Psychological Problems Flashcards
2 ways mental health problems can be identified and classified
- ICD-10 - Europe
DSM-5 - American
What can a person do to keep themselves mentally healthy
- healthy weight + diet
- Talk about feelings or journal
- walk outside
- hobby
- self care
- practise gratitude
- therapy
- routine
- meditate
Explain 2 cultural diff
Characteristics of good mental health
- positive engagement with society
- able to make decisions
- able to cope with stresses and demands of life
- good relaitonships with people
Cultural variations in Beliefs about mental health problems
- asian - stigmatised, seen as a weakness
- attritubed to supernatural or witches - europe
- heal by prayers/excorcisms or medication
What is the term “social stigma” in relation to mental health?
- situations, ppl or characteristics that are disapproved of and seen as shameful by much of society
Challenges of modern livingn and effect on mental health
- more populated = more active amygdala = responds to threat = increased stress
- loneliness and isolation - away from people due to work
- technology - replaces face to face interaction
Effect of mental health problems on individuals
- low energy - no word - unemployment - more stress
- relationships damaged - fam members can develop a disorder too - fam members = carers = increase stress and conflict
- Children can go into the care system
Sadness
- normal emotional reaction
- not continous
depression
- no obvious trigger, affects daily life, doesnt get better without medical intervention
bipolar depression
mood disorder that causes an indiviudal mood, energy and activity levels to change from one extreme to another
unipolar depression
mood disorder that causes an individual to feel constantly sad, lose interest and enjoymenr, reduced energy and activity levels
How long should symptoms go on for before a proper diagnosis?
2 weeks
ICD 10 symptoms for depressive episode
- Low Mood
- Reduced energy and activity levels
- Changes in sleep pattern
- Changes to appetite levels
- Decreased self-confidence
- Lack of interest and enjoyment
- Reduced concentration and focus
- Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- Negative thoughts about the future
- Suicidal thoughts
Schemas
packets of info in our mind that are developed and changed through knowledge and experiences
attributions
the way in which ppl explain the causes of situations and behaviour
What is cognitive theory?
our thoughts processes affect our behaviour
our behaviour and emotions are influences by the way ppl explain the things that happen to them and views that they have about themselves and the world
What causes negative schema?
traumatic events (childhood), affect way ppl think about themselves and the world
How might negative schemas affect smn?
Perceive situations negatively to an exaggerated degree
Types of attributions
Internal, external, stable, unstable
Internal attribution
Behaviour is casued by personality or ability
External attribution
Behaviour is caused by situational factors in the environment eg weather
Stable atttribution
Behaviour is caused by unchanging factors like gender
Unstable attribution
Behavioru caused by temporary factors like tiredness
What kind of attribution is more like to be depressed?
Internal and stable
Reductionist approaches
Best way to understand complex human behaviour is to break it down into itsmost basic and fundamental parts and study it
Holistic approaches
Best way to understand complex as human behavaiour is to look at it as a whole and bring ALL the diff parts together that might be affecting it
Psychological explanations for depression - Reductionism
- Depression casued by our genes and neurotransmitters
- Depression can only be treated with antidepressants
- CBT only considers a persons thinking patterns when looking at depression
Psychological explanation of depression - Holism
- depression is a combo of biological, + psychological + social factors
- Treatment should include med, therapy, and positive lifestyle changes
Limitation of psychological explanation of depression
- Its a reductionist approach
- By doing so, it ignores trauma, social factors
- Important because we must consider other factors like these
- Therefore causes of depression should take amore holistic viewpoint and consider otehr factors and how they come together and interact
CBT
- Cognitive treatment for depression - talking therapy based on cognitive theory
- helps ppl change their thinking patterns like negative schemas
- focus on “here and now” probs rather than past/imagined ones
Limitation of CBT
- Very reductionist approach - only focusses on our thought processes that affect our behaviour + only “here and now” not the past
- Means it fails to consider other factors that could cause depression like biological approacj
- However, Wiles = CBT effective in treating depression - there is evidence
- Raises its ecological validity because evidence shows therapy is effective in everday life
Addiction
Repeated use of a substance resulting in an individual becoming entirely focussed on the substance, which they need to have regularly in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms
Dependece
When the repeated use of a substance results in the individuals brain and body only functioning normally when substance is present - if not = withdrawal symptoms
Substance abuse
Using a substance in a way thats harmful or dangerous, often because of a consistent pattern of use
Substance misuse
Using substance for purposes or in amount,that may be harmful and thats diff to the recommended pattern of use
Biological explanation for addiction
- Some ppl inherit a genetic vulnerability toward addiction - more likely to develop
- Kaji conducted a “Twin study” - found out there was higher GV for substance abuse in twins
- This theory is reductionist - ignores environmental influences like trauma/peer infleunces which may lead to addiction
Nurture explanation for addiction
- Environment has a greater infleucnce on addiction
- social pressure and peer infleunce play a role in how liekly we are to start using
- this is reductionist - doesnt consider ppl generally choose their peer groups and also ignore - personality, trauma
med term for addiction
dependence syndrome
Symptoms in ICD-10 for dependence Syndrome
- Strong desire to use substance despite consequences
- difficulty in controlling use
- higher priority given to substance than other things
- withdrawal symptoms when stopped
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Explain biological explanation for depression start
- Originates in process of synaptic transmission
- First neurotransmitter involved in depression = serotonin
Bio explanation for depression
Synaptic transmission
when neurotransmitters are involved in transforming an electric signal to a chemical one in order to enable the message to pass on from 1 neuron to another
Bio explanation for depression
Serotonin
- mood neurotransmitter
- regulates mood, memory, sleep and apetite
- PET scan - depressed have less in brains compared to controls
- Especially in hippocampus - responsible for storing memories and connecting them to emotions
Bio explanation for depression
What leads to improved mood?
- Serotonin transports signals from presynaptic cleft to postsynaptic cleft
- If there is plenty of it, synapse then the postsynaptic neuron is stimulated = better mood
Bio explanation for depression
What leads to poor mood?
- If levels of serotinin are low, msg not transmitted
Bio explanation for depression
Factors related to levels of serotonin
- genetics - inherit ability to produc eless
- diet may play a role - less protein like eggs - taking less tryptophan - ingredient for serotonin production
Bio explanation for depression
What is the second neurotransmitter involved?
- norepinephrine - prepares for fight or flight
- Autopsies of depressed - they have fewer neurons in their brains that releases this
- Could explain why they dont response well to stressful situations
