Psychology Paper 1 - Psychopathology Flashcards

Question

What types of depressions are there?

Answer 1

-Major depressive disorder: severe but short term -Persistent depressive disorder: long term or reoccuring -Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: childhood temper tantrums -Premenstral dysphoric disorder: disruption to mood prior to and/or during mentrusation

Answer 2

-Activity levels: reduced levels of energy -Disruption to sleep and eating patterns: hypersomnia/insomnia, weight loss/gain -Aggression and self harm: physical or verbal aggression

Answer 3

-Lowered mood: feeling sad -Anger: could be directed to themselves or others -Lowered self esteem: sense of self loathing

Answer 4

-Poor concentration: hard to make decisions and unable to focus -Attending to and dwelling on the negative: ignoring positives, bias towards recalling unhappy events -Absolutist thinking: ‘black and white thinking’, seeing the situation worse than it actually is

Answer 5

A condition characterised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour. Obsessions are cognitive whereas compulsions are behavioural.

Answer 6

-Trichotillomania: compulsive hair pulling -Hoarding disorder: compulsive gathering of possesions and the inability to part with anything -Excoriation disorder: compulsive skin picking

Answer 7

-Compulsions are repetitive: repeating a behaviour -Compulsions reduce anxiety: helps ease the individual by doing an action -Avoidance: reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that cause triggers

Answer 8

-Anxiety and distress: unpleasant emotional experience because of the anxiety -Accompanying depression: paired with depression sometimes -Guilt and disgust: irrational guilt and disgust on stimulus or oneself

Answer 9

-Obsessive thoughts: thoughts reoccurring -Cognitive coping strategies: doing something to reduce anxiety, e.g. praying -Insight into excessive anxiety: individuals with OCD are aware of their condition

Answer 10

An explanation for the onset and persistence of disorders that create anxiety such as pobias. The two processes are classical conditioning for aquiring and operant conditioning for maintaining.

Answer 11

Learning by association. Occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together, an unconditioned stimulus and a new ‘neutral’ stimulus. The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unconditioned stimulus alone.

Answer 12

A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequence. Possible consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement or punishment.

Answer 13

-John Watson and Rosalie Rayner (1920) created a phobia in a 9 month old baby called ‘Little Albert’ -No unusual anxiety at start -Rat presented with a loud bang -Noise is unconditioned stimulus creating an unconditioned response of fear -Rat is associated with loud noise -Albert displays fear of rat now producing a conditioned response -Conditioning generalised to similar objects

Answer 14

-Mowrer explained how phobias are maintained with operant conditioning -Takes place ehen behaviour is reinforced or punished -Reinforcement increases frequency of behaviour -Negative reinforcement causes the individual to avoid an unpleasant situation -Results in a desirable consequence, meaning behaviour is repeated -Avoiding a phobic stimulus means you successfully escape the fear -Reduction in fear reinforces avoidance behaviour so phobia is maintained

Answer 15

Real world application: -Exposure therapies such as systematic desensitisation and flooding -Two process approach explains avoidance -Exposure benefits from getting over phobia as individuals avoid phobia -Once avoidance behaviour is presented it ceases to be reinforced -When avoidance is prevented the phobia is cured -Shows value as it identifies a means of treating phobias

Answer 16

Cognitive aspects of phobias: -Doesnt account for cognitive aspects -Explains behaviour -Phobias are not just simply avoidance responses as they have a significant cognitive component -People hold irrational beliefs about phobic stimulus -Doesnt offer an adequate explanation for phobia cognitions -Doesnt completely explain symptoms of phobias -Reductionist

Answer 17

Phobias and traumatictic experiences: -Evidence of link between bad experiences and phobias -Case study of Little Albert -More systematic evidence comes from a study by Ad De Jongh et al. -73% of people with a fear of dental treatment had a traumtic experience -Control group of people with low dental anxiety where only 21% had trauma -Confirms association between stimulus and unconditioned response lead to phobia

Answer 18

Ignore biological factors: -Not all phobias appear with a bad experience -Some are inherited from ancestors -Snake phobias occur in populations -Not many have encountered a snake -Association between phobias and trauma isnt as strong -Reductionist

Answer 19

A behavioural therapy designed to reduce an unwanted response, such as anxiety. SD involves drawing up a hierarchy of anxiety provoking situations related to ampersons phobic stimulus, teaching the person to relax and then exposing them to phobic situations. The person works their way through the hierarchy whilst maintaining relaxation with taught relaxation techniques. A new response (counterconditioning) to the stimulus is learned.

Answer 20

A behavioural therapy in which a person with a phobia is exposed to an extreme form of a phobic stimulus in irder to reduce anxiety triggered by that stimulus. This takes place across a small number of long therapy sessions. A learned response is extinguished when the conditioned stimulus is encountered without the UCS.

Answer 21

Evidence of effectiveness: -Lisa Gilroy et al. followed up 42 people who had SD for spider phobia in 45 minute sessions -Both 3 months and 33 months, SD group less fearful than control group -Theresa Wechsler et al concluded SD is effective for all types of phobias -Likely to be helpful

Answer 22

Not Cost-effective: -Time comsuming -Takes up a lot of money -Happens over a course of multiple sessions -More likely to have a higher drop out rate (attrition rates) -Individuals may not want to commit

Answer 23

Cost effective: -Clinically effective as NHS doesnt have to spend much and it works -Not many sessions needed -Not very expensive -Achieves same result as SD -More people can be treated at same cost with flooding than other therapies

Answer 24

Traumatic: -Unpleasant experience -Provokes tremendous anxiety -Sarah Schumacher et al. found flooding is rated more significantly more stressful than SD -Raises ethical issues for psychologists for causing stress -Attrition rates are higher than for SD -Therapists may avoid using this treatment

Answer 25

Beck prospered that there are three kinds of negative thinking that contribute to becoming depressed: negatives views of the world, the future and the self. Such negative views lead a person to interpret their experiences in a negative way and so make them more vulnerableto depresson.

Answer 26

Ellis proposed that depression occurs when an activiating event (A) trigger an irrational belief (B) which in turn produces a emotional or behavioural consequence (C). Conditions like anxiety and depression result from irrational thoughts.

Answer 27

Faulty information processing: -Depressed people attend to negative aspects of a situation and ignore positives -Tending towards ‘black and white thinking’ Negative self schema: -Schema is a pckage of idea and information developed through experience -Act as mental framework for interpretation of sesnsory information -Self schema is the package pf information people have of themselves -Negative self schema means you interpret information about yourself negatively Negative triad: -Negative view of the world -Negative view of the future -Negative view of the self

Answer 28

Research support: -Cognitive vulnerability refers to ways of thinking that may predispose a person to becoming depressed -Clark and Beck concluded that these vulnerabilities preceded depression -Joseph Cohen et al. tracked the development of 473 adolescents, regularing measuring cognitive vulnerability -Found that cognitive vulnerability predicted later depression -Shows association between cognitive vulnerability and depression

Answer 29

Real world application: -Screening and treatment -Cohen et al concluded that assessing cognitive vulnerability allows psychologists to screen young people -Identifys most at risk of developing depression innthe future ans monitoring them -Cognitive behavioural therapy -Work by altering the kind of cognitions that make people vulnerable to depression -Makes people more resilient to negative life events -Understanding cognitive vulnerability is useful in more than one aspect of clinical practice

Answer 30

Real world application: -Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) -Vigously arguing with a depressed person so therapist can alter irrational beliefs -Can change both negative beliefs and relieve symptoms of depression -Has real world value

Answer 31

Reactive and endogenous depression: -Only explains reactive depression not endogenous depression -We respond to negative life events seems to partly result beliefs -However many cases are not traceable to life events -Less useful for explaining endogenous depression -Only explains some cases of depression -Partial explanation -Reductionist

Answer 32

-Treats mental disorders based on both cognitive and behaviour techniques -From the cognitive viewpoint the therapy aims to deal with thinking such as challenging negative thoughts -The therapy also includes behavioural techniques such behavioural activation -Its helps clients test the reality of their negative beliefs so therefore might be set homework.

Answer 33

-Extends from ABC model to ABCDE model -D stands for dispute and E stands for effect -Identitys and disputes irrational thoughts -Involves a vigorous arguement -Intended effect is to challenge irrational belief -Breaks link between negative life events and depression

Answer 34

-Works with depressed individuals to gradually decrease their avoidance and isolation -Increases their engagement in activities that improve moods -Therapist aims to reinforce such activities like exercising and going out

Answer 35

Evidence for effectiveness: -John March et al. compared CBT to antidepressants drugs when treating 327 depressed adolescents -After 36 weeks, 81% of CBT group of antidepressants group and 86% of CBT plus antidepressants group significantly improved -CBT was even mkre effective alongside antidepressants drugs -Fairly belief therapy requiring 6 to 12 session meaning its cost effective -Widely seen as first choice of treatment

Answer 36

Suitability for diverse clients: -Lack of effectiveness for severe cases and clients with learning disabilities -Some clients cant motivate themselves to engage with the cognitive work of CBT -May not pay attention -Complex rational thinking involved makes it unsuitable for treating depression with learning disabilities -Peter Sturney suggests any form of psychotherapy is not suitable for people with learning disabilities -May only be appropriate for a specific range of people

Answer 37

Relapse rates: -Quite effective at tackling symptoms but benefits dont last long -Recent studies show long term outcomes are not as good as assumed -Shehzad Ali et al. assessed depression in 439 clients every month for a year following a course of CBT -42% clients relapsed into depression within 6 months -53% relapsed within a year -May need to be repeated periodically

Answer 38

-Genes make up chromosomes and consist of DNA -Codes the physical features of an organism and psychological features -Genes are transmitted from parents to offspring (inherited) -Genes are involved in individuals vulnerability to OCD -Lewis observed that his OCD patients, 37% had parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD -Suggets OCD runs in families due to sharing DNA -Diathesis stress model suggests certain genes leave some people more likely to develop a mental disorder -Some environmental stress is necessary to trigger the condition

Answer 39

The view that physical and psychological characteristics are determined by the behaviour of the nervous system, in particular the brain as well as the individuals neurons.

Answer 40

-Identified genes which create vulnerability for OCD -Some of these gens are involved in regulating the development of serotonin system -Gene 5HT1-D is implicated in transport of serotonin across synapses

Answer 41

-Polygenic is when a combination of genetic variations that together significantly increase vulnerability -OCD is polygenic -Steven Taylor analysed findings of previous studies and found that up to 230 different genes may be involved in OCD -Genes associated to OCD include those associated with dopamine and serotonin -Both neurotransmitters believed to have a role in regulating mood

Answer 42

One group of genes may cause OCD in one person but a different group of genes may cause the disorder in another.

Answer 43

-Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another -If a person has low levels of serotonin then normal transmission of mood relevant information does take place -May experience low moods

Answer 44

-May be associated with abnormal functioning of lateral of the frontal lobes in brain -Frontal lobe are responsible for logical thinking and making decisions

Answer 45

Research support: -Twin studies -Gerald Nestadt et al. reviewed twin studies and found 68% of identical twins shared OCD -31% of non identical twins shared OCD -Family studies -Family member diagnosed with OCD is around 4 times more likely to develop OCD -Suggest there must be a genetic influence on the development of OCD

Answer 46

Environmental risk factors: -Strong evidence for idea that genetic variation can make a person more or less vulnerable to OCD -However OCD doesnt appear entirely genetically -Environmental risk factors can also trigger or increase risk -Kiara Cromer et al. found over half OCD clients in their sample has experienced trauma -OCD was also more severe in those with one or more traumas -Provides partial explanation -Reductionist

Answer 47

Research support: -Antidepressants that work purely on serotonin are effective in reducing OCD symptoms -Suggests serotonin may be involved in OCD -OCD symptoms form part of conditions that are known to be biological in origin such as Parkinsons disease -If biological disorder produces OCD symptoms then you can assume biological processes underlie OCD -Suggests biological factors may be responsible for OCD

Answer 48

No unique neural system: -Serotonin OCD link may not be unique to OCD -Many individuals also experience clinical depression -Having two disorders together is called co morbidity -Depression probably involves disruption to the action of serotonin -Leave logical problem when it comes to serotonin as a possible base for OCD -Serotonin may not be relevant to OCD symptoms

Answer 49

Treatment involving drugs. Chemicals that have a particular effect on the functioning of the brain or some other body system. In the case of psychological disorders such drugs usually affect neurotransmitter levels.

Answer 50

-An antidepressant called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor -Serotonin is released by the presynaptic neurons and they travel across a synapse -The neurotransmitter chemically conveys a signal to the postsynaptic neuron -Its reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron where it is broken down and reused -SSRIs effectively increase levels of serotonin in the synapse and stimulate postsynaptic neuron -It compensates for whatever is wrong either the serotonin system -Dosage may vary -Takes 3 to 4 months of daily use for SSRIs to have much impact on symptoms

Answer 51

-Tricyclics: acts on various systems including serotonin system where it has same effect as SSRIs. -SNRIs: different class kf antidepressant drugs and are in 2nd line of defence for people who dont respond to SSRIs, they increase serotonin and another different neurotransmitter (noradrenaline)

Answer 52

Evidence of effectiveness: -Clear evidence to show SSRIs reduce symptoms severity and improve quality of life -Mustafa Soomro et al. reviewed 17 studies that compared SSRIs to placebo conditions -All 17 studies showed significantly better outcomes for SSRIs than placebo conditions -Typically symptoms reduce around 70% of people taking SSRIs -Remaining 30% can be helped by alternative drugs or combination of drugs and psychological therapies -Drugs appear to be helpful for most people with OCD

Answer 53

Cost-effective and non-disruptive: -Cheaper compared to psychological treatments -Thousands of tablets and liquid doses can be manufactured in the time it takes to conduct one session -Good value for public health systems like NHS -Good use of limited funds -Non disruptive to peoples lives -Simply take drugs until your symptoms decline -Different to spending time attending therapy sessions -Popular with many people with OCD and their doctors

Answer 54

Serious side effects: -Helps majority but small minority get no benefit -Side effects like indigestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive -Theyre temporary but can be distressing for people -Can be long lasting for minority -Taking tricyclic, side effects are more common ans more serious -1 in 10 experience erection problems ans weight gain -1 in 100 become aggressive and experience heart related problems -Some people have a reduced quality of life as a result of taking drugs -May stop taking them altogether, meaning drugs cease to be effective

Psychology Paper 1 - Psychopathology Flashcards

(78 cards)