22 - Psychopathology

Question 1

What is the clinical diagnostic approach? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 1

Psychopathologies are discrete categories defined by basic criteria proposed by experts e.g. DSM

Question 2

What is the empirical quantitative approach? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 2

Psychopathological symptoms are assessed on a continuous scale, with disorders being at the extreme ends of the distribution

Question 3

What are examples of internalised disorders? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 3

Depression

Anxiety

Question 4

What are examples of externalised disorders? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 4

Conduct problems

ADHD

Question 5

What is cu⁺ and cu⁻? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 5

• cu⁺ = presence of callous-unemotional traits

- cu⁻ = absence of callous-unemotional traits

Question 6

What are callous-unemotional trait? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 6

• Lack of emotions
• Strong genetic influence (cu⁺)
• Combination of nature and nurture (cu⁻)

Question 7

What is comorbidity? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 7

• The interaction between two disorders
• This can occur at the same time or one can precede the other
• E.g. depression is often comorbid to anxiety

Question 8

What does A, C and E stand for in twins studies? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 8

• A = genetics
• C = shared environment
• E = non-shared environment

Question 9

What is genetic variation? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 9

• Contributes to individual differences in behavioural traits
• 1% of human DNA is variable

Question 10

What is genetic pleiotropy? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 10

The genetic affect of a single gene on multiple phenotype traits

Question 11

What are psychopathologies seen as? (Psychopathology Developmental)

Answer 11

Polygenetic traits (influenced by more than one genetic variant)