psychopathology 1 Flashcards
what defines abnormality
statistical infrequency
violation of norms
distress
dysfunction
what defines normality
positive self attitude
realising potential
resistance to stress
autonomy
accurate perception of reality
adaptable to the environment
adaptable to new environment
how the hypothesised course of psychopathology has changed over the years
demonology (rituals/confessions)
->
somatogenesis (treatment of physical illness)
->
psychogenesis (e.g., psychoanalysis)
->
modern approach (pharmaceutical/integrative)
what is demonology
- mental illness as possession
- tied into religious or spiritual belief structures
- although it is rare now, the language persists
what is somatogenesis and somatogenetic hypothesis
bodily or physical origin of mental illness
hypothesis: mental illness arises from physical illness or infection
Emil Kraepelin - new classification system
brain biology -> mental illness
cluster of symptoms = syndrome
interested in common patterns of symptoms rather than groups of similar symptoms
first categories:
- manic depression (now bipolar, major depression)
- dementia praecox (schizophrenia)
first to formally study phsycopharmacology
what is psychogenesis
psychological origins of mental illness
Freud:
- unconscious psychological processes are in conflict
- mental illness results from defensive behaviours/thoughts working to reduce that conflict
psychogenesis - hysteria
Freud:
- 3 paralysed women
- no physical symptoms
- symptoms disappeared under hypnosis
modern models: diathesis-stress model
diathesis: predisposition
stress: life event/trigger
modern models: biopsychosocial model
genetics, neurochemistry, fight or flight, medications
social support, family, culture, poverty
learning, memory, perception, beliefs
costs and benefits to diagnosis
benefits:
- access to treatment
- universal language for mental health professionals
- universal language for researchers
- more structure to clinical sessions/interviews
- improve validity and reliability
costs:
- stigma may cause judgement in workplace/violence towards them for example
- culturally/temporally bound (homosexuality/asexuality)
- anything abnormal may be seen as part of illness, rather than a non-pathological personality quirk
what does DSM V focus on
consequences/symptoms, not causes
DSM V criteria for major depression
Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and broad apathy about life
Lost interest in normal daily activities
Severe and occurring over an extended period
major depressive disorder
very common (7-12% men, 20-25% women)
comorbidity with anxiety, psychotic delusions of worthlessness
cognitive (e.g., working memory) and physical (e.g., sleep disorders) deficits
what is dysthymia
less severe form of depression that is more chronic
sufferers may think that it is part of their character, and may not be diagnosed
now known as persistent depressive disorder
what are the main implicated neurotransmitters
Norepinephrine (Tricyclics)
Dopamine (reward system)
Serotonin (SSRIs as treatments)
how do drugs work
stop cleanup enzymes from breaking down serotonin, so the serotonin stays in cleft
block reuptake of neurotransmitters
can mimic particular neurotransmitters
can increase the level of neurotransmitters
behavioural factors: learned helplessness
learning phase: animal exposed to pain which it cannot escape from
test phase: escape made possible
animals learned to endure pain and don’t try to escape
cognitive factors: negative schema
beliefs come before depression
cognitive factors: explanatory/attributional style
attribute bad events to:
- stable (forever)
- internal (me)
- global (everything)
cognitive factors: what is rumination
tendency to repeat in your head how miserable you are, and all the bad things that happen to you
social factors
War/Conflict
Poverty
Discrimination
Support networks
Emigration/Cultural shift
Cultural norms (display rules for emotions)
