Lectures3&4 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY models, debates, treatments

Question 1

Name five models of psychopathology :

Answer 1

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL 
BIOMEDICAL
COGNITIVE
BEHAVIOURAL 
PSYCHODYNAMIC

Question 2

Pros and cons of the biopsychosocial model

Answer 2

PROS: Inclusive, comprehensive, promotes psychological and social wellbeing

CONS: Not applicable for all illnesses , not all mental illnesses come from disfunction in all three dimensions of the model (biological, psychological, social factors)

Question 3

Pros and cons of the biomedical model

Answer 3

PROS: Look for concrete causes, promotes research and leads to the development of drugs

CONS: Nomothetic, says mental and physical illnesses are the same, ignores the benefits of psychological therapies

Question 4

Pros and cons of the cognitive model

Answer 4

PROS: Scientifically studied, explains mental patterns and processes involved in negative automatic thoughts and in addiction explains the circle from trigger to consumption(craving, urges)

CONS: Over simplifies, see human mind as a computer, mental processes can’t be observed

Question 5

Pros and cons of the behaviour model

Answer 5

PROS: Explains behaviours, behaviours can be observed and measured

CONS: Ignores mental processes, not comprehensive enough, puts all emphasis on environment

Question 6

Psychopharmacological Treatments for psychopathology

Answer 6

Biomedical treatments : drugs : antidepressants SSRIs, SNRIS, TCAs, MAOs

Neuroleptics/anti psychotics for psychotic disorders, bipolar, schizo, hallucinations

Anxiety: benzos

Question 7

Pros and cons of drugs for mental illnesses

Answer 7

cons: Long term efficacy unproven 
Certain categories create dependence 
Lower effects of some drugs over time 
Nomothetic, ignores individualities of patients 
Might not solve the root of the issue 

HOWEVER: pros: Can be highly effective in combination treatment with therapy, relieve patients with very bad symptoms on short term, reassuring for patients

Question 8

name , describe one study about drug treatments and its limitation

Answer 8

The lancet 2018 - meta analysis and review of RCTS : found that al 21 drugs are more likely to work than placebo, with varied effectiveness between drugs.

Limitation: results over 8 weeks of treatment only, not long term.

Question 9

one problem with RCTs (randomized controlled trials)

Answer 9

Placebos should mimic side effects of the drug tested -

Question 10

Whose study compares the current disease-centred model of pharmacotherapy with a drug-entered model and advocates for the later

Answer 10

Moncrieff, 2009