Psychopathology 1

Question 1

A01 for cognitive approach to treating depression Becks cognitive therapy

Answer 1

•Becks cognitive therapy- aim to identify negative thoughts (negative triad) and challenge them
•test reality of negative beliefs, set homework to record nice events
•client as scientist as investigating reality of own beliefs
•in future homework is used as evidence to prove statements are incorrect

Question 2

Cognitive behavioural therapy A01

Answer 2

•cognitive element: assessment where therapist and client work together to clarify the clients problems (where irrational and negative thoughts are), identify goals and plan to achieve them
•behavioural element: CBT then involves working to change negative and irrational thoughts and put more effective behaviour into place

Question 3

A01 for REBT

Answer 3

•Ellis’s REBT- ABC + D(dispute) and E(effect) aims to identify and challenge irrational beliefs through empirical arguments.
•utopianism (unlucky) is challenged in vigorous argument to change irrational beliefs and break link of negative events and depression
•empirical, logical arguments

Question 4

Behavioural activation A01

Answer 4

•depressed individuals increasingly avoid difficult situations, become isolated which maintains or worsen symptoms
•behavioural activation- encouraging the depressed person to engage in enjoyable activities to decrease avoidance and isolation

Question 5

A03 for cognitive treatment to depression (limitations)

Answer 5

•suitability for diverse clients, lack effectiveness for severe cases or learning disabilities, no motivation to engage in CBT, Sturmey says not suitable for learning disabilities, appropriate for specific range of people with depression
•high relapse rates, Ali suggests 42% of clients relapse within 6 months and 53% within a year, may need to be repeated periodically

Question 6

A03 for cognitive treatments of depression (strengths)

Answer 6

•evidence for effectiveness, March compared drugs to CBT, 327 depressed teens, same effectiveness (80%) and more when used together, cost effective 6-12 sessions, first choice of therapy

Question 7

Statistical infrequency A01 and A03

Answer 7

•individual has less common characteristics e.g IQ not in the normal distribution (100) 86% are in range but 2% have below 70 = intellectual disability disorder
•usefulness, used in clinical practice as diagnostic and severity tool, Becks depression inventory 30+ is severe
•unusual characteristics can be positive, end of spectrum eg. high IQ or low depression doesn’t mean abnormal so can’t be sole basis for defining abnormality
*benefits vs problems

Question 8

Deviation from social norms A01 and A03

Answer 8

•behaviour different from accepted standards in society eg. antisocial personality disorder (failure to follow laws), norms specific to culture we live in-collective judgement as a society eg homosexuality
•real world application, usefulness, clinical practice to define characteristics of antisocial personality disorder eg recklessness , has value in psychiatry
•cultural and situation relativism, cultures may label each other as abnormal, eg hearing voices difficult to judge deviation from social norms across cultures
*human rights abuses

Question 9

Failure to function adequately A01 and A03

Answer 9

•someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day living Rosenham and Seligman show signs of no longer conforming to interpersonal rules, severe personal distress and irrational and dangerous to themselves behaviour eg. intellectual disability disorder must FtFA before diagnosis
•represents a sensible threshold for when people need professional help,
25% of uk ppl experience mental health problems but some fairly severe symptoms, seek help when FtFA, treatment can be target to those most in need
•discrimination and social control, label non-standard lifestyle choices as abnormal ppl may favour high risk activity, eg spiritualist- communicating with the dead, ppl with unusual choices are at risk of being abnormal
*Grief

Question 10

Deviation from ideal mental health A01 and A03

Answer 10

• think about what makes people normal, picture of how psychologically healthy should be: don’t meet Jahodas set of criteria for mental health eg self actualisation, good self-esteem and lack guilt, cope with stress, can successfully work, love and enjoy leisure, rational, no distress, realistic view of the world
•comprehensive, distinguishes mental health from disorders, covers reasons we might seek help, checklist to assess our selfs and discuss issues with professionals
•culture-bond, criteria mainly for uk and usa-western, self indulgent, difficult to apply concept across cultures
* extremely high standards

Question 11

behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 11

•compulsions are repetitive: feel compelled to repeat behaviour
•compulsions reduce anxiety: form of managing anxiety
•avoidance : keeping away from situations that trigger it

Question 12

emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 12

•anxiety and distress: unpleasant emotions
•accompanying depression
•guilt and disgust : negative emotions

Question 13

cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 13

•obsessive thoughts : thoughts that reoccur
•cognitive coping strategies : to deal with obsessions
•insight into excessive anxiety : aware that their compulsions are not rational

Question 14

behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 14

•two process model by Mowrer
•phobias are acquired by classical conditioning, Watson and rayner created phobia in 9m baby, Little albert with an iron bar and rat, displayed distress with fury things
•phobias are maintained by operant conditioning as person avoids phobic stimulus to escape fear and anxiety, reduction in fear=phobia maintained

Question 15

AO3 two process model

Answer 15

•exposure therapies, avoidant behaviour prevented =phobia stops as phobia is avoidant, value as can b treated
•evidence for link of bad experiences and phobias, Ad de Jongh 73% traumatic experience and phobia of dentist, 21% control
•no cognitive aspect, irrational beliefs so explains phobias but not phobic cognitions, not completely explain symptoms of phobia

Question 16

Behavioural approach to treating phobias A01

Answer 16

• systematic desensitisation: 1. anxiety hierarchy 2.relaxation(reciprocal inhibition) 3.exposure
•flooding, immediate exposure, stops phobic responses, extinction(CS without UC so no CR), client give fully informed consent

Question 17

Systematic desensitisation A03

Answer 17

•effective, Gilroy found followed 42 ppl spider phobia less fearfull with SD than control with no exposure, helpful
•compatible w/ learning disabilities, they struggle with cognitive therapies, confused and distressed by flooding most appropriate for them

Question 18

flooding A03

Answer 18

•cost effective, clinically effective and not expensive, works in 1 session vs 10 SD, longer sessions still more cost-effective, more ppl can be treated at same cost
• traumatic, unpleasant situation, Schumacher: more stressful than SD, ethical issue but have consent, attrition rates are higher, therapists may avoid

Question 19

A01 explaining depression Becks negative triad

Answer 19

•faulty info processing; black&white thinking
•negative self schema: negative package of info/ interpretations about themselves, mental framework
•negative triad: dysfunctional view of themselves bc of negative view about world self and future

Question 20

Ellis’s ABC model A01

Answer 20

•irrational: interfere with us being happy and free from pain
•Activating event, irrational beliefs triggered by external event
•Beliefs, Musturbation (always succeed) Utopianism (life is always meant to be fair)
•Consequence,

Question 21

Becks negative triad A03

Answer 21

•Supporting research, cognitive vulnerability more common in depressed: beck and clark, Cohen predicted depression, association
•real world application, screening and treatment, Cohen found assessing cognitive vulnerability identifies most at risk of developing depression and monitor, applied in CBT, useful in more than 1 aspect of clinical practise

Question 22

Ellis’s ABC A03

Answer 22

•real world application, psychological treatment of depression, REBT, vigorously arguing with client alters irrational belief, real world value
•only explains reactive not endogenous depression, cases not traceable to life events, can’t explain, partial explanation

Question 23

Biological approach to explaining OCD: Genetic approach A01

Answer 23

•Diathesis-stress model
•candidate genes, regulating serotonin e.g. gene 5HT1-D beta
•OCD is polygenic, caused by combination of genetic variations (230 diff genes;taylor) associated with dopamine&serotonin
•different types of OCD, groups of genes varies from person to person

Question 24

Biological approach to explaining OCD: Neural explanations A01

Answer 24

•the role of serotonin, serotonin regulates mood, low level=low moods, OCD is a reduction in serotonin
•decision-making systems, impaired decision making=abnormal functioning of lateral of frontal lobes (behind forehead) of brain, responsible for logical thinking, left parahippocampal gyrus= processes unpleasant emotions (function abnormally with OCD)

Question 25

Biological approach to explaining OCD Genetic explanations A03

Answer 25

•OCD is strong evidence base, people vulnerable to OCD as a result of genes, Nestadt twin studies: 68% of MZ twins shared OCD, 31% of DZ twins, genetic influence
•environmental factors triggers or increase risk of OCD, Cromer found half of OCD clients had traumatic events, more severe with one or more trauma, partial explanation

Question 26

Neural explanations A03

Answer 26

•supporting evidence from antidepressants on serotonin reduce OCD, brain disorder formed by OCD symptoms so biological processes underline OCD, biological factors
•serotonin-OCD link may not b unique to OCD, co-morbidity, serotonin disrupted bc of depression, serotonin may not b relevant to OCD

Question 27

SSRI’s A01

Answer 27

•corrects imbalances of neurotransmitters eg serotonin to reduce symptoms
•prevents reabsorption and breakdown of serotonin in the brain so increases serotonin in synapse to stimulate postsynaptic neuron
•fluoxetine 20mg may b increased if no results after 3/4 months
• drugs used alongside CBT, reduces emotional symptoms so can engage in CBT

Question 28

Alternatives to SSRI

Answer 28

•after 3/4m dosage increased or combined with
•tricyclics: same affect as SSRI (older), clomiprane has more severe side affects
•SNRIs: recente use, second line of defence, increased levels of serotonin as well as noradrenaline

Question 29

Drug therapy A03 strengths

Answer 29

•effectiveness,
SSRIs reduce symptoms and improve quality of life, Soomro 17 studies showed 70% better outcomes for SSRI than placebo, 30% better with alternative or combination, helpful
•cost-effective and non-disruptive,
cheap compared to psychological treatments, drugs for OCD is good for public health systems eg NHS as good use of limited funds, does require time, popular

Question 30

drug therapy A03 limitations

Answer 30

•serious side effects , indigestion loss of sex drive, temporary but can b distressing may b long lasting for minority, tricyclic more common side effects, eg 1 in 10 experience errection problems, reduced quality of life so may stop taking so cease to b effective

Question 31

Cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 31

*selective attention to the phobic stimulus : can’t look away
*irrational beliefs : unfounded beliefs
*cognitive distortions : unrealistic

Question 32

Behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 32

*panic : scream or run away
*avoidance : conscious effort to avoid it
*endurance : may stay and bear it

Question 33

Emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 33

*anxiety : unpleasant state of high arousal
*fear : short-lasting, more intense
*emotional response is unreasonable : disproportionate to threat

Question 34

Cognitive characteristics of depression

Answer 34

*poor concentration : difficulty making decisions
*absolutist thinking : black and white
*attending to and dwelling on the negative : half empty instead of half full

Question 35

Emotional characteristics of depression

Answer 35

*lowered mood : emotional element feeling empty and worthless
*anger : can lead to behavioural change
*lowered self esteem : like themselves less than usual can even cause self loathing

Question 36

Behavioural characteristics of depression

Answer 36

*activity levels : reduced energy lethargy or agitation
*disruption to sleep and eating habits : increased or decreased
*aggression and self harm : cutting or suicide attempts