Psychological Abnormalities - AP Psychology

MAO medication inhibits MAOs, which normally inhibit serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, so that these neurotransmitters can increase in concentration.

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are used to treat depression because they block the reuptake of 5-HT serotonin, allowing it to remain in the locus coeruleus (LC) to block anxiety there.

All of the answers are examples of compulsive behaviors that result from anxiety, such as being "dirty" or leaving the door unlocked.

Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are the two main types of anti-anxiety medication-- one you might have heard of is Valium. SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) block the reuptake of serotonin into the neuron, therefore increasing the amount of serotonin in the synapatic cleft and making people feel happier since serotonin is a "feel good hormone." MAO inhibitors block monoamine oxidase from transporting "feel good hormones" from the brain, thereby increasing their availability and making people feel happier. SSRIs and MAO inhibitors are used to treat major depressive disorder and lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder.

SSRI's, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, inhibit reuptake of serotonin, and therefore increases the availability of serotonin in the brain. SSRIs are the most common treatment for clinical depression.

Benzos enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA. The GABA neurotransmitter suppresses the activity of nerves. By enhancing it's function, overactive nerve signals that are believed to increase anxiety are calmed down.

Serotonin is most effective in treating disorders associated with mood, sleep, and motivation. When serotonin levels are too low, patients are at risk of developing depression and OCD tendencies. When serotonin levels are too high, patients lack motivation.

The other choices are incorrect. Glutamate's function is to register pain and store new information in memory. Norepinephrine is a major part of the autonomic nervous system and is important for attention and regulation of the flight-or-fright response. Last, dopamine is the neurotransmitter involved in rewards, motivation, executive functioning, and motor control.

Antipsychotic drugs are popular and often effective at treating symptoms of schizophrenia such as delusions or hallucinations but not the behaviors associated with the disorder. Long-term behavioral therapy is often necessary to treat behaviors that come with the mental disorder.

Alzheimer's disease accounts for somewhere between 60 to 80% of all dementia cases. "Alzheimer's" and "dementia" are sometimes used interchangeably, but this is an error due to the great overlapping in cases. All Alzheimer's patients have dementia, but not all dementia patients have Alzheimer's disease.

Negative symptoms are thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that are present in the average person but diminished in a person with a mental disorder. Diminished appetite is the only option that is not a negative symptom of schizophrenia.

"Insanity" is not a medical term used to diagnose a patient, it is purely a legal term. It serves a very important purpose in legal affairs, since it is used to differentiate between what a person can be held responsible for. A person who is legally adjudicated as "insane" is, in the opinion of the court, unable to understand the consequences of their actions and, usually, unable to effectively assist their counsel in their legal defense.

Alogia can be one of the symptoms that paranoid schizophrenic experiences. It is a negative symptom characterized by a lack of language production as a result of "blocked thought." This is often manifested in short, empty phrases.

Current classification systems are categorical in nature, meaning that there are distinct categories for each mental illness that does not necessarily overlap with other diagnoses. A dimensional system that takes into account the overlapping nature of mental illness along a spectrum of severity has been proposed, but it has limited utility.

The psychodynamic approach in psychology holds that internal drives for pleasure (the id) is in constant conflict with the rational mind (the ego) and the moral mind (the superego). When these forces are unbalanced, they can manifest themselves as a variety of mental disorders.

Developmental psychopathology is the study of the development of psychological disorders, including autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia. This subfield of psychopathology focuses on a life course perspective in examining the trajectory of psychological disorders.

Post-traumatic stress disorder develops after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, including war, injury, assault, and natural disasters. PTSD is characterized by recurring flashbacks of the traumatic event, nightmares, hyperarousal, and high levels of anxiety.

Although many children and adolescents may suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), it is generally not diagnosed until later in development. The other four choices are more frequently diagnosed in those under 18 years old.

Serotonin is the major neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, and motivation. A lack of serotonin can lead to depression, OCD, and eating disorders. Too much serotonin can decrease motivation. Serotonin levels can be regulated through selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and other drugs.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured, short-term therapeutic technique that aims to change a client's maladaptive cognitions and behaviors into more realistic and/or adaptive ones. CBT is commonly used for those with various mood and anxiety disorders.