulates these responses, contributing to the anticipation of future threats in anxiety disorders.
Comorbidity complicates the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders, as overlapping symptoms can mask the presence of multiple conditions, necessitating a comprehensive approach to care.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works by identifying and changing disordered thought patterns, such as negative attribution styles, which can reduce the severity of psychological conditions.
Key factors influencing the severity of psychological conditions include genetic predisposition, environmental stressors, cognitive patterns, and the presence of comorbid disorders.
The fight/flight response is a physiological reaction to perceived threats, triggered by stress, which prepares the body to either confront or escape from danger.
Essential readings include Kalat's 'Biological Psychology', Pinel's 'Biopsychology', and Carlson's 'Physiology of Behaviour', which provide foundational knowledge on the biological underpinnings of psychological disorders.
Outstanding questions include the precise mechanisms linking trauma to dissociation, the role of individual differences in response to trauma, and the effectiveness of various treatment modalities.
In anxiety disorders, anticipation of future threats manifests as heightened vigilance, worry, and physiological arousal, often leading to avoidance behaviors and impaired functioning.
The neurophysiological overlap between dissociative disorders and PTSD suggests shared underlying mechanisms, which can inform treatment approaches and enhance understanding of these complex conditions.