psychological problems Flashcards
international classification diseases ICD
a list of symptoms/other features off different physical/mental health problems which provide the criteria for diagnosing them
culture in mental health problems
-culture varies in mental health belief
-mental health problems is seen as shameful-stigma
-culture influences the type of treatment someone receives
-kept away from family, medication used, emotions valued and iscolation
characteristic of good mental health
-not being overcome by feelings
-good relationships
-copes with stress/every day demands
-functions with society
stigma
situations/people or characteristics
mental health definition
a persons emotional and psychological well being that allows them to cope with normal stresses of everyday life and society
mental health problems definition
diagnosable condition in which a persons thought, feelings and behaviors change and they are less able to cope and function
why mental health problems are becoming more common
-many mental health conditions like depression have a growing upward trend, some stay constant
-rising may be because more people meet criteria, more people are seeking help and cultures rely less on traditional methods
challenges of modern living and effects on mental health
-living in more populated areas=increase stress
-challenges n the way we live increases loneliness and isolation
-more people living on their own, family breakdown
-social media replaces face to face communication
mental health effects on individuals and on society
individuals=trouble sleeping, low energy levels and even poor concentration, decreased physical wellbeing
society= problems it has for the economy.
money lost due to decreased work productivity.
link between imprisonment and mental health problems.
increased spending’s in health areas
what is sadness
normal emotional reaction to certain situations or events
difference between sadness and depression
-Sadness is a normal emotional reaction to certain situations or events, while depression occurs without any obvious trigger.
-sadness is not a continuous feeling, Depression affects every part of our daily lives and often does not get better without medical or therapeutic intervention.
what is unipolar depression
Unipolar depression (depression or just depression). a mood disorder where individuals have a continuous low mood and loss of enjoyment and energy.
bipolar depression
a mood disorder that causes an individual mood, energy and activity to change from one extreme to another
bipolar depression experiences two types of mood changes.
diagnosing unipolar depression
The ICD-10 outlines the symptoms for a depressive episode as:
Low Mood
Reduced energy and activity levels
Changes in sleep pattern
Changes to appetite levels
the influence of nature for depression- biological explanation
one suggestion is that it is influenced by nature
-depression can be caused by imbalance of of neurotransmitters-chemicals.
-Neurons are communicating constantly with one another using neurotransmitters and this is very important for the brain to function properly.
The two main neurotransmitters linked with depression are serotonin and norepinephrine.
serotonin=helps control sleep patterns, aggression, appetite and mood. .
Norepinephrine= is released during the fight and flight response and gets the body and brain ready for action.
studies show link between neurotransmitters and depression however it is difficult to measure the actual levels within the complex brain.
influence of nurture for depression-psychological explanation
cognitive theory for depression-people explain the things that happen to them and the views they have about the world and themselves. Theory based on schemas Having negative schemas have been linked to the development of depression. EG-traumatic events in childhood may contribute to the development of negative schemas which affect the way people view themselves and the world. They can perceive situations negatively to an exaggerated degree.
how attributions influence depression
Attributions are the way in which people explain the causes of behaviours and situations.
Two dimensions of attributions are internal-external and stable-unstable.
-internal attribution= people explain situations/ behaviors as being caused by dispositional factors such as personality or ability.
-external attribution= people explain situations/ behaviors as being caused by situational factors, such as the weather or the economy.
-stable attribution= explain situations or behaviours as being caused by factors that do not change i.e. gender.
-unstable attribution= explain the behaviour or situation as being caused by factors that are temporary i.e. tiredness
research has found that people who are more likely to be depressed have attributions that are internal and stable.
treatments for depression- antidepressants
Antidepressants work by increasing the levels of the neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline.
SSRIs -most common stop the reuptake of serotonin.
stopping this reuptake process increases the levels of serotonin which contributes to the reduced effects of depression.
However, research suggests antidepressants are not as effective for people suffering from mild depression.
Treatments for depression: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
-It is based on cognitive theory and the assumption that our thought processes affect our behaviour and emotions.
-CBT is a “talking therapy” that looks to help people change their thinking patterns, such as negative schemas which may have developed.
-tackles depression by getting people to focus on the “here and now” problems rather than those from the past or imagined ones.
CBT IS A REDUCTIONIST APPROACH
Wiles’ effectiveness of CBT study (2013) showed positive results for the use of CBT in treating depression.
holistic approach
the view that the parts of something are all connected and understandable by studying it from a whole e.g. mix of biological, psychological and social factors
reductionist approach
understanding a complex thing like human behavior by simplifying it to the basic parts
description Wiles’ Study of the Effectiveness of CBT
Aim: to investigate the effectiveness of (CBT) in treating depressed people who did not show improvement from taking medication.
study: longitudinal field experiment carried out in the real-life environment. Participants lived in the UK, 18-75 years old. They had been taking antidepressants for at least 6 weeks with little or no improvement.
Method: Participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups. An experimental group of 234 participants were allocated to receive CBT as well as antidepressant medication. A control group of 235 participants were allocated to continue to take only antidepressants and normal medical care.
Results: After 6 months, 90% of participants were followed up. Researchers found 46% of the group who received CBT showed a notable improvement in symptoms compared to only 22% of the control group.
Conclusion: When CBT is used in addition to antidepressants and normal medical care, it is an effective way of reducing the symptoms of depression
evaluation of Wiles’ Study of the Effectiveness of CBT
STRENGTH=
-longitudinal study shows changes and effects over time
-extraneous variables controlled
-more holistic approach, study used to develop a useful therapy
WEAKNESS=
-the use of self report methods to determine levels of depression
-Although almost half of the participants in Wiles’ study showed improvement after having CBT, 54% of participants did not.
substance misuse
using a substances for a purpose, or in harmful amounts that is different to the recommended pattern of use
substance abuse
using a substance in a way that id dangerous often because of a consistent patter of use
dependence definition
(physiological)
biological effect caused by repeated use of a substance. The body only functions normally when substance is present. When it is not present, withdrawal symptoms occur
addiction definition
(physiological and behavioral)
biological and behavioral effects caused by repeated use of a substance resulting in an individual becoming entirely focused on the substance which they need to have regularly in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms
symptoms for diagnosing dependence syndrome
The actual medical term for addiction is dependence syndrome. It describes when a substance becomes more important than other behaviors
SYPTOMS=
-strong desire to use substance despite consequences
-difficulty in controlling use
-higher priority to substance then other activities
-withdrawal symptoms
-increased tolerance to substance
A Biological Explanation for Addiction
-Biological explanations for addiction suggest people may inherit a genetic vulnerability towards addiction.
- These people have a higher chance when trying substances
-Evidence supporting genetic explanations for addiction comes from Kaij’s twin study
Psychological Explanations for Addiction-
-The influence of nurture provides possible psychological explanations for addiction.
-social influence and conformity
-Peer influence has also been found to be a key factor in the use of drugs
Kaij’s Alcohol Abuse in Twins Study description
AIM: to see if hereditary factors influence the development of alcohol addiction
STUDY DESIGN: case study which included questionnaires, interviews of twins and family members, psychological testing, birth records and a public register of alcohol abusers to identify participants for the study.
A total of 174 pairs of participants were gathered.
48 of the pairs were identical twins (monozygotic) and 126 pairs were non-identical twins (dizygotic).
All the participants were male and born in southern Sweden after 1880.
METHOD: Using information gathered from the methods , Kaij categorised each twin dependent on their level of alcohol usage. In total there were 5 categories ranging from not drinking at all to a chronic alcoholic.
RESULTS: 54% of identical twins were in the same category of alcohol use compared to only 28% of non-identical twins.
CONCLUSION: herediatry factors were involved in the levels of alcohol usage in alochol addiction.
Kaij’s Alcohol Abuse in Twins Study evaluation
STRENGTHS:
-supporting evidence for hereditary factors being involved in alcohol addiction and levels of alcohol usage.
WEAKNESS:
-results provided by the participant and family members which is largely subjective and difficult to verify.
-focused on alcohol abuse and therefore could not be generalized to include addiction to other substances.
-don’t take nurture and the environment into consideration, twins were raised together.
Aversion Therapy
-help people stop their addictive behaviours by pairing the substance with some unpleasant stimuli
-individual takes some medication or substance that causes an unpleasant reaction when drugs, tobacco or alcohol are consumed. This is usually causes vomiting.
-Research into aversion therapy shows it to be effective but only in the short term.
-When aversion therapy is combined with other support such as counselling or self-management programmes, it is seen to be the most effective.
strengths + weakness of Aversion therapy
STRENGTHS=
-can be combined with CBT in a holistic way
-gets rid of the immediate urge, CBT provides long lasting support
WEAKNESS=
- the unpleasant treatment people experience., Due to this, there is a high dropout rate
-ethical concerns as individuals are harmed in various ways with unwanted stimuli.
-reductionist approach
-short term
-‘here and now’ aspect of the problem rather than problems of the past
Self-Management Programmes
-interventions designed to give addicts the help they need to manage their addictions. The programmes provide peer support, accountability and opportunities to develop greater self-awareness.
-The 12-steps provide addicts with guidelines to help them move towards and through recovery, some with spiritual elements.
-examples are AA, NA
strengths and weaknesses of Self-Management Programmes
STRENGTH=
- holistic approach to dealing with the addiction as they help people deal with other factors involved in their addiction
-provide an opportunity for individuals to explore issues from the past, present and future
WEAKNESS=
-Studies into the effectiveness of the programmes are difficult to compile because of the need to allow group members anonymity.
-control groups cannot be used for ethical reasons.
