Psych topic test

Question 1

Explain the 4 parts of GABA Dysfunction in an exam question.

Answer 1

1. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that calms the nervous system.
2. When there are inadequate amounts of GABA, the nervous systems excitation is not calmed.
3. Therefore GABA dysfunction causes an overactive stress response.
4. Therefore it can increase anxiety in relation to a phobic stimulus.

Question 2

Explain the 3 parts of LTP in an exam question.

Answer 2

1. LTP is the long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections through repeated co-activation of neural pathways.
2. When we experience anxiety in response to a phobic stimulus, the neural networks associated with fear/anxiety and the phobic stimulus are activated.
3. This strengthens the association between the phobic stimulus and anxiety over time, contributing to the development of a specific phobia.

Question 3

What is a precipitating factor?

Answer 3

The events that trigger the specific phobia to actually occur.

Question 4

What is a perpetuating factor?

Answer 4

Keeps people from recovering once they already have a phobia.

Question 5

Explain the process of classical conditioning.

Answer 5

1. In before conditioning the neutral stimulus causes no response and the unconditioned stimulus causes an unconditioned response. 2. During conditioning the neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus which causes an unconditioned response. 3. After conditioning the previously neutral stimulus has been conditioned to create a conditioned response. 4. remember to associate the stimulus with the question. e.g balloon= ucs.

Question 6

Explain precipitation through classical conditioning.

Answer 6

Precipitation through CC means the events/object of which was a previously neutral stimulus (balloon) is paired with something frightening, painful or traumatic. Which leaves the person with an automatic learned association between events/object and fear.

Question 7

Explain the process of operant conditioning.

Answer 7

The antecedent is the stimulus that triggers the behaviour, the behaviour is the action that is performed because of the antecedent, the consequence can be divided into reinforcement and punishment. If there is reinforcement the behaviour will be increased in conditions of the antecedent, if their is punishment the behaviour will be reduced in conditions of the thought.

Question 8

Explain perpetuation through operant conditioning.

Answer 8

Perpetuation through operant conditioning refers to the, antecedent which is the stimulus that triggers the behaviour, than comes the behaviour which is the voluntary action performed, and finally the consequence which is either reinforcement or punishment. Positive and negative for both, by adding or removing a pleasant or unpleasant stimulus.

Question 9

What is cognitive bias?

Answer 9

Cognitive bias is a genetic predisposition to think in a certain way, which can lead to errors in thinking, the two types of cognitive bias are: memory bias and catastrophic thinking.

Question 10

What is memory bias?

Answer 10

Memory bias is when fearful individuals interpret and remember threat-relevant info, more likely to remember info that the phobic stimulus is more harmful than it is.

Question 11

What is catastrophic thinking?

Answer 11

Catastrophic thinking is ruminating about irrational, worst case outcomes. A stimulus or event is anticipated to be far worse then it really is.

Question 11

What are specific environmental triggers?

Answer 11

They refer to stimuli or experiences in a person’s environment that prompt an extreme stress response, leading to the development of a phobia.

Question 12

What is stigma around seeking treatment?

Answer 12

Refers to the decrease likelihood of accessing interventions to prevent or treat their phobia due to experiencing shame, disgrace or social disapproval, this is likely to perpetuate specific phobia.

Question 13

What is social stigma?

Answer 13

Refers to any aspect of an individual’s identity that is devalued in a social context , it can involve negative attitudes and beliefs from the community which can cause people to discriminate against someone with a mental disorder.

Question 14

What is self-stigma?

Answer 14

Refers to accepting negative views that individuals hold to themselves. For example having depression makes me weak.

Question 15

What are benzodiazepines?

Answer 15

Are a class of anti-anxiety medication prescribed to people with anxiety disorders, they are short acting and fast acting. They are also GABA agonists (help the effectiveness of GABA.

Question 16

What are the steps in Benzos as GABA agonists.

Answer 16

1. GABA is a inhibitory neurotransmitter that relaxes the nervous system. 2. GABA dysfunction results in an overactive nervous system because it can’t have it’s inhibitory affect. 3. Benzodiazepines increase the effectiveness of GABA. 4. Therefore relax the nervous system and reduce anxiety. 5. They are short acting so used at the point of need when experiencing phobic-anxiety.

Question 17

What is breathing retraining?

Answer 17

It is a method used to teach someone to help calm anxiety. By learning how to control their breathing when in the presence of the phobic stimulus this can activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 18

What are the 2 types of psychotherapy?

Answer 18

CBT, Systematic desensitisation.

Question 19

What is CBT exam question?

Answer 19

1. CBT is a psychotherapeutic treatment that helps someone replace their dysfunctional thoughts and behaviours with more helpful ones. 2. give an example of CBT present in the scenario for example, instead of being worried about falling off a bike we can change that to, this bike ride is going to be so much fun in the sun in a positive way. 3. Link that the thought of being scared of riding the bike and deciding to avoid it can perpetuate the phobia.

Question 20

What is systematic desensitisation in exam question?

Answer 20

1. Learn a relaxation technique like breathing retraining. 2. Develop a hierarchy of fears. 3. Gradual step by step exposure to each item of the fear hierarchy from the least anxiety inducing to the most while being paired with the relaxation technique. 4. continue until the most anxiety inducing stimulus is presented without producing the fear response.

Question 21

What is psychoeducation for families/supporters?

Answer 21

It refers to Challenging unrealistic or anxious thoughts and Not encouraging avoidance behaviours. It is specifically for families/supporters and it educates families about how phobias work and their management.

Question 22

What is challenging unrealistic or anxious thoughts?

Answer 22

Refers to challenging thoughts that trigger anxiety, your family and supporters can help you when you have these thoughts by challenging them with an optimistic look, instead of its spring all the bees are out, I will get stung and have an allergic reaction to is there a definite chance that will happen, will the bees want too sting you if you stay away from them? etc.

Question 23

What does not encouraging avoidance behaviours mean?

Answer 23

This refers to family recognising avoidance behaviours and instead encouraging them to face the phobic stimulus, because avoidance is maladaptive and perpetuates the fear.