OCD loads of questions Flashcards
Briefly outline one way that a cognitive psychologist might treat depression by challenging irrational thoughts.
rational confrontation; ABCDE model – D for dispute, E for effect (reduction of irrational thoughts); shame attacking exercises; empirical and logical argument (Ellis)
* patient as scientist; data gathering to test validity of irrational thoughts; reinforcement of positive beliefs (Beck).\
Outline one or more ways in which behaviourists treat phobias.
The first way in which behaviourist treat phobias is through the use of either flooding or systemic desiccation
Systematic desensitisation:
*based on classical conditioning – counterconditioning
*relaxation training – fear and relaxation cannot coexist (reciprocal inhibition)
*formation of anxiety hierarchy
*gradual exposure (stepped approach) leading to eventual extinction.
Flooding:
*immediate exposure to phobic stimulus
*exhaustion of phobic response
*prevention of avoidance
Outline cognitive behaviour therapy as a treatment for depression.
general rationale of therapy – to challenge negative thought / negative triad
*identification of negative thoughts – ‘thought catching’
*hypothesis testing; patient as ‘scientist’
*data gathering through ‘homework’, eg diary keeping
*reinforcement of positive thoughts; cognitive restructuring
*rational confrontation as in Ellis’s REBT.
Explain how the study might have been improved by using a random sample of students from Year 12.
this reduces the likelihood of investigator effects/research bias
* this would mean that she is more likely to get a range of students in her sample, not just psychology students
* the likelihood of demand characteristics might be reduced, improving internal validity
* her sample would be more representative of the student population and allow her to make a wider conclusion about the effectiveness of the cognitive interview.
* the teacher would select a random sample using either a hat/lottery/computer method and a list of all the Year 12 students.
The psychologist submitted a report of her investigation to a journal for peer review. What would she expect the process to involve?
* her report would be sent for independent scrutiny (checked / reviewed) by other psychologists
* they would consider e.g. validity, ethics, errors, significance, originality and possible improvements
* to see whether it should be published.
The psychologist submitted a report of her investigation to a journal for peer review. What would she expect the process to involve?
* her report would be sent for independent scrutiny (checked / reviewed) by other psychologists
* they would consider e.g. validity, ethics, errors, significance, originality and possible improvements
* to see whether it should be published.
) Distinguish between obsessions and compulsions.
obsessions are internal components because they are thoughts, and compulsions are external components because they are behaviours.
Briefly outline how systematic desensitisation might be used to treat a phobia.
relaxation training
*anxiety hierarchy
*gradual exposure to the anxiety hierarchy.
Briefly outline how flooding might be used to treat a phobia.
immediate/direct/full exposure
*prevention of avoidance
*until they are calm/anxiety has receded/fear is extinguished
Explain how a hierarchy and relaxation might be used in the treatment of someone who has a phobia of wasps.
Hierarchy
1 mark for an explanation of how a hierarchy is created – this is a list designed by the therapist and client into an order of least feared to most feared situations.
1 mark for application of knowledge of a hierarchy to the wasp phobia – the client and therapist will identify fearful situations involving a wasp such a seeing a picture of a wasp or seeing one in a jar and will rank these from lowest to highest.
Relaxation
1 mark for – the client will use relaxation by controlling their breathing / focusing / visualising a peaceful scene / progressive muscle relaxation / using anti-anxiety drugs.
1 mark for application of knowledge of relaxation to the wasp phobia, e.g., showing them a picture of a wasp and encouraging the client to use their calming technique(s) to relax and not moving on until they are relaxed.
Outline the use of one or more drugs in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
attempt to increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters or the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain
* general purpose is to decrease anxiety, lower arousal, lower blood pressure or heart rate
* antidepressants – SSRIs – prevent the reuptake of serotonin and prolong its activity in the synapse in order to reduce anxiety / normalise the ‘worry circuit’
Explain why collecting qualitative data in this study might have been a more useful way of assessing the effectiveness of the two therapies.
the qualitative data allows the clients to express fully their reasons for their therapy ratings so the researchers can be more sure that their conclusions about the therapies are both valid and reliable
* the single number ratings about their feelings before and after therapy do not explain in any detail how the therapy affected the clients.
Outline two behavioural characteristics of depression.
change in activity levels − increased lethargy (lack of energy)/ withdrawal from activities that were once enjoyed (anhedonia); neglecting personal hygiene; increased activity levels/agitation
* disruption to sleep − sleep may reduce (insomnia) or increase (hypersomnia)
* disruption to eating behaviour − increased or decreased eating/weight gain or loss
* aggressive acts − towards others or oneself, e.g. self-harm.
Outline two cognitive characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
awareness that the behaviour is irrational
* awareness that the behaviour is not being resisted
* recurrent/obsessive thoughts
* intrusive/irrational thoughts
* maintaining alertness – being hypervigilant
* catastrophic thinking
* attentional bias.
* obsessive thoughts – persistent and intrusive thoughts of, eg germs
* hypervigilance/selective attention – increased awareness of source of obsession in new situations
* insight into irrationality of thoughts/behaviour
* cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions.
Researchers discovered a strong positive correlation between the number of therapy sessions attended by people with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their well-being ratings.
Explain why it would not be appropriate to conclude that therapy increases well-being ratings.
there was no manipulation of an IV, therefore cause and effect between therapy and well-being cannot be inferred
* a third, untested variable may be causing the positive relationship between therapy and well-being.
