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Psych 300 > Contemporary models of psychology > Flashcards

Contemporary models of psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Contemporary models of psychological disorders are…

A 
Integrative models​ as multiple processes contribute to psychological disorders​
Biological ​
Psychological (learning) ​
Social/Interpersonal​
Cultural
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2
Q

Genes are blueprints for…

A

the production of a protein or enzyme​

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3
Q

Human Genome Project discovered that…

A

Coding sequences of DNA account for less than 2% of genome​

Non-coding regions (98% of genome)​ - responsible for proteins that turn on and off specific genes​

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4
Q

Acetylation

A

attachment of an Acetyl group to a histone​

Associated with greater gene activity​

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5
Q

Histones

A

DNA is warped around histones. These histones are proteins that give structure to chromosomes

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6
Q

Methylation

A

attachment of a methyl group to part of the DNA code​

Associated with gene inactivity​

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7
Q

Epigenetics and examples of factors

A

The study on how internal and external factors affect gene expression without altering DNA​
And The resulting changes can be transmitted between generations
Examples: Diet, toxins, hormones​, Life events ​

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8
Q

Epigenetics evidence

A
  • Dutch hunger winter lead to the DNA methylation of genes responsible for metabolism​ for generations
  • Twins- genetically identical at birth, diverge over time​
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9
Q

Epigenetic regulation is most strong…

A

Environmental exposures have greatest effects during embryo development and early childhood

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10
Q

Epigenetic regulation and childhood

A

Childhood adversity predicts risk for and severity of many psychological disorders​
ADHD​, Borderline Personality Disorder​, Depression​, Bipolar disorder

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11
Q

childhood adversity causes what mechanisms of epigenetics?

A

Childhood adversity may cause:

  • greater prevalence of methylation of serotonin genes​
  • Methylation of critical serotonin genes
  • Serotonin Methylation acts as mediator
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12
Q

Serotonin is important in

A

Serotonin important in formation of neural circuits & modulation ​

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13
Q

What adversities can cause epigenetics changes for example?

A

Physical abuse and number of mood episodes - methylate serotonin genes –> Serotonin is important in formation of neural circuits & modulation ​

Prenatal exposure to depressed/anxious mood in mothers ​ –> DNA methylation at the glucocorticoid (stress-related hormone​) receptor gene –> Increased HPA axis stress reactivity in babies ​

Alcohol consumption ​
produces epigenetic changes that contribute to the increased craving of alcohol​

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14
Q

Heritability of psychological Disorders

A

Do not follow Mendelian patterns as there are multiple genes and epigenetic influences​ (each with small contribution)
Genetic contributions to
- personality and cognitive abilities: 30% to 50%.​
- psychological disorders: 40% and 50%

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15
Q

Neurochemical circuits are ______ that can ______.

A

Bands of neurotransmitters that flow through the brain. ​

Different circuits can enhance or inhibit each other​

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16
Q

Glutamate, function

A

Most prominent excitatory neurotransmitter​

Important for neural communication, memory formation, learning, & regulation​

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17
Q

Stimulation of glutamate results

A

Overstimulation of glutamate results in excitotoxicity and cell death​
Under-stimulation leads to thin dendrites:, Which Lowers memory abilities & emotion regulatio

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18
Q

Glutamate receptors

A

6 families of receptors, multiple subtypes

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19
Q

Glutamate pathways regions

A

thalamus, striatum, cerebral cortex, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, globus pallidus

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20
Q

GABA receptors

A

2 major receptors with multiple subtypes

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21
Q

Gamma aminobutyric acid​ - GABA - function

A

Main inhibitory neurotransmitter in CNS​
Reduces arousal​
Tempers (neutralizes?) emotional responses​
Inhibits behaviors​

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22
Q

GABA pathway regions

A

hippocampus, olfactory bulb, frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, cerebellum

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23
Q

Serotonin - function

A

Stabilizes information flow to regulate behavior, emotions and thought processes​
Coordinates goal-directed motor responses​

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24
Q

Serotonin - effect of levels

A

High levels: withdrawal and inhibition​
Low levels: impulsivity, instability, and over-reactivity​
Impulsive suicide​

25
Q

Serotonin receptors

A

15 receptors

26
Q

Serotonin pathway regions

A

Thalamus, basal ganglia, dorsal raphe nucleus, midbrain, cerebellum

27
Q

Norepinephrine
CNS catecholamine​
Function

A

Functions to mobilize the brain and body for action​

Mediates arousal, alertness, focuses attention​ (e.g., panic)​

28
Q

Areas affected by norepinephrine (site+body)

A

Major site is the locus coeruleus (pons)​

Affects other areas of the body via release of epinephrine (adrenaline) from the adrenal glands​

29
Q

Norepinephrine receptors

A

2 major receptors- 5 subtypes​

30
Q

Dopamine function + receptors

A

High levels associated with exploring, pleasure-seeking, outgoing behaviors​
Plays a key role in positive affect and reward​
Implicated in schizophrenia & depression​
5 receptors

31
Q

Norepinephrine

Pathways regions

A

Amygdala, hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, corpus callosum, thalamus, cerebral cortex

32
Q

Dopamine pathways regions

A

Ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra, nucleus accumbens, basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, mesostrial system, mesolimbocortical system,

33
Q

Thalamus

A

Information hub ​
Transmits sensory/motor information to amygdala​, cortex & hippocampus ​
Linked to hypothalamus​
Fast versus slow paths

34
Q

Hypothalamus​

A

Links nervous system to endocrine system via the pituitary gland​
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-cortical (HPA) Axis- central to stress response​ - Defensive behavior

35
Q

Limbic system - Amygdala ​
function and connection
diseases associated

A

Emotion processing ​and Emotion memory consolidation​
Novelty​
Contributes to fear-based learning​
Connection to hypothalamus​ = Rapid activation of HPA Axis in response to threat​
Heightened activity in many disorders

36
Q

Hippocampus ​- limbic system
function
receptors
diseases associated

A

Aids in consolidation of long-term memories​
Integrate incoming sensory cues with stored information – detect novelty​
Glucocorticoid receptors​ are sensitive to long-term stress​ which reduces neurogenesis​
May be associated with PTSD & MDD​

37
Q

Basal Ganglia - limbic system

A

Complex structures​
Caudate nucleus – controls motor activity ​-action selection​ and Behavior inhibition ​
Associated with OCD- Hyperactive CN- Orbital-frontal cortex (OFC) circuit.

38
Q

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

A

Executive Functioning​
Down-regulates the arousal system​
Lower connectivity correlated with depression, anxiety & other disorders​

39
Q

Biological contributors to psychopathology

A

20,000 genes​ + alleles + Noncoding elements​
~100 interacting biochemical systems​ (NTs)
Multiple receptor sites​
Multiple brain regions & circuits​

40
Q

Contemporary Dynamic models - difference from first dynamic models

A

More emphasis on interpersonal factors than libidinal drives​
Greater emphasis on therapist empathy​
Shorter treatment duration​
Movement toward research

41
Q

Interpersonal Influences on psychopathology

A

A key role
Social-developmental experiences establish interpersonal expectations & patterns​
Personality develops in part from interpersonal habitual relationships

42
Q

Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy

A

Early experiences establish interpersonal patterns​
Understanding those patterns (insight) facilitates changes​
Therapeutic relationship is key to change​

43
Q

Self perpetuating Interpersonal cycle

A

Expectations > Actions > Reactions > Introjection

44
Q

Cognitive-behavioral models: Integrates____ and studies ____

A

cognitive and behavioral processes​

Studies how people make sense of their experiences​ (how attention, prediction and etc can influence pathologies)

45
Q

Our cognition/behavior dictates how we make sense of their experiences​ through…

A 
Attention​ (what we attent to)
Prediction (expectations)​
Interpretation​
Recall (memory)
each of these affects each other.
46
Q

for cognitive behavioral psychologists, Psychological Disorders are Due to…

A

distortions in cognitive processing of environmental cues (biased processing)​
critical life events are processed in negative schema​s

47
Q

for cognitive behavioral psychologists, People with psychological disorders process information in what way?

A 
Selective attention (focus on bad cues) ​
Biased judgments of events​
Selective recall (memory bias)
48
Q

1970 - Cognitive-behavior therapies

Approach

A

Use behavior exercises to modify maladaptive cognitions

Emphasize Maladaptive cognitive processes and which are key to dysfunctional emotions and maladaptive behaviors​

49
Q

CBT treatment compared to other models

A

Instead of trying to change behavior for itself, they use behavioral strategies to correct dysfunctional cognitions
Emphasis on behavior in daily life​, and not only with the therapist
Emphasis on the maintaining factor of the pathology, rather than the causative factors​

50
Q

2000 - Third wave of cognitive behavioral treatments

Approach

A

Focus on Overcoming experiential (/ emotional) avoidance
Emotion regulation​ through distancing of situation and acceptance​ of emotions
Encourage value-directed behavior

51
Q

Value-directed behavior

A

wise-mind controls behavior, not emotion. CBT encourages patients to act with their values in mind, not their emotions.

52
Q

CBT VS DYNAMIC

A

Focus on the Maintaining factors VS Causal ones
Goal: Modify maladaptive cognitions​ VS understand self-perpetuating patterns​
Behavioral exercises outside and inside of session​ VS only inside

53
Q

Cultural influences

Can happen…

A

directly via genetic diversity​
By shaping attention to and interpretation of events​.
- Through things like Language​, World views​, Conceptualizations of psychological disorders

54
Q

Differences of prevalence of psychopathologies across cultures

A

Panic disorder and specific phobia higher in US than asia, latin america and africa
Social phobia very high in russia
“Not Otherwise Specified” diagnosis are more often used in other cultures

55
Q

Cultural factors in Canada - diversity of mental health

A

Extremely low rates of psychological disorders in fundamentalist christians
‘Healthy Immigrant Effect’ and Under-usage of mainstream mental health services by minority groups​

56
Q

Canadian Indigenous Considerations

A

Depression, substance abuse, suicide, low self-esteem, PTSD symptoms, and violence are widespread ​in these populations. Due to: Institutional discrimination ​

57
Q

Culture in Treatment

A

Cultural norms differ​, which may influence treatment

  • Similarity in values or cognitive match is critical​
  • Mental health professionals need to be trained in cultural and ethnic specifics​
  • Awareness that many minority groups feel disrespected
58
Q

Psychological disorders arise from complex interactions between​

A

Genetic expression​, Physiology​ and neurochemistry
Life events​ and Behavior​
Socio-cultural influences

Psych 300 (8 decks)

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