Case Studies - Psychopathology

Question 1

Ost et al (1991)

Answer 1

Procedure: 81 blood & 56 needle phobics were asked to complete a questionnaire on their memories of possible origins of their phobias.

Results:
- 52% attributed onset to conditioning experiences
- 24% recalled vicarious experiences
- 7% instruction/information
- 17% could not remember any specific onset scenarios

Conclusion: Majority attributed to conditioning (learned response)

Question 2

Barlow & Durand (1995)

Answer 2

Findings: 50% of people with driving phobia could remember a specific incident which triggered their fear.

Conclusion: Phobias are learned

Question 3

Bandura & Rosenthal (1966)

Answer 3

Supported Social Learning Explanation
Procedure: Model acted as though he were in pain when a buzzer sounded.
Findings: Participants demonstrated an acquired fear emotional response to buzzer later on.
Conclusion: Phobia can be learnt and therefore unlearnt.

Question 4

Dinardo (1988)

Answer 4

Found that not everyone who is bitten by a dog develops a fear of dogs - some phobias can be explained by evolution. It makes sense to be afraid of heights, fire, spiders etc. as they are dangerous and avoiding them helps us survive.

Question 5

Billet et al (1998)

Answer 5

Results: MZ twins are twice as likely to develop OCD if their twin had the disorder than with DZ twins.

Conclusion: There is a genetic explanation for OCD, even if CC rates are never 100%. Shared environment & behaviourism might be better explanations.

It is too simplistic to say there is a gene for OCD - it is more likely to be learnt, maybe by social learning theory.

Question 6

Soomro et al (2008)

Answer 6

Procedure: Meta-analysis of 17 studies on SSRIs for OCD patients.
Results: SSRIs > placebos in reducing OCD symptoms up to 3 months after treatment
Conclusion: SSRIs are effective long-term.

Question 7

Koran et al (2007)

Answer 7

Procedure: Meta-analysis of studies into OCD treatments
Results: CBT should be used before drug treatments for long term help; drug therapy is easy but short-term effective - people can relapse within a few weeks if medication is stopped.

Question 8

Aylward et al (1996)

Answer 8

Aim: Investigated structural or functional abnormality of the caudate nucleus in patients with OCD.
Procedure: 24 patients with adult-onset OCD and 21 matched controls had MRI scans.
Results: No structural/functional differences in the c nucleus found.
Conclusion: No evidence of abnormality discovered in c nucleus as an explanation for OCD.