Abnormal Psychology Test 1 Study Guide
Chapter 1 terms and concepts:
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The 4 D’s used in defining abnormal behavior
Clinical presentation, etiology, functional impairment
Socioeconomic Status
Psychoanalysis: Freud, id, ego, superego, levels of consciousness, Defense mechanisms (denial,
displacement, intellectualization, projection, rationalization, repression, reaction formation, and
sublimation)
Behaviorism: classical conditioning (UCS, UCR, CS, CR), Pavlov’s findings with his dogs, Operant
conditioning (reinforcement, positive reinforcers, negative reinforcers, punishment, vicarious
conditioning)
Cognitive Model: what is it, cognitive distortions
Humanistic model: phenomenology, self-actualization, conditional vs. unconditional positive
regard
Sociocultural model: what is it, what does it focus on?
Biopsychosocial model: what is it, what does it focus on?
Chapter 2 terms and concepts:
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General function of the four lobes of the brain
Limbic system functions and parts
Sympathetic vs. parasympathetic nervous systems
Function of the endocrine system including definition of hormone
Function of neurotransmitters and where do they operate
Genetics: dominate vs recessive genes
Research: benefits and limitations of case study, correlational method (coefficient, positive vs.
negative), controlled group design (independent vs. dependent variables, random assignment)
Additional research terms: cohort, longitudinal design, cross-sectional design, epidemiology,
prevalence, incidence
Chapter 3 terms and concepts:
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Clinical assessment, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, standardization, normative, reliability, testretest reliability, interrater agreement, validity
Projective test: thematic vs. Rorschach
Behavioral assessment: functional analysis, self-monitoring, behavioral avoidance test
Psychophysiological assessment: EEG, Electrodermal activity, biofeedback
Classification terms: DSM, multiaxial system, comorbidity
Chapter 4 - Anxiety Disorders
 What is anxiety?
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How does negative reinforcement increase avoidance behavior and anxiety
Panic attack (know symptoms)
Panic disorder with agoraphobia and without (Be aware of the DSM-IV requirements points A:1
and 2)
What is GAD (Be aware of the DSM-IV requirements points A, B, and C)
What is social phobia (If I don’t ask for the DSM-IV requirements then you can simply learn the
general definition.)
What is a specific phobia
What is OCD (Be aware of the DSM-IV requirements points A, B, and C)
What is PTSD
What role do theorists believe the orbital prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus and the thalamus
seem to play in the anxious individual?
What roles do serotonin, GABA and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) play in anxiety
What do SSRIs do? What do benzodiazepines do?
Be aware of the cognitive and behavioral explanations and treatment for anxiety disorders.
Chapter 5 – Somatoform, Dissociative, and Factitious Disorders
 What are somatoform disorders
 What is somatization disorder
 What is conversion disorder
 What is pain disorder
 What is hypochondriasis
 What is body dysmorphic disorder
 What is somatic amplification?
 What is a dissociative disorder
 What is dissociative amnesia
 What is dissociative fugue
 What is dissociative identity disorder (Be aware of the DSM-IV requirements points A, B, and C)
 What is depersonalization disorder
 What role do theorists believe trauma play is the development of DID
 What is the connection between DID and the term iotrogenic
 What is facticious disorder and FD by proxy
Chapter 6 – Mood Disorders
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What is a mood disorder
What is the difference between depression, mania, and hypomania
What is major depression
How does depression affect sleep, appetite and sexual drive? What is meant by atypical
depression?
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What is dysthymia (Be aware of the DSM-IV requirements points A, B, and C)
What is a manic episode (Be aware of the DSM-IV requirements points A, and B)
What is the difference between bipolar 1 and 2
What is a mixed state
What is cyclothymic disorder
What is the median age of onset for depression
In what gender is depression more common
What is the difference between passive and active suicidal ideation
How did Freud explain depression
How might depression (and anxiety for that matter) be learned? Think of the behavioral theories
that focus on positive and negative reinforcement.
What is learned helplessness
How is the cognitive theory used to address depression
Be aware of the 6 common thinking errors on page 227
What is the most effective treatment for bipolar
Chapter 7 – Eating Disorders
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What are the diagnostic criteria (A,B,C, & D) for anorexia nervosa?
What is the BMI and how is it used in diagnosing AN?
What are binge eating, purging, and compensatory behaviors?
What are the diagnostic criteria (A,B,C, & D) for bulimia nervosa?
What other disorders are common among individuals with AN and BN?
What is binge eating disorder?
How much more common is AN and BN in girls than boys?
Be aware of the etiology of eating disorders
Be aware of the treatment of eating disorders
Chapter 8 – Gender and Sexual Disorders
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What are the 4 phases of sexual functioning?
What percentage of men and women are believed to be homosexual?
What are the diagnostic criteria (A,B,C, & D) for GID?
What’s the difference between GID and transvestic fetishism?
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia and how might it explain GID?
What are the treatments for GID?
What is hypoactive sexual desire disorder?
What is female sexual arousal disorder?
What is sexual aversion disorder?
What is male erectile disorder?
What is male and female orgasmic disorder?
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What is premature ejaculation?
What is sexual pain disorder?
Be aware of the etiology of sexual disorders
Be aware of the treatment of sexual disorders
What are paraphilias?
Be aware of the definitions of fetishism, exhibitionism, frotteurism, voyeurism, and pedophilia.
What are the treatments for paraphilias?
Chapter 9 – Substance Abuse
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What are the diagnostic criteria (A & B) for substance abuse?
What are the diagnostic criteria for substance dependence?
Know the definitions of withdrawal and tolerance.
What are the effects of stimulants?
What are the effects of sedative drugs?
What are the effects of hallucinogens?
What are the effects of opioids?
Know what neurotransmitters are associated with the various drugs.
Know what specific drugs (caffeine, LSD, etc are associated with the different categories
(stimulant, sedative, etc.).
Which is the most widely used drug worldwide?
What are inhalants?
Be aware of the etiology of substance-related disorders.
When treating substance abuse what is meant by agonist substitution, antagonist treatments,
and aversive treatments?
Chapter 10 – Schizophrenia
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Define psychosis, delusion, hallucination.
Know the different types of delusions and hallucinations.
What are the differences between positive and negative symptoms?
Be aware of the positive symptoms: loose associations, thought blocking, clang associations,
catatonia, waxy flexibility.
Be aware of the negative symptoms: blunted affect, anhedonia, avolition, alogia, psychomotor
retardation.
What is cognitive impairment?
What is social cognition?
What are the characteristics of paranoid, catatonic, disorganized, undifferentiated, and residual
schizophrenia?
What is the lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia?
What is the typical onset in men and women?
What neurotransmitters may play a role in schizophrenia?
What is the gene-environment correlation?
Chapter 11 Personality Disorders
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Describe the 3 clusters and be able to identify the disorders within each
Be able to identify each personality disorder.
What are the general diagnostic criteria (A,B,C, & D) for personality disorders
In what arena(s) of his or her life might an individual with a personality disorder experience the
greatest functional impairment?
 How are the personality disorders typically treated? What is different in the treatment of
schizotypal, antisocial and borderline?
 What role does attachment seem to play in the development of these disorders?
 What effect might early childhood trauma have on the development of the child’s fear
response?
 What effect might early childhood trauma have on the development of the hippocampus and
amygdala of the borderline individual?
 What is DBT and how is it used with Borderline individuals?
 What medication are often prescribed and why
 What is the reported function of self-mutilations among borderline
Chapter 12
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Define intellectual disability
How is down syndrome explained genetically?
What negative effects can alcohol have on the fetus?
Be aware of the DSM for autism (A & B)
Be aware of the DSM for asperger’s (A through E)
Be able to identify the symptoms experienced in ADHD. Be sure to understand the differences
between inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity
Know the differences between ODD and CD
What are the treatment options for ODD and CD?
What is enuresis and encopresis?
What is pica and rumination disorder?
Chapter 13
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What is geropsychology
Be aware of depression in older adults. What is the etiology?
Is depression higher or lower in older adults
Be aware of suicide among older adults. Why are rates higher in the older populations and
among men?
Be aware of anxiety in older adults. What is the etiology?
Is anxiety higher or lower in older adults
What is and how frequent is late-onset schizophrenia and very-late-onset schizophrenia-like
psychosis (Be aware of the age division)
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What is the DSM criteria for delirium
What is dementia
What is the DSM criteria for dementia of the alzheimer’s type
What is the etiology and treatment of alzheimer’s
What is vascular dementia
What is the etiology and treatment of dementia