Chapter 2: Current Paradigms in Psychopathology Flashcards
What are the three paradigms that guide the study and treatment of psychopathology?
genetic, neuroscience, and cognitive behavioral paradigms
What is a paradigm?
a set of basic assumptions and a general perspective that defines how to conceptualize and study a subject
What are genes?
the carriers of genetic information (DNA) passed from parent to child
How many genes do people have?
20,000 to 25,000
What is gene expression?
the switching on and off of the reading of genes into their products (proteins) and thus their associated phenotypes
What does polygenic mean?
caused by multiple genes contributing their effects, typically during multiple stages of development
What is heritability?
the extent to which variability in a behavior/disorder within a population can be attributed to genetic factors (not individual!!!)
What are shared environment factors?
factors that family members have in common, such as income level, child-rearing practices, and parental marital status and quality
What are nonshared environment factors?
factors distinct among family members, such as relationships with friends or significant experiences unique to a person
What is behavior genetics?
the study of the degree to which genes and environmental factors influence behavior (not the study of how genes or the environment determine behavior)
What is a genotype?
the total genetic makeup of an individual consisting of inherited genes
What is a phenotype?
the totality of observable physical characteristics and behavioral traits of an individual; the product of interactions between genetics and the environment over the course of development
Who did a study demonstrating the heritability of IQ?
Turkheimer
What is the influence of environment on IQ among different socioeconomic groups?
lower SES: more variability in IQ attributable to environment
higher SES: less variability in IQ attributable to environment
What is molecular genetics?
seeks to determine the components of a trait that are heritable by identifying relevant genes and their functions
What are alleles?
different forms of the same gene that are found at the same locus (location) of a chromosome pair
What is a genetic polymorphism?
a difference in DNA sequence on a gene that has occurred in a population
What are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)?
differences between people in a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence of a particular gene
What are the most common polymorphisms in the human genome?
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
What are copy number variations (CNVs)?
variation in gene structure involving copy number changes in a defined chromosomal region
What is an addition CNV?
where extra copies are abnormally present
What is a deletion CNV?
where extra copies are missing
What percentage of the human genome contains CNVs?
5%
What are spontaneous (de novo) mutations?
mutations that are not inherited from parents; can appear for the first time in an individual
What are genome-wide association studies (GWAS)?
studies of variations in the entire human genome to identify associations of genetic variants with particular behaviors, traits, or disorders; large sample sizes needed for these types of studies
What is gene-environment interaction?
the influence of genetics on an individual’s sensitivity or reaction to an environmental event
What is epigenetics?
the study of how the environment can alter gene expression or function
What epigenetic marks control gene expression and can be influenced by the environment?
chemical marks such as DNA methyl tags or histones
What is the neuroscience paradigm?
theoretical view that holds that psychological disorders are caused in part by some aberrant process directed by the brain
What is a neuron?
a nerve cell
What are the four major parts of the neuron?
- cell body
- dendrites
- axons
- terminal buttons at the end of axon
What is a synapse?
a small gap between two neurons where the nerve signal passes from the axon of the first neuron to the dendrites, cell body, or axon of the second
What are synaptic vesicles?
small structures in the terminal buttons of each axon that are filled with neurotransmitters
What are neurotransmitters?
chemicals that allow neurons to send a signal across the synapse to another neuron
What is reuptake?
cellular process by which released neurotransmitters are taken back into the presynaptic cell, terminating their present postsynaptic effect but making them available for subsequent modulation of nerve impulse transmission
If neurotransmitters aren’t taken back through reuptake, what happens to them?
they are broken down by enzymes
What is dopamine?
CNS neurotransmitter; a catecholamine that is a precursor of norepinephrine and apparently figures in schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease
What is serotonin?
a neurotransmitter of the CNS whose disturbances apparently figure in depression
What is norepinephrine?
a catecholamine neurotransmitter, disturbances of which have been related to mania, depression, and anxiety disorders ; is a strong vasoconstrictor
What is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)?
inhibitory neurotransmitter that may be involved in the anxiety disorders
What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?
the division of the nervous system that regulates involuntary functions; innervates endocrine glands, smooth muscle, heart muscle, and initiates the physiological changes that are part of the expression of emotion
What are the two parts of the autonomic nervous system?
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems