Abnormal psych Flashcards
1
Q
Discuss two explanations for one disorder/etiology
Introduction
A
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Define Major depressive disorder–> (MDD) is a a mental disorder charcterized by **persistent feelings of sadness, reduced interest in activities, feelings of worthlessness, low-selfesteem.
** Multiple thories exist to underdstand depression - Focus–> genetic explanation and Becks cognitive model of depression.
2
Q
Describe Becks model
A
- impact of dyfunctional thoughts on the psychological well-being of an individual.
- Cognitive triad–> irrational views about one-self, world and future that control the mind.
- Miantained by three negative self-schemas:
1. ineptness schema ´´I always fail´´
2. Self-blame schema ´´Its always my fault´´
2. Negative self-evaluation ´Ím worthless´´ - Cognitive schemas (-) lead to cognitive biases.
- Trigger faulty thinkign patterns –> individual only focus on negative feelings and ignore postive ones.
3
Q
Empirical evidence 1 (Alloy et al)
A
- aim: investigate the impact of one cognitive style in the developemnt of depression.
- Sample: non-depresed studuents (half had. a history of depression)
- test to identify cognitive style–> seperate as (HR) high risk or (LR) low risk for depression.
- for sisx years follow up assemsnts were made–> questioanired and structured interviewd to identify symptoms of depression.
- Results–>17% HR students developed MDD while only 1% in LR. more HR stduents relapsed comapred to LR.
*
4
Q
Evalaluate alloy et al study
A
L–> natural experiemnt–> no cause and effect
S—> longitudinal–> mitigates biderectional ambiguity
5
Q
Applicability of CA
A
- becks model served in the creation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- restructs faulty thinking patterns in depressive pateints by encuoraging positive thoughts and develop coping strategies to alleviate symptoms.
- Study–> Hollon et al–> found that relpase rates were lower when treated with CBT compared to antidepressants and placebo.
6
Q
Describe the genetic explanation
A
- genes (inheritable segments of DNA) infuelnce speciifc physiological and psychological charcteristic—> determines susceptibility to develop depression.
- depression–> polygenic trait (multiple genetic factors) and influenced by enviormntaql pressured.
- This is linked to the 5 HTT gene which is a serotonin transporter, specifically involved in the uptake of serotonin from the synapse.
- genes interact with enviormental stressors, trigger their expression through epigenetics.
7
Q
Study: Caspi et al
A
- aim: investigate the role of the transporter gene 5 HTT in depression and genetic inheritance.
- It aimed to deduce which alleles are linked to a higher or lower risk of developing MDD.
- The sample consisted of New Zealand participants which had their alleles measured and were grouped according to either having: two short alleles, two long alleles and one short and one long.
- The participants had to answer a questionnaire which measured any stressful life events which may have triggered MDD.
- A correlational analysis was then conducted between allele length and depression and stressful life events.
- The results showed that participants with 2 short alleles had more depressive symptoms in response to stressful life events comparison to those with long alleles . This meant that the 5 HTT gene when interacting with stressful life events means that individuals have an increased risk of developing depression and those with two short alleles have a higher risk.
8
Q
Limitations of genetic explanation
A
- inability to study genes in isolation. This hinders the identification of specific genes associated with depression.
- offer a more comprehensive explanation as it considers the interplay between biological and environmental factors, which highlights the non-deterministic nature of genes.
- depression cannot be studied through a single lens, but rather through an integrative approach of social, cognitive, and biological factors.
9
Q
Discuss one etiology of abnormal psychology
Introduction:
A
- Etiology can be explained as a cause of a disease or disorder
* Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the major affective disorders - Chartacterized by:
1. persistent feelings of sadness
2. reduced interests in activiies
3. worthlessness
4. low-self esteem
5. changes in apetite
6. sleep disturbances - Cognitive theory can be expplained can be explained through mental schemas
- FOCUS–> This essay will discuss the cognitive etiology for depression.
10
Q
Describe Becks model
A
- impact of dysfunctional thoughts on individuals well-being
- Cognitive triad–> individual have irrational views about themselves, future and the world.
- Cognitive triad is maintained by negative self-schemas.
- self-blame–> ´Íts always my fault´´
- ineptness–> ´Í always fail´´
- negative self evaluation ´´I am worthless´´
- Negative schemas lead to cognitive biases–> faulty thinking patterns.
- faulty thinking patterns negelect psoitive thoughts and replace them with negative ones.
11
Q
Empirical evidence: Alloy et al
A
- investigate if ones thinking pattern affect the onset of depression.
- RM–> longitudinal quasi experiment.
- participants: non-depressed students–> half had history of depression.
- given test to identify if they were high or low risk for depression.
- assesemnt for 6 years–> questionaires and interviews to identify symtoms of depression.
- Results: 17% pf HR developed depression and only 1% in LR. In group of history with depression 29% HR relapsed and 6% in LR relapsed.
12
Q
Evaluation of study 1
A
- S–> highly standarized and increases relaibility
- L–> natural exp–> no cause effect relationship.
13
Q
Study 2–> Joiner et al
A
- the role of negative thinking patterns and enviormental stressors in onset of depression.
- participants–> college students pre-post midterms
- given three tests:
- DAS after exams —> CCL and BDI was before exams
1. DAS–> measures thinking patterns
2. CCL–> thoughts llinked to depression
3. BDI–> symptoms linked to depression.
Results:
* High DAS score–> failed exam —> increase in BDI
* High DAS + not failed–> no change in BDI
* Low Das+ fail–> no change in BDI
- showed how neg thinking patterns and enviorment stressors cause more preveleance in MDD symptoms
14
Q
Applicability: CBT
A
- cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- type of therpay that helps depressive patients restructure their thinking patterns by encouraging positive thinking patterns +alleviate symptoms.
STUDY: HOLLON ET AL
* results: relapse rates of patients receving CBT was lower with 31% than antidepressants with 47% and placebo with 76%.
* suggests that CBT was long-lasting effects as it teaches patients effective coping skills that help change behavior.
15
Q
Limitations Beck
A
- reductionsist–> does not considedr biological aspects sociocultural aspect.
- correltional data–> no cause-effect
