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pshycopathology Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Abnormality

A

1 deviation from social norms
2 statistical infrequency
3 failure to function adequately
4 deviation from ideal mental health

deciation
deviation
failure
statistical

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2
Q

define statistical infrequency

A
  • defining abnormality in terms of statistics, eg in terms of the number of times it is observed
  • behaviour that is rarely seen is abnormal. any usual behaviour is seen often and is thought of as normal.
  • example is IQ. any behaviour that falls outside of the normal distribution is considered abnormal
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3
Q

define failure to function adequately

A
  • the inability to cope with everyday living. a person may cross the line between normal and abnormal when they can’t deal with the demands of everyday life. for instance not being able to hold down a job or maintain good hygiene
  • ROSENHAN AND SELIGMAN proposed signs of failure to cope. 1 no longer conform to interpersonal rules eg maintaining personal space 2 they experience personal distress 3 they behave in a way that is irrational or dangerous
  • not having a high enough IQ to function
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4
Q

define deviation from social norms

A
  • abnormality is based on social context. when someone behaves different from how is expected is abnormal. societies and groups make collective judgement about correct behaviours in particular circumstances
  • there are 3 types of consequences of behaviour. there are few behaviours that would be considered universally abnormal so definitions have to relate to cultural context. this includes historical difference. homosexuality is abnormal i’m some cultures but not all.
  • example: a pshyco path is abnormal because they generally lack empathy with is a deviation from social norms
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5
Q

define deviation from idea mental health

A
  • changing the emphasis. is a different way to look at normality and abnormality is to think about what makes them normal.
    -JAHODA listed this criteria for ideal mental health:
    1 have no symptoms or distress
    2 are rational and perceive ourselves accurately
    3 can self actualise
    4can cope with stress
    5we have a realistic views of the world
    6 have good self esteem and lack guilt
    7 are independent of other people
    8 can successfully work love and enjoy our leisure
  • inevitable overlap between deviations. someone’s inability to keep a job kay be a sign of their failure to cope with work pressure or could be a deviation from the ideal of successful working
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6
Q

Strength of statistical infrequency

A
  1. Has real life applications. every aspect of a diagnosis has this
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7
Q

limitation of statistical infrequency

A
  1. having unusual characteristics can be a positive. Having a high IQ is a good thing and does not need treatment
  2. Not everyone thats unusual benefits from a label. It can make people view them differently as well as themselves. they could be living a normal life until this
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8
Q

strength of deviation from social norms

A

has real life application

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9
Q

limitation of deviation form social norms

A
  1. not a sole explanation of abnormalitiy. Other factors can affect this
  2. Culturally relative. All cultures are different and would define abnormality in deiifernt ways. Hearing voices is acceptable in some cultures but not the UK.
  3. Could lead to human rights abuses. people used to label white women liking black men as abnormal as it is less common. This abuses human rights.
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10
Q

Strength of failure to function adequately

A

1recognises the patients perspective. could be a weakness as distress is hard to assess however it recognises the patients experiences.

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11
Q

a limitation of failure to function adequately

A

1 ia rhw same as deviation from social norms. can be hard to differenciate the two, someone could lead a different syle life and this is not abnormal.
2 is subjective. some patients may say they are in distress but not judged as it. there are methods for making these judgements such as using the GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONING SCALE checklist. How does a pshycologist have the right to make this call

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12
Q

strength of deviation from ideal mental health

A
  1. is comprehensive. it covers a broad range of data.
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13
Q

limitation of deviation to ideal mental health

A
  1. may be culturally relative. some are specific to western cultures. emphasis on personal achievement would be considered self indulgent in cultures where theres a focus on comminity not self
  2. unrealistically high standard of good mental health. very few people will have all of those, therfore all of us would be abnormal. however it does make it clear to what type of help someone should get. but is of no value to thinking who might benefit from treatment against thei will.
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14
Q

behaviours of phobias

A

Panic- such as crying screaming and running

avoidance- considerable effort to avoid the stimulus so hard to live lfie

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15
Q

behaviours of deoression

A

activity levels - reduced levels of energy making them lethargic, in extremes they cannot get out of bed
disruption to sleep and eating behaviour - either high or low

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16
Q

behaviours of OCD

A

compulsions - actions that are carry out repeated in a ritual way
avoidance - avoiding situation that trigger anxiety

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17
Q

emotions of depression

A

lowered mood - feeling lethargic or sad. describe themeselves as worthless
anger - such emotions lead to anger such as self harm

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18
Q

emotions of phobias

A

anxiety and fear- fear is the immediate responce which leads to anxiety
responces are unreasonable - responces are widelt disproportionate to the threat posed

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19
Q

emotions of OCD

A

anxiety and distress - thoughts are unpleasant and frightening , the anxiety that goes can be overwhelming
guilt and disgust - irrational guilt

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20
Q

Cognitive aspects of OCD

A

obsessive thoughts - 90% of OCD sufferers have obsessive thoughts
insight into excessive anxiety - awarness that thoughts and behaviour are irrational but cannot change the fact

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21
Q

Cognitive aspects of Phobias

A

selective aspects to the phobic stimulus - its hard to look away from the phobic stimulus, cannot concentrate if its in the room
irrational beliefs- such as if i blush people will think im weak

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22
Q

Cognitive aspects of Depression

A

poor concentration - unable to stick with a tast simple decisions are difficult
absolute thinking - black and white either amazing or awful

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23
Q

what is a phobia

A

an irrational fear of something

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24
Q

what is the approach to explaining phobias

A

The two proccess model. this includes classical ocnditioning and operant conditioning. ORVAL HOBART MOWRER said phobias are learnt by CC and maintained by OC.

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25
Q

Little Albert

A

WATSON AND RAYNOR. showed how a fear or rats could be generalised into little albert.
whenever albert played with a white rat a loud noise was made close to his ear. this noise UCS caused a fear responce UCR
the rat NS did not create a fear until the banf and the rat had been paired together several times
albert showed a fear responce CR everytime he came into contact with the rat CS
This fear generalised to other things

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26
Q

What is step one of the two process model

A

Classical conditioning. This involves association:
An UCS triggers a fear responce UCR eg being bitten creates anxiety
NS is associated with the UCS eg being bitten by a dog
NS becomes a CS producing a fear which is now the CR. The dog is a CS causing a CR of anxiety

27
Q

What is an example of classical conditioning

A

Little Albert

28
Q

Can fears be generalised to other similar things

A

yes

29
Q

What is the second aspect of the two process model

A

Operant conditioning

30
Q

Explain what operant conditioning is

A

it maintains the fear by negative reinforcement or punishment.
Negative reinforces is when an individual produces behaviour that avoids something unpleaant when they do this they escape the anxiety they would otherwise experience. this reduction in fear negatively reinforces the avoidance behaviour and the phobia is maintained.

31
Q

Strengths of the two process model

A

Has good explanatory power. therefore has good implications for therapy and what to do to stop these phobias.

32
Q

Limitations of the two process model

A

1 there are alternate explanations for avoidance behaviour. in more compex phobias some avoidance is motivated by the positive feelings of safety not anxiety reduction.
2 is an incomplete explanation. we get phobias to things that were dangerous in our evolutionary past eg snakes and the dark. this is BIOLOGICAL PREPAREDNESS were more prepared to fear certain things not others, there is more to acquiring than conditioning
3not all bad experiences lead to phobias. they only develope when vulnerability exists
4 doesnt consider the cognitive aspects of phobias

33
Q

Cognitive approach to explaining depression

A

Becks cognitive thory of depression

Ellis’s ABC model

34
Q

whats becks cognitive theory of depression

A

AARON BECK suggested some people are more prone to developing depression because they have

  • -faulty information processing. they tend to focus on the negative and ignore the positive or blow small problems out of proportion
  • -negative self schemas. a schema is a package of ideas and information developed through experience. they are used to interpret the world so if its negative they view everything negatively
  • -the negative triad. views of the world, future, self.
35
Q

What is Ellis’s ABC model to explaining depression

A

Activating event, eg failing a test
Beliefs, musterbation - must always succeed. icantstandititis - everythings a disaster unless its perfect. utopianism - everything must be fair and just
Consequences eg failing a test as you didnt revise cuz you thought ypud fail.

36
Q

Strength of Bacs cognitive model to explaining depression

A

good supporting evidence. GRAZIOLI and TERRY assessed 65 womens vulnerability to getting post partum ang they women considered to be high risk did get it
practicle application as therapy. forms the basis of CBT. can be easily identified using the negative triadand chalenged in CBT. translates well in successful therpay

37
Q

limitation of Becks

A

Doesnt explain all aspect of depression. cannot explain why depressed people can be angry or suffer hallucinations .

38
Q

limitations of the ABC model

A

1 only a partial explanation. onyl applies to reactive depression not all kinds such as the kind that arises without an event.
2cognitions may not cause all aspects of depression. can be physical aspect etc.

39
Q

What is the biological approach to explaining OCD

A

Genetic explanations

Neural explanations

40
Q

What is the genetic explanation to OCD

A

1Candidate genes. specific genes have been identified which cause vulnerability to OCD. these are ones such as serotonin and Dopamine. both of these are neurotransmittes that have a role in regulating mood
2 OCD is polygenic. Caused by up to 230 genes TAYLOR and not just one
2 Different types of OCD. one group of genes will cause it in one person but another group in another person AETIOLOGICALLY HETEROGENEROUS. as well as differnt types of OCD.

41
Q

What is the neural explanations to OCD

A

1Low levels of serotonin lowers mood. Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information between neurons. low serotonin means normal transmittions of mood will not take place.
2 Decision making systems in frontal lobes impaired. some cases such as hoarding is associated with this. this in tern can be assiciated with abnormal functioning of the frontal lobe which are responsible for decision making
3 PARAHIPPOCAMPALGYRUS DYSFUNCTIONAL. the area of the brain called the ^ is associated with unpleasant emotions. this functions abnormally in OCD.

42
Q

strengths of genetic explanations

A

1 good supporting evidence. NESTADT et al reviewed twin studies and found 68% of identicle twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% id=f non-identicle twins.

43
Q

limitations of genetic explanations

A

1 too many candidate genes have been identified. each genetic variation increases the risk of OCD by only a fraction. provides very little predictive value
2 environmental risk factors are also involved. CROMER et al found over half the ocd patients had a traumatic event in their past and increases with the amount of events

44
Q

strengths of neural explanations

A

theres supporting evidence.antidepressants that are focused on serotonin work

45
Q

limitations of neural explanations

A

serotonin OCD link may not be unique to OCD. many people who suffer from ocd become depressed called CO-MORBIDITY. could be from depression not ocd.

46
Q

What are the behavioural approaches to treating phobias

A

systematic desenstitisation SD

Flooding

47
Q

What is SD

A

Systematic desnsitisation. Based on classical conditioning, counterbalancing and reciprical inhibition
aims to gradually reduce axiety through counterconditioning. the stimulus is paired wiht another responce.
An anxiety heirachy is made with the patient and is arranged from least scary to most and relaxation is practised at each stage of the heirachy until they get to the top. this is through breathing exercised and they will not move on until relaxation in maintained. takes place over several sessions

48
Q

what is reciprical inhibition.

A

you cnat be afraid and relaxed at the same time. one emotion prevents the other

49
Q

what is flooding

A

is the immediate exposure to the stimulus. bombarding the patient with no gradual build up
learns through extinction that there is no real fear as they have no option of avoidance
there are ethical issues so safeguards have to be put in place. Infromed consent must be given

50
Q

strengths to SD

A

is effective. GILROY et all followe dup patients who has SD and a fear of spiders and both 3 and 23 months later they were less fearful than the ocntrol group who were just treated with relaxation. longterm
suitable for a diverse range of patients. even learning disability people can take part
more acceptable. given the choice people pick SD, less trauma and some parts are pleasant. low refusal and attrition (drop put) rates

51
Q

whats attrition rates

A

drop out rates

52
Q

llimitation to flooding

A

less effective for complex phobias. social phobias have cognitive aspects so benefits from more cognitive therapy
traumatic, unwilling to see it through to the end so less effective.

53
Q

cognitive approach to treating depression

A

Becks patient and therapist work togehter
ellis’s tarional emotive behavioural therapy REBT
behvaioural activision

54
Q

what is Beck’s treatment.

A

the patient and therpaist work together to clarify the problem and identify thought where there might be irrational and negative thoughts.
they challenge these htoughts relating to the negative triad. they must also be challenegd by the patient taking an active role in treatment. the patient can be set homework such as recording when they are happy so the therapist can use this in future therapies as evidence

55
Q

strengths of CBT

A

it is effective. MARCH et all compared the effects of cbt, drugs and bth and cbt was just as effective as drugs and only 5% less effective than both with 327 deressed adolescence

56
Q

limitations of CBT

A

1 may not work for the most severe cases. not willing to take an active role so need natidepressants first
2 success may be due to the scientist patient relationship not ht emethod. ROSENZWIEG suggets this is the key ingreiant for success as there are very small difference in treatment mwthods.

57
Q

what is REBT

A

extends the ABC to ABCDE. D is dispute challenging the beliefs and E is effect. there woudl be an empirical argument, is there evidence of a logical argument, if it comes from facts.

58
Q

what is behavioural activision

A

the goal of therapy. as patients come depressed they avoid situations and become isolated, this encourages patients to engage in activity which increases thei mood

59
Q

limitations of REBT

A

1 some patients wants to explore their past but htis only focuses on the present
2 discourges patients form changing their circumstances in ehihc they are living which need to be changed. emphasis on mind not environment

60
Q

what is the biological approach to treating OCD

A

Drug therapies

61
Q

Describe drug therapy

A

changing levels of transmitters. aimraise levels of serotonin etc.
Selective serotonin reuptake inbibito SSRIS prevent the reabsorbtions and breakdown of serotonin n the brain so there i more for the synapses and continue to stimulte nurons. typical dosage s 20mg but can be increased, takes 3-4 months to take effect
combining SSRIs with CBT so they can engage better with CBT.
alternatives to SSRIS are tricyclics which have more severe side effects or SNRIs are a second line of defece and increase levels of serotonin and noradrenaline.

62
Q

strengths of drug therapy

A

1 effective. SOOMRO proved SSRI s treat OCD significantly better than placebos espcecially when combined with therapy. symptoms reduced arounf 70%
2 cost effective for the NHS ompared wiht therapy and doesnt disrupt everyday life

63
Q

limitations to drug therapy

A
  • can have side effects. which are most of the time only temporary but can effect a minirity of patients such as indigestion, blurrred vision, lack of sex drive. with certain drugs these are more common, these canc use ppl to stop taking them
  • unreliable. some controversy weather the evidence is biased as drug comanies dont report all evidence to maximise economic gain
  • OCD can follow trauma.so treatment shuld be cognitive.

psychology (3 decks)

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