Chapter 5 - Psychopathology Flashcards
what is statistical infrequency?
a characteristic that can be described as numerically abnormal
give and example of statistical infrequency
IQ 2% below 70, classed as mentally disabled
what is normal distribution?
where the majority are around the average
what are social norms?
implicit rules of behaviour
evaluate statistical infrequency (4)
real-life app - evaluation of severity is simple
unusual characteristics can be positive
labelling can be detrimental
subject to cultural relativism
evaluate deviation from social norms (4)
not sole explanation e.g. distress to others
cultural relativism
can lead to human rights violations
takes into account desirability of abnormality
define failure to function adequately
failing to cope with everyday happenings e.g. stress
give the criteria for failure to function adequately
- maladaptiveness
- vividness
- observer discomfort
- irrational
- suffering
- inpredictability
- violation of moral codes
evaluate failure to function adequately (3)
includes patients perspective
hard to distinguish from deviation from social norms
subjective judgement required for diagnosis
what is deviation from ideal mental health?
when someone does not meet set criteria for ideal mental health
state the criteria for ideal mental health
- no distress
- self actualisation
- self esteem
- accurate perception of self
- accurate perception of the world
- cope with average stress
- independence
- work and leisure
evaluate deviation from ideal mental health (3)
- comprehensive criteria
- cultural relativism, e.g. independence in west
- unrealistic expectations
- labelling not always useful
what is a specific phobia
phobia of a specific object or situation
what is a social phobia
phobia of a social situation
what is agoraphobia
phobia of being outside or in public
behavioural characteristics of phobias
panic
avoidance
irrational fear
emotional characteristics of phobias
anxiety
uncertainty of their own response
disproportional emotions
cognitive characteristics of phobias
selective attention to phobic stimulus
irrational beliefs
distorted thinking
give 2 examples of depressive disorders
major, persistent, disruptive mood dysregulation
behavioural characteristics of depression
lethargy/agitation
disrupted sleep
disrupted eating
aggression and self harm
emotional characteristics of depression
low mood anger at self and others low self esteem lack happiness from usually fun activities sadness
cognitive characteristics of depression
poor concentration
dwelling negative
absolutist
irrational
define OCD
recurring and constant obsession and compulsions
behavioural characteristics of OCD
compulsions
avoidance of triggers
emotional characteristics of OCD
anxiety and distress
depression
guilt and disgust
cognitive characteristics of OCD
obsessive thoughts
cognitive strategies to deal w such as prayer
insight into own irrationality
recurring/constant worry
what is the two process model?
suggestion that phobias are acquired and then maintained by classical and operant conditioning
who came up with the two- process model
Mowrer (1960)
evaluate the two process model (5)
- good explanatory power - shows maintenance
- complex phobias seem more motivated by safety seeking not reduction of anxiety
- ignores other explanations e.g. bio
- some phobias dont follow trauma
- ignores phobia cognition
outline systematic desensitisation
anxiety hierachy, relaxation techniques, gradual exposure
outline flooding therapy
instant and complete exposure, extinction of stimulus, requires informed consent
evaluate systematic desensitisation
- effective and long lasting
- suitable for a wide range of patients
- preferred by patients
- costly, many sessions
- not effective one more complex phobias
- symptom substitution
evaluate flooding as a treatment phobias (3)
- cost effective
- less effective for social phobias
- unethical, causes trauma
- symptom substitution
what are the 3 parts of Beck’s cognitive triad
- negative thoughts of the world
- negative thoughts of the future
- negative thoughts of self
what other 2 things did Beck say contributed to the negative triad
faulty information processing and negative self schemas
evaluate Beck’s cognitive theory of depression (3)
- good support (Grazioli and Terry) pre and post natal depression
- practical application of CBT
- doesnt explain complex symptoms e.g. hallucinations
what is Ellis’s ABC
suggests poor mental health occurs from irrational thoughts
what does A B C stand for?
Activating event
irrational Beliefs
Consequences
evaluate Ellis’s ABC model (3)
- only partial explanation, some depression has no cause
- practical application in CBT
- doesnt explain all aspects of depression
what is CBT?
cognitive behaviour therapy, where negative thoughts are challenged
outline the process of CBT
assessment agree goals
work out plan to achieve goals
begin to challenge negative thoughts
what is CT?
identify and challenge negative thoughts, help them test the reality of negative beliefs
what is REBT?
rational emotional behaviour therapy, ABCDE - D for dispute and E for effect
what is behavioural activation?
alongside CBT getting the patient to take part in positive activities
evaluate the cognitive approach to treating depression (5)
- effective, lots of support e.g. March et al drug vs therapy 86% both
- doesn’t work in most severe cases
- success may be down to relationship with therapist rather than therapy itself
- some patients want to explore past but CBT focus is on present and future
- overemphasis on cognition, ignores situation e.g. poverty
name the possible genetic explanations for OCD (3)
- candidate genes
- polygenic code
- different types of OCD coded for by different genes
what is the diathesis-stress model?
suggests some genes leave people more likely to develop mental disorder such as OCD due to stress or trauma
what neurotransmitter may be implicated in OCD?
seratonin
evaluate genetic explanations of OCD (3)
- good supporting evidence (68% c-rate in twin study by Nestadt)
- too many candidate genes to suggest porbability, many may also only increase risk a little
- support for diathesis-stress model, more than 50% OCD sufferers had trauma (Cromer et al)
what are two possible neural explanations for OCD
- role of seratonin, lowered seratonin function in brain
- impaired decision making in the brain, frontal lobe and parahippocampal gyrus
evaluate the neural explanations for OCD (3)
- supporting evidence - antidepressants work on seratonin system and reduce symptoms (Nestadt)
- not clear which neural systems(s) involved
- correlation not causation, could be symptoms rather than cause
what are SSRI’s?
selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors
what therapy is often used alongside SSRI’s and how do they work together?
CBT - drugs reduce emotional symptoms allowing patient to focus on therapy
what are tricylclics?
older more hard hitting drug therapy with more side effects, used for those who don’t respond to SSRI’s
what are SNRI’s?
seratonin - noradrenaline
second line of defence
evaluate the biological approach to treating OCD (5)
- Soomro et al drugs vs placebos, drugs most effective
- drugs are cost effective and less disruptive
- side effects can be severe, cause patients to stop them and get worse again
- research could be skewed by drug company interest in profits
- OCD following trauma may have underlying cause which needs to be addressed
