Psychological Problems Flashcards
Psychological Problems
Name 5 charactearistics of good mental health.
AO1
Mental Health Introduction
Possible answers:
* Positive engagement with society
* Effectively copes with challenges
* Not being overcome by difficult feelings
* Good relationships with others
* Ability to deal with disappointments and problems
* Ability to cope with stresses and demands of every day life
* Ability to make decisions
Individuals with poor mental health have an absence of several factors.
Psychological Problems
How do beliefs in mental health vary culturally?
AO1
Mental Health Introduction
People around the world have different interpretations as to what poor mental health is. Behaviours considered abnormal in the Western world may be normal in other cultures (e.g. hearing voices is a sign of schizophrenia, but it may be interpreted as God in India and Africa)
Some mental health disorders may be culturally bound syndromes because they are only recognised in certain cultures (e.g. Koro in Asia, anorexia in the West)
Psychological Problems
Why has the incidence of mental health problems increased over time?
AO1
Mental Health Introduction
- Increased challenges in modern living: Economic deprivation in modern times, especially in low-income households compared to high-income households. Elderly people in cities who have lost relatives/have mobility issues also live in isolation and struggle to socialise.
- Increased recognition of the nature of mental health problems: There has been a growth in the identification of mental and physical health problems. Historically, mental health problems were associated with supernatural/spiritual causes, but psychiatric science was developed in the 19th century and over time medication was used to treat mental health disorders. Biological and psychological explanations are becoming more recognised and diagnoses rates are expected to rise.
- Lessening of social stigma: Historically, people with psychological problems were labelled as insane/lunatics. These labels can be harmful or discriminatory, reducing the likelihood of seeking treatment. The term ‘mental health problems’ aimed to reduce the stigma. Research has also found that as people become more aware and accepting of mental health problems, others are more likely to seek treatment and be diagnosed because there is a lessening in the social stigma.
Psychological Problems
What are the 3 main individual effects of poor mental health?
AO1
Mental Health Introduction
- Damage to relationships: People with mental health problems may struggle to communicate with family and friends. They also tend to isolate themselves in fear of being judged or because they feel bad about themselves. This may be misinterpreted by those around them, which damages the relationship.
- Negative impact on physical wellbeing: When individuals are stressed or anxious, their body releases a hormone called cortisol. This weakens their immune system and makes them more susceptible to illnesses (e.g. colds). People with mental health problems may also undereat or overeat, causing weight loss or weight gain. There may also be changes in their sleep pattern. These can be treated with medication which may also have side effects (e.g. trouble concentrating)
- Difficulties coping with day-to-day life: Individuals with poor mental health may not be able to keep up with the demands of every day life, including getting out of bed, getting dressed, preparing food, or keeping their home tidy. They may also struggle with activities outside of home such as socialising or engaging in hobbies. This may lead to poor attendance at work (which leads to unemployment) or school (which leads to poor qualifications).
DND - do not disturb me
Psychological Problems
What are the 3 main social effects of poor mental health?
AO1
Mental Health Introduction
- Need for more social care: In the UK, taxes pay for social care services which provides basic necessities such as food, warmth, and human company for those struggling with mental health problems. They may encourage people to learn new social and work skills to help them feel less isolated and more competent. As the number of people diagnosed with mental health problems increases, so does the need for social care services.
- Increased crime rates: Although mental health problems do not directly cause violent behaviour, victims of substance abuse can result in a person becoming violent. People with mental health problems are often more isolated and have a lower standard of living, which can also cause violent behaviour.
- Implications on the economy: In England, the direct costs of mental health is around 22 billion a year. This does not include indirect costs such as the impacts on the criminal justice system and unemployment benefits. Additionally, as life expectancy increases, so does the development of dementia. This means older people require more care which will cost the government more money.
Psychological Problems
What symptoms does the ICD-10 classify depression as?
AO1
Depression
- Low mood
- Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
- Reduced energy levels (lethargy)
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Changes in appetite levels
- Decrease in self-confidence
- Reduced concentration and attention
- Ideas of self-harm or suicide
- Ideas of guilt or worthlessness
- Pessimistic view of the future
Psychological Problems
Compare unipolar and bipolar depression.
AO1
Depression
People with unipolar depression only experience one emotional state (depression), whereas people with bipolar depression experience changes between two mood states (depression and mania). Individuals diagnosed with bipolar depression alternate between states of manic behaviour, running around, making big plans, and feeling very excited, and then periods of depression. There may be periods of ‘normal’ moods in between (episodic disorder).
Psychological Problems
Describe the biological explanation behind depression.
AO1
Depression
The biological explanation behind depression focuses on neurochemistry, perticularly the neutransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for mood regulation. If enough serotonin is transmitted through the synaptic cleft, the post-synaptic neuron is stimulated, leading to improved mood. However, individuals with depression have a dysregulation of the reuptake mechanism in the synaptic cleft, which means serotonin diffusing through the synapse is taken back into the pre-synaptic neuron. The post-syneptic neuron will therefore not be stimulated due to a lack of serotonin. This results in low mood, however it can also affect other behavioural aspects such as sleep, memory, and appetite.
Psychological Problems
Evaluate the biological explanation behind depression.
AO3
Depression
A weakness of the biological explanation is that the research is based on correlations. This is a problem because correlations only show a link between depression and serotonin levels, meanwhile there could be a third factor such as the loss of a loved one that could affect these results, making it difficult to establish a cause and effect. Therefore, this reduces the validity of the biological explanation.
Furthermore, the biological explanation of depression can be criticised for being recutionist. This is because it reduces the complex behaviour of depression down to serotonin levels. It ignores the holistic approach which considers social and psychological aspects as well. Therefore, the biological explanation may lack validity as an explanation for depression.
An alternative explanation of depression is the cognitive approach which suggests that depression is due to faulty thinking and negative schemas, rather than low levels of serotonin in the brain. Therefore, the biological explanation may not be the only explanation to consider when explaining depression, and specialists must consider psychological reasons.
Psychological Problems
How do SSRIs work?
(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
AO1
Depression
According to the biological approach, low levels of serotonin cause depression. Therefore, in order to treat depression, we increase an individual’s serotonin levels using SSRIs. This works by blocking the reuptake of serotonin from the synapse back into the pre-synaptic neuron. This leaves more serotonin in the synapse in addition to the new serotonin being released from the presynaptic neuron. This allows the serotonin to continue stimulating the post-synaptic neuron and transmitting messages, as a result this decreases the symptoms of depression and mood will be improved.
Psychological Problems
Evaluate the use of SSRIs as a way to treat depression.
(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
AO3
Depression
A weakness of SSRIs is that they have side effects including nausea, insomnia, and dizziness. Some people also reported having suicidal thoughts while on antidepressant medication. This is unlike CBT which does not cause side effects. Therefore, SSRIs may not be effective in treating depression as people may stop taking them to stop the side effects.
A further limitation of SSRIs as a treatment for depression is that there is some uncertainty as to how effective they are. Around 50-65% of people will experience some improvement by taking them but 25-30% will also improve after taking a placebo. Just the belief that they are taking medication leads to an improvement. This limits the use of SSRIs as a treatment ofr depression because it suggests there may not be a physical basis for depression at all
Another weakness of SSRIs is that the treatment is reductionist. It reduces the treatment of depression to increasing serotonin. It neglects the holistic approach which considers psychological and social factors that may be causing depression. This limits the use of SSRIs as a treatment for depression.
use SERM
Psychological Problems
Explain what is meant by faulty thinking as a psychological explanation of depression.
AO1
Depression
When a person suffers from depression, they tend to focus more on the negative aspects of a situation rather than the positives. This is known as magnification and minimisation as the negative aspects are exaggerated and the positives are ignored. This leads to feelings of hopelessness and depression.
Psychological Problems
Explain what is meant by negative schemas as a psychological explanation of depression.
AO1
Depression
Schemas are a mental representation an individual has of the world, themselves, and other situations. They are developed through past experiences.
Individuals with depression have a negative self-schema, which means they are likely to interpret all information about themselves in a negative way, making them more susceptible to developing depression.
Psychological Problems
Explain what is meant by attributions as a psychological explanation of depression.
AO1
Depression
An attribution is the process of explaining causes of behaviour. When we observe a behaviour, we unconsciously attribute explanations for it. We also explain our own behaviour this way. Some people have a negative attribution style where they tend to attribute blame to themselves. The three main types are internal, stable, and global.
Someone who does not directly attribute blame to themselves and their abilities has an unstable and external attribution style.
Research has found that individuals who have internal and stable attribution styles are more likely to develop depression because they see problems as their fault and permanent.
Psychological Problems
Evaluate the psychological explanation behind depression.
AO3
Depression
Research to support the psychological approach was conducted by Grazioli and Terry. They tested 65 pregnant women on their cognitive vulnerability, and they found that those with a high cognitive vulnerability (displayed negative thinking) were more likely to develop post-natal depression than those who didn’t. This supports the cognitive approach to explaining depression because it demonstrates the role of negative thoughts in the development iof depression.
However, a weakness of psychological explanation is that many of the research into it is based on correltaions. This is a problem because correlations only show a linl between depression and negative schemas/attributions, so a cause and effect cannot be established. It may be that depression is causing faulty thoughts rather than faulty thoughts causing depression. Therefore, this lowers the validity of the psychological explanation of depression.
An alternative explanation of depression is the biological approach, which suggests depression is due to low serotonin levels in the brain rather than faulty thinking, negaitve schemas or attribution styles. Therefore, the psychological exlplanation may not be the only explanation to consider when explaining and diagnosing depression.
Psychological Problems
Outline the use of psychological therapies (CBT) to treat depression.
AO1
Depression
The aim of cognitive behavioural therapy is to challenge faulty, irrational thought processes and change them into rational, logical ones. The cognitive aspect focuses on challenging the client’s irrational and faulty thoughts via disputing. The therapist will ask the client questions like “where is the proof that everybody hates you” or “do you always do badly in schoolwork?”. This will make the client see through their irrational thoughts and change them into more rational, logical ones. The therapist also encourages the client to take part in pleasurable activities daily such as exercise or hobbies they once enjoyed. This will create positive emotions and improve mood. Additionally, clients are asked to complete a thiught diarty where they write down any negative irrational thoughts they have and write a rational response. This helps them practive disputing techniques in real life to reduce the negative thoughts causing their depression.
Psychological Problems
Evaluate the use of psychological therapies (CBT) to treat depression.
AO3
Depression
One strength of CBT is that it has no side effects because it is a non-invasive treatment. This is unlike SRRIs which can cause nausea, insomnia, and dizziness. This means people are more likely to attend CBT sessions to avoid side effects, making it a more effective method to treat depression.
Research to support the effectiveness of CBT was conducted by Wiles et al. She randomly allocated depressed participants to either the antidepressants condition or the antidepressants paired with CBT condition. She found that those who had combined antidepressants with CBT showed more reduction in symptoms compared to those with antidepressants alone. This shows that CBT is effective in reducing depression and there is a greater chance of recovery comapred to antidepressants alone.
Furthermore, CBT as a treatment for depression is holistic. This is because it looks at the bigger picture by focusing on a person’s thoughts and feeling and how these are impacted by their depression, unlike SSRIs which is a reductionist treatment because it reduces treatment down to neurotransmitters. This suggests CBT may be a more appropriate treatment for depression compared to SSRIs as it focuses on a wide range of factors that may impact an individuals’s depression.
