Abnormal Psychology

Question 1

What are the four key characteristics that define if a thought/behaviour is abnormal

Answer 1

Statistically infrequency
Violate social norms
Cause distress
Cause impairment

Question 2

What are the three aims of abnormal psychology

Answer 2

To describe mental disorders
To understand the causes of mental disorders
To create effective treatments

Question 3

Give two examples of how genes can influence the development of genetic disorders

Answer 3

COMT (breaks down dopamine) missing and schizophrenia.

Fragile X and autism

Question 4

Give two examples of chemicals that influence mental disorders

Answer 4

Serotonin and depression

Dopamine and schizophrenia

Question 5

Recount the diathesis-stress model

Answer 5

Individuals have genetic and biological vulnerabilities

Vulnerabilities become activated in the presence of certain environmental stressors

Question 6

What are the three adjectives that describe a depressed person’s negative view of events

Answer 6

Global, stable and internal

Question 7

Give four examples of pharmacological therapies that act on neurotransmitters

Answer 7

Antidepressants - act on serotonin
Anxiolytic - act on GABA
Anti-psychotics - act on dopamine
Mood stabilisers - act on GABA and glutamate

Question 8

What are the two DSM criteria for Autism?

Answer 8

A persistent deficit in social communication and interaction
Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviours.

Question 9

What are the two main therapies used for children with autism

Answer 9

Camera in the head

Emotional recognition

Question 10

What is the three factor model of symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 10

Reality distortion
Disorganisation
Negative symptoms

Question 11

What are corollary discharges

Answer 11

Neural copies of motor signals, sent to predict and suppress response of sensory neurones.