MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 7a Psychological Disorders Classification

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 7a Psychological Disorders Classification, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for MCAT Psychological Social Foundations.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What diagnosis is defined by intrusive obsessions and/or compulsions?

Answer: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Obsessions are thoughts; compulsions are repetitive behaviors.

Flashcard 2: Which option best describes negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer: Decreased or absent normal behaviors (e.g., flat affect, avolition). Loss of normal function, not addition of abnormal ones.

Flashcard 3: What is the primary purpose of the DSM-5 in clinical psychology and psychiatry?

Answer: Standardized classification and diagnostic criteria for mental disorders. The DSM-5 ensures consistent diagnosis and treatment by providing uniform criteria for identifying mental disorders across professionals.

Flashcard 4: What is the key difference between the DSM and the ICD for mental disorder classification?

Answer: DSM is APA-focused; ICD is WHO global medical classification. DSM is US psychiatric manual; ICD covers all medical conditions worldwide.

Flashcard 5: Which criterion for disorder refers to reduced ability to function in daily life?

Answer: Dysfunction (impairment). Interferes with work, relationships, or self-care activities.

Flashcard 6: What is the definition of comorbidity in psychopathology?

Answer: Co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same individual. Common in psychiatry; impacts treatment planning.

Flashcard 7: Which symptoms are classified as negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer: Flat affect, alogia, avolition, anhedonia, asociality. Negative symptoms reflect deficits in normal functioning, contributing to long-term impairment in schizophrenia.

Flashcard 8: What is the defining feature of somatic symptom disorder?

Answer: Distressing somatic symptoms plus excessive thoughts/behaviors about them. This disorder emphasizes psychological preoccupation with physical symptoms, beyond their medical explanation.

Flashcard 9: Which concept refers to the consistency of a diagnostic assessment across time or raters?

Answer: Reliability. Reliability ensures diagnostic consistency, reducing variability in assessments and improving the reproducibility of results.

Flashcard 10: What is the defining feature of anorexia nervosa?

Answer: Restriction leading to low weight with intense fear of weight gain. Distorted body image maintains dangerous eating behaviors.

Flashcard 11: What is the distinction between reliability and validity in psychiatric diagnosis?

Answer: Reliability = consistency; validity = accuracy of what is measured. Reliable tests give same results; valid tests measure intended construct.

Flashcard 12: Which concept refers to whether a diagnosis or test measures what it claims to measure?

Answer: Validity. Validity confirms that diagnostic tools accurately identify the intended psychological constructs or conditions.

Flashcard 13: Which diagnosis is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thought?

Answer: Schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Positive symptoms include breaks from reality and thought disorders.

Flashcard 14: What is the primary purpose of the ICD (ICD-10/ICD-11) in mental health contexts?

Answer: International diagnostic coding system for diseases, including mental disorders. Used globally for billing and epidemiological tracking.

Flashcard 15: What is the defining symptom type of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Answer: Obsessions and/or compulsions that are time-consuming or impairing. Interferes with daily life due to time/distress.

Flashcard 16: What is the key distinction between a phobia and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Answer: Phobia = specific trigger; GAD = pervasive, hard-to-control worry. Phobias are circumscribed; GAD affects multiple life areas.

Flashcard 17: What is the defining feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Answer: Trauma exposure with intrusive symptoms and avoidance. Re-experiencing trauma through flashbacks and nightmares.

Flashcard 18: What is the defining feature of somatic symptom disorder (SSD)?

Answer: Distressing somatic symptoms plus excessive thoughts/feelings/behaviors. Focus is on psychological reaction to symptoms, not symptoms alone.

Flashcard 19: What is the essential feature of major depressive disorder (MDD)?

Answer: At least one major depressive episode. MDD requires a depressive episode meeting specific symptom and duration criteria to differentiate from transient sadness.

Flashcard 20: Which concept describes deviation from cultural norms as a criterion for disorder?

Answer: Deviance. Behaviors that violate social expectations may indicate disorder.

Flashcard 21: Which term refers to reduced emotional expression in schizophrenia?

Answer: Flat affect. Negative symptom showing diminished emotional range.

Flashcard 22: What is the key criterion that distinguishes schizophreniform disorder from brief psychotic disorder?

Answer: Duration: brief psychotic $< 1$ month; schizophreniform $1$ to $6$ months. These duration thresholds categorize psychotic episodes by length to guide differential diagnosis and intervention strategies.

Flashcard 23: Identify the diagnosis: multiple identities with amnesia for everyday events.

Answer: Dissociative identity disorder. DID involves distinct personality states with memory gaps, reflecting severe dissociation often linked to trauma.

Flashcard 24: What distinguishes a specific phobia from generalized anxiety disorder?

Answer: Specific phobia is fear tied to a particular object or situation. GAD involves general worry; phobias target specific triggers.

Flashcard 25: What does the biopsychosocial model propose about causes of psychological disorders?

Answer: Disorders arise from interacting biological, psychological, and social factors. Integrates multiple levels of causation rather than single factors.

Flashcard 26: What is the defining symptom cluster of schizophrenia?

Answer: Psychosis with delusions, hallucinations, disorganized symptoms. Chronic disorder affecting perception and thinking.

Flashcard 27: What does comorbidity mean in psychopathology?

Answer: Co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same individual. Multiple diagnoses often occur together, complicating treatment.

Flashcard 28: What does the abbreviation ICD stand for in mental disorder classification?

Answer: International Classification of Diseases. WHO's global standard for disease classification, including mental disorders.

Flashcard 29: What is the definition of a psychological disorder used in MCAT-level descriptions?

Answer: A dysfunctional pattern causing distress and/or impairment. Must interfere with normal functioning and cause suffering.

Flashcard 30: Which diagnosis is defined by chronic depression for $\geq 2$ years in adults?

Answer: Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia). This diagnosis captures long-term, milder depressive symptoms that persist, affecting quality of life over extended periods.

Flashcard 31: What is the defining feature of major depressive disorder (MDD)?

Answer: At least $2$ weeks of depressed mood or anhedonia with impairment. Must include functional impairment, not just sadness.

Flashcard 32: What is the primary purpose of the DSM-5 in clinical psychology?

Answer: Standardized diagnosis and classification of mental disorders. Provides common language and criteria for mental health professionals.

Flashcard 33: What is the defining feature that distinguishes bipolar I disorder from major depressive disorder?

Answer: At least one manic episode (may occur with depressive episodes). Mania distinguishes bipolar from unipolar depression.

Flashcard 34: What is comorbidity in psychological disorders?

Answer: Co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same individual. Common in mental health; complicates treatment planning.

Flashcard 35: What is the defining feature of a delusion in psychotic disorders?

Answer: Fixed false belief not amenable to evidence. Delusions represent a break from reality, resistant to contradictory evidence, central to diagnosing psychotic conditions.

Flashcard 36: What is the difference between positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer: Positive add experiences; negative reduce normal functions (e.g., affect). Positive = hallucinations/delusions; negative = flat affect/avolition.

Flashcard 37: What is the defining feature of major depressive disorder (MDD)?

Answer: At least 2 weeks of depressed mood or anhedonia with symptoms. Anhedonia means loss of pleasure in activities.

Flashcard 38: What diagnosis is defined by dissociative amnesia plus apparent travel or wandering?

Answer: Dissociative fugue (specifier of dissociative amnesia). Involves identity confusion and purposeful travel during amnesia.

Flashcard 39: What is the defining feature of dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

Answer: Two or more distinct identity states with amnesia/discontinuity. Memory gaps between personality switches.

Flashcard 40: What is the defining feature of delusions in psychotic disorders?

Answer: Fixed false beliefs despite contrary evidence. Resistant to logic or contradictory information.

Flashcard 41: What does comorbidity mean in psychopathology?

Answer: Co-occurrence of two or more disorders in one individual. Comorbidity highlights the complexity of mental health, as overlapping disorders can complicate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Flashcard 42: What is the defining feature of a panic attack used in panic disorder?

Answer: Abrupt surge of intense fear with physical/cognitive symptoms. Panic attacks feature sudden, intense symptoms mimicking medical emergencies, central to diagnosing panic disorder.

Flashcard 43: What is the definition of a psychological disorder used in most modern clinical frameworks?

Answer: Clinically significant disturbance causing distress and/or impairment. This definition emphasizes functional impact, distinguishing clinical disorders from normal variations in behavior or emotion.

Flashcard 44: What key feature distinguishes panic disorder from a single panic attack?

Answer: Recurrent unexpected attacks with persistent worry or behavior change. Fear of future attacks changes behavior patterns.

Flashcard 45: What is the primary purpose of the DSM-5 in clinical psychology?

Answer: Standardized classification and diagnostic criteria for mental disorders. Provides uniform diagnostic language across mental health professionals.

Flashcard 46: What is the defining feature of panic disorder in DSM terms?

Answer: Recurrent unexpected panic attacks with ongoing concern/behavior change. Attacks must cause persistent worry or avoidance for diagnosis.

Flashcard 47: What is the key diagnostic distinction between schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder?

Answer: Duration: schizophrenia $\geq 6$ months; schizophreniform $1$ to $6$ months. Time criterion differentiates these similar disorders.

Flashcard 48: What does comorbidity mean in the context of psychological disorders?

Answer: Co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same individual. Common in mental health; complicates diagnosis/treatment.

Flashcard 49: What distinguishes bipolar I disorder from bipolar II disorder?

Answer: Bipolar I: mania; Bipolar II: hypomania plus major depression. Mania is more severe than hypomania episodes.

Flashcard 50: What is the diathesis-stress model of mental illness?

Answer: Disorders arise from vulnerability plus environmental stressors. This model explains how inherent predispositions interact with life stressors to trigger the onset of mental health conditions.

Flashcard 51: Identify the disorder characterized by delusions for at least 1 month without major impairment.

Answer: Delusional disorder. Fixed false beliefs without other psychotic features.

Flashcard 52: What is meant by a categorical approach to psychological disorders?

Answer: Disorders are distinct entities; one either meets criteria or does not. Binary classification: present/absent with no middle ground.

Flashcard 53: Which disorder involves unstable relationships, affective instability, and fear of abandonment?

Answer: Borderline personality disorder. Pattern of instability in self-image and interpersonal functioning.

Flashcard 54: Which criterion for disorder refers to subjective suffering such as anxiety or sadness?

Answer: Distress. Personal emotional pain is a key diagnostic consideration.

Flashcard 55: What is the key criterion that distinguishes schizophrenia from schizophreniform disorder?

Answer: Duration: schizophrenia $\geq 6$ months; schizophreniform $1$ to $6$ months. Duration criteria help differentiate chronic from time-limited psychotic disorders for appropriate prognosis and treatment.

Flashcard 56: What is meant by a dimensional approach to psychological disorders?

Answer: Symptoms exist on continua of severity rather than discrete categories. Recognizes disorders exist on spectrums, not as all-or-nothing.

Flashcard 57: What is the key symptom pattern that defines a panic attack?

Answer: Sudden surge of intense fear with physical symptoms. Peak anxiety with racing heart, sweating, and fear of dying.

Flashcard 58: What distinguishes somatic symptom disorder from illness anxiety disorder?

Answer: Somatic: distressing symptoms; Illness anxiety: fear with minimal symptoms. Physical vs. psychological focus of health concerns.

Flashcard 59: Which option best describes positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer: Added abnormal experiences (e.g., delusions, hallucinations). Excess symptoms beyond normal experience.

Flashcard 60: What is the primary purpose of the DSM in clinical psychology?

Answer: Standardized classification and diagnostic criteria for mental disorders. Provides consistent criteria for diagnosing mental health conditions.

Flashcard 61: What is the definition of a phobia in DSM-style terms?

Answer: Persistent, excessive fear causing distress or impairment. Irrational fear disrupting daily functioning.

Flashcard 62: What does the term etiology mean in the context of psychological disorders?

Answer: The cause or origin of a disorder. Etiology identifies underlying factors contributing to the development of psychological disorders, aiding in understanding and prevention.

Flashcard 63: What is the medical model of psychological disorders?

Answer: Mental disorders are diseases with biological bases and treatments. Views disorders like physical illnesses needing medical care.

Flashcard 64: Which symptoms are classified as positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer: Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech/behavior. Positive symptoms involve additions to normal experience, often more responsive to antipsychotic medications.

Flashcard 65: What does the biopsychosocial model propose about the causes of mental disorders?

Answer: Disorders arise from interacting biological, psychological, and social factors. Integrates multiple contributing factors rather than single causes.

Flashcard 66: What is the defining feature of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Answer: Excessive, difficult-to-control worry about multiple domains. GAD involves pervasive anxiety across various life areas, differentiating it from focused anxiety disorders.

Flashcard 67: What is the core feature of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Answer: Excessive, difficult-to-control worry across domains. Persistent anxiety not limited to specific triggers.

Flashcard 68: What is the defining feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Answer: Obsessions and/or compulsions that are time-consuming or impairing. Intrusive thoughts drive repetitive behaviors to reduce anxiety.

Flashcard 69: What is the key difference between major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder?

Answer: MDD is episodic; persistent depressive disorder is chronic low mood. MDD has distinct episodes; PDD is continuous for 2+ years.

Flashcard 70: What is the defining feature of a hallucination?

Answer: Perception-like experience without an external stimulus. Hallucinations involve sensory perceptions without external sources, distinguishing them from illusions in psychotic disorders.

Flashcard 71: Which personality disorder cluster is characterized by anxious or fearful traits?

Answer: Cluster C. Includes avoidant, dependent, and OC personality disorders.

Flashcard 72: What is the diagnostic distinction between schizophrenia and brief psychotic disorder?

Answer: Duration: brief psychotic disorder $\geq 1$ day and $< 1$ month. Shortest psychotic disorder duration requirement.

Flashcard 73: What is the defining feature of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Answer: Excessive, hard-to-control worry most days for $\geq 6$ months. Chronic worry that interferes with daily functioning.

Flashcard 74: What is the key difference between mania and hypomania?

Answer: Mania causes marked impairment/possible psychosis; hypomania does not. Severity and consequences differentiate the two mood states.

Flashcard 75: Identify the key diagnostic feature that distinguishes PTSD from acute stress disorder.

Answer: Duration: PTSD $> 1$ month; acute stress disorder $3$ days to $1$ month. Same symptoms, different time frames post-trauma.

Flashcard 76: What symptom pattern distinguishes bipolar I disorder from major depressive disorder?

Answer: At least one manic episode occurs in bipolar I disorder. Mania involves elevated mood, decreased sleep, and impulsivity.

Flashcard 77: What is the defining feature of bipolar I disorder?

Answer: At least one manic episode (depression may or may not occur). Mania is required; depressive episodes are optional.

Flashcard 78: What is the difference between positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia?

Answer: Positive: added behaviors; Negative: diminished/absent functions. Positive adds experiences; negative removes abilities.

Flashcard 79: What is the diathesis-stress model of psychopathology?

Answer: A predisposition plus environmental stress triggers a disorder. Vulnerability combines with stressors to produce symptoms.

Flashcard 80: What does reliability mean in the context of psychiatric diagnosis?

Answer: Consistency of diagnosis across clinicians or over time. Measures whether different clinicians reach same diagnosis.

Flashcard 81: What is the key feature that distinguishes a specific phobia from social anxiety disorder?

Answer: Specific object/situation fear vs fear of social scrutiny/negative evaluation. This differentiation highlights the trigger type, with phobias linked to specific stimuli and social anxiety to interpersonal fears.

Flashcard 82: What is the key diagnostic feature that distinguishes bipolar I disorder from bipolar II disorder?

Answer: Bipolar I requires mania; bipolar II requires hypomania plus depression. This distinction reflects differences in mood elevation severity, influencing risk assessment and management approaches.

Flashcard 83: What is the key difference between delusions and hallucinations?

Answer: Delusions are false beliefs; hallucinations are false perceptions. Beliefs versus sensory experiences without external stimuli.

Flashcard 84: What is the primary purpose of the DSM-5 in clinical psychology?

Answer: Standardized classification and diagnostic criteria for mental disorders. Provides consistent diagnostic language across clinicians.

Flashcard 85: What is the defining feature of hallucinations in psychotic disorders?

Answer: Perception-like experiences without external stimuli. Brain generates sensory experiences without real input.

Flashcard 86: What distinguishes an obsession from a compulsion in OCD?

Answer: Obsession: intrusive thought; compulsion: repetitive behavior/mental act. Thoughts trigger anxiety; behaviors reduce it temporarily.

Flashcard 87: What symptom pattern best distinguishes major depressive disorder from normal sadness?

Answer: Persistent impairment with depressed mood or anhedonia and other symptoms. Must cause clinically significant distress or functional impairment.

Flashcard 88: What is the defining difference between mania and hypomania?

Answer: Mania causes marked impairment or hospitalization; hypomania does not. Mania's greater intensity leads to significant functional disruption, necessitating more aggressive intervention than hypomania.

Flashcard 89: What is the biopsychosocial model of psychological disorders?

Answer: Mental disorders arise from biological, psychological, and social factors. Integrates multiple causal factors rather than single cause.

Flashcard 90: What is the defining feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Answer: Obsessions and/or compulsions that are time-consuming or impairing. OCD requires intrusive thoughts or repetitive behaviors that significantly interfere with daily functioning.

Flashcard 91: What is the biopsychosocial approach to psychological disorders?

Answer: Integrates biological, psychological, and social contributors to disorder. Considers multiple factors rather than single causes.

Flashcard 92: Which diagnosis is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in relationships and self-image?

Answer: Borderline personality disorder. Includes fear of abandonment and identity disturbance.

Flashcard 93: What does validity mean in the context of psychiatric diagnosis?

Answer: Diagnostic category accurately represents a real clinical condition. Ensures diagnosis measures what it claims to measure.

Flashcard 94: What are the two core symptom domains required for schizophrenia diagnosis?

Answer: Psychotic symptoms and functional impairment over time. Requires both symptom criteria and decline in functioning.

Flashcard 95: What is the key difference between PTSD and acute stress disorder?

Answer: Duration: PTSD $> 1$ month; acute stress disorder $3$ days to $1$ month. Duration distinguishes chronic trauma responses from acute ones, affecting treatment duration and focus.

Flashcard 96: What is the diathesis-stress model of psychopathology?

Answer: Disorder results from vulnerability plus environmental stressors. Genetic predisposition activated by life stressors.

Flashcard 97: What is the key difference between the DSM-5 and the ICD regarding primary use in the United States?

Answer: DSM is primary for diagnosis; ICD is primary for coding/billing. In the US, DSM-5 focuses on detailed diagnostic criteria, while ICD emphasizes standardized coding for insurance and health statistics.

Flashcard 98: Which diagnosis involves trauma exposure plus intrusive symptoms and avoidance?

Answer: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Requires re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions, and arousal.

Flashcard 99: What is the difference between reliability and validity in diagnosis?

Answer: Reliability = consistency; validity = accuracy of the diagnosis. Reliability measures agreement; validity measures truth.