4. Psychopathology EQs

Question 1

Dave wants to achieve what he thinks of as the perfect body and will often visit the gym up
to three times a day. He finds it difficult to concentrate in the office as he is constantly
thinking about his next workout. Even though his friends tell him he looks great, Dave worries his body shape is inferior compared to the other men at the gym.

Briefly outline the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality. Refer to Dave in your answer. (4 )

Answer 1

1. abnormality is the absence of criteria for good mental health (as in physical illness)
2. Jahoda proposed criteria of ‘optimal living’ e.g. resistance to stress; accurate perception of reality; working towards self-actualisation; positive view of self; lack of dependence on others; ability to adapt
3. the more criteria are absent, the more serious the abnormality.
4. Dave’s difficulty concentrating at work may affect his ability to self-actualise
5. Dave does not share his friends’ view which suggests his perception of reality/himself may not be accurate
6. Dave is experiencing anxiety which suggests he does not easily cope with stress.
7. Dave does not seem to have a positive view of self eg. about his body shape

Question 2

Describe at least one strategy that might be used in cognitive behavioural therapy for depression. [4 marks]

Answer 2

1. One strategy used in CBT is to identify and challenge irrational thoughts.
2. This is often achieved through a thought diary. This is where the patient writes down their irrational thoughts and then attempts to ‘dispute’ their own thoughts by writing a more rational point of view, before their next session.
3. Another strategy used in CBT is where a therapist attempts to dispute the irrational thoughts through logical, empirical and pragmatic disputing.
4. For example, empirical disputing is where a therapist questions whether the patient has any evidence to support their irrational thoughts, and thereby challenges the underlying assumption/evidence of the patient, to help them realise that their thoughts are irrational.

Question 3

Saira has a fear of cats. Her fear stops her from going anywhere she thinks she might see a cat.
Explain how Saira’s phobia can be treated using systematic desensitisation. [4 marks]

Answer 3

1. Saira would be taught relaxation techniques, which could include breathing techniques or mindfulness.
2. After that, she would create a fear hierarchy, ranking her phobia of cats from the least feared situation to the most feared situation. For example, the least feared situation might be looking at a picture of a cat, whereas the most feared situation might be having a cat on her lap.
3. Then she would be exposed her phobia, starting with the least feared situation, practising her relaxation techniques until she feels relaxed at each stage of the hierarchy.
4. This would lead to the association between the cat (CS) and fear (CR) being broken, and the fear would be replaced with relaxation.

Question 4

Briefly discuss one reason why systematic desensitisation might be a more successful treatment for phobias than flooding. [2 marks]

Answer 4

1. Treatment is gradual.
2. With systematic desensitisation, a person is gradually exposed to their phobia starting with the least anxiety-inducing stimulus (at the bottom of the fear hierarchy) working their way up the hierarchy step-by-step, while remaining relaxed. With flooding, a person is exposed to the most anxiety-inducing stimulus straight away. Consequently, many people do not complete their treatment with flooding because the experience to too stressful and therefore they stop the treatment early which is why systematic desensitisation is more likely to be successful.

Question 5

Bob always checks that doors are locked and plug sockets are switched off. His checking routine has become very time consuming. He now feels overwhelmed with fears that his family could be in danger if he does not complete his checking routine. His doctor thinks Bob has obsessive compulsive disorder.

Explain what is meant by ‘obsessions’ and ‘compulsions’. Refer to Bob in your answer. [4 marks]

Answer 5

1. Compulsions are a behavioural characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) which have two main properties: Firstly, compulsions are repetitive in nature, and secondly, compulsions are used to manage or reduce anxiety.
2. Bob is demonstrating compulsive behaviour with his repetitive checking of the doors and plug sockets. Furthermore, Bob is clearly performing this behaviour to reduce anxiety as the extract suggests that he feels overwhelmed if he doesn’t complete these rituals.
3. Obsessive thoughts are the main cognitive characteristic of OCD. For sufferers of OCD, these thoughts are intrusive and occur over and over again.
4. Furthermore, the thoughts are often inappropriate and frightening which means that sufferers do not want to share these thoughts. Bob is experiencing obsessive thoughts because he is concerned that his family will be in danger if he does not continually check the doors and plugs.

Question 6

Bob’s doctor is sending him for a brain scan and is looking into his family history. How might the biological approach be used to explain Bob’s obsessive compulsive disorder? [4 marks]

Answer 6

1. There are two main biological explanations for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): genetic and neural.
2. Genetic explanations have focused on identifying specific candidate genes which are implicated in OCD. It is believed that OCD is a polygenic condition, which means that several genes are involved. Two examples of genes that have been linked to OCD are the COMT gene and SERT. It might be that Bob has inherited one or both genes which is why the doctor is looking into Bob’s family history, as these might be the cause of his OCD.
3. Neural explanations focus on different brain structures. The orbitofrontal cortex is a region which converts sensory information into thoughts and actions. PET scans have found higher activity in the orbitofrontal cortex in patients with OCD.
4. Bob may be experiencing increased activity in the orbitofrontal cortex which is why the doctor has sent Bob for a brain scan as this could also be the cause of his OCD.

Question 7

Explain how findings of psychological research into the treatment of depression could have implications for the economy. [2 marks]

Answer 7

1. Research into depression can lead to enhanced treatments that improve the psychological health of patients with depression.
2. Enhanced treatments could reduce the number of cases of depression and help people return to work. This will reduce absenteeism and save the economy money through reduced sick pay payments. Furthermore, providing strategies that can help patients manage their psychological conditions (e.g. depression) may increase productivity in the workplace while reducing the strain/cost on the NHS, allowing more patients to access treatments.

Question 8

Outline one limitation of systematic desensitisation as a treatment for phobias. (3 marks)

Answer 8

• SD is time-consuming, when compared to alternatives such as flooding, as the person with the phobia needs to be trained in relaxation techniques and gradual exposure can take many sessions
• progress in therapy may not generalise outside of the clinical setting when the person with the phobia must face their fear without the support of the therapist