Psychological Disorders and treatments

Question 1

Define a psychological disorder.

Answer 1

Any distress or dysfunction in an individual that affects
their everyday functioning including impairment of: mood, behaviour or cognition.

Question 2

Categories of disorders?

Answer 2

Mood
Personality
Psychotic
Anxiety

Question 3

Mood disorder?

Answer 3

A disturbance of emotional state. (i.e major depressive disorder, dysthymia).

Question 4

Personality disorder?

Answer 4

Those in which an individual shows long-term
consistent, rigid, unhealthy patterns of thinking, functioning and behaving, that differ markedly from what is culturally acceptable. (i.e Borderline personality disorder).

Question 5

Psychotic disorders?

Answer 5

Involves loss of contact with reality (psychosis); can be short or long term. (i.e schizophrenia).

Question 6

Anxiety disorders?

Answer 6

A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. A little is normal, but if it is execessive and interferes with everyday functioning, it may be a disorder. (i.e OCD, GAD, PTSD)

Question 7

Describe a phobia.

Answer 7

A phobia is a persistent, irrational, intense fear of a situation or object.

Question 8

What are the predicted causes of anxiety?

Answer 8

Biological
Psychological
Sociological

Question 9

How can biological factors contribute?

Answer 9

Stress responses
Genes
Stressful life events

Question 10

How can psychological factors contribute?

Answer 10

The behavioural approach - associate fears with unrelated events, causes avoidance
The cognitive approach
- focusses on thoughts (i.e overthinking, constant worst-case scenario).
The Sociocultural approach
- Environmental influence (witnessing a traumatic event)
Parenting
Threat information; hearing about dangerous things online.

Question 11

Risk factors that contribute to the forming or relapsing into psychological disorders?

Answer 11

Factors that contribute to the likelihood of a person developing or relapsing into a mental disorder.

Question 12

Protective factor that contribute to psychological disorders?

Answer 12

factors that guard against the onset or relapse of a mental disorder.

Question 13

What are some biological factors that could cause psychological disorders?

Answer 13

Genes - alterations to genetic code, negatively affecting those regions of the brain.
Medication - Poor bodily responses to a medication.
Sleep - poor sleeping habits
Substance use - drugs

Question 14

What are some psychological factors that could cause psychological disorders?

Answer 14

Rumination - excessive thinking or worrying.
Impaired reasoning and memory
Stress
Poor self efficacy (ability to produce a desired or intended result).

Question 15

What are some social factors that could cause psychological disorders?

Answer 15

Disorganised attachment - individuals who find it difficult to share their
feelings or relate with others.
Loss of significant relationships

Question 16

Define stigma.

Answer 16

a “mark of shame” associated with mental disorders. Stigma reduces the likelihood that people will disclose their symptoms or seek treatment for fear of judgment.

Question 17

Distinguish between self stigma and social stigma.

Answer 17

Self- stigma occurs when a mental health sufferer internalises negative
stereotypes and has subsequent negative emotional reactions to their mental illness, including low self- esteem and poor self- efficacy
Social stigma includes the various prejudices and discrimination directed
at individuals with mental disorders by the general public.

Question 18

Describe the biopsychosocial model.

Answer 18

A holistic approach to treating psychological disorders by looking at biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

Question 19

How does psychotherapy work?

Answer 19

focuses on uncovering unhelpful unconscious
thoughts, particularly repressed problems originating in childhood.

Question 20

Pharmacotherapy?

Answer 20

Medication is prescribed. (if the cause is biological)

Question 21

Electroconvulsive therapy?

Answer 21

Patients are anaesthetised and given an electric shock via electrodes attached to
the head. Used to treat major depression and bipolar disorders.

Question 22

Psychosurgery?

Answer 22

Patients undergo brain surgery to remove or destroy part of the brain.

Question 23

Placebo treatment?

Answer 23

Placebo treatments raise ethical questions in mental health treatment.