PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Flashcards
What are the 4 defintions of abnormality
- Deviation from Social Norms
- Failure to Function Adequately
- Deviation From Ideal Mental Health
- Statistical Infrequency
What are the 2 types of Social Norms
Implicit and Explicit
What are Implicit Social Norms
Norms that are not directly tought or obvioulsy stated E.g. Personal Space
What are Explicit Social Norms
Norms that are taught and are often part of the law E.g. Assult
What are 2 criticisms of deviation from social norms
- Change over time e.g homosexuality = era dependant
- changes over culture e.g eating dog in china acceptable England not = difficulty in generalising across cultures
What is a counter criticism of deviation from social norms
-behaviour is context dependant E.g naked at a swimming pool abnormal naked at nudist beach normal = definition takes into account context of behaviour
What is the Global Assessment Functioning Scale (GAF)
A measurement used to define whether a person is Abnormal or not
What are Rosenhams 7 features to be seen as Abnormal
- Personal Distress
- Maladaptive Behaviour
- Unpredictability
- Irationality
- Observer Discomfort
- Violation of Moral Standards
- Unconventionality
Define Personal Distress
A key feature of abnormality includes Depression and Anxiety
Define Maladaptive Behaviour
Behaviour Which stops individuals from reaching life goals
Define Unpredictability
Displaying unexpected behaviours characterised by a loss of control
Define Irrationality
Displaying behaviour which cannot be explained in a rational way
Define Observer Discomfort
Displaying Behaviour Which causes discomfort to those witnessing it
Define Violation of Moral Standards
Behaviour which goes against societys moral standards
Define Unconventionaity
Bahaviours which violate norms
What is a limitation of evaluation of failure to function adequately
-Culture dependant E.g behaviour in one culture will be accepted in another country will be frowned upon= not generalise to all cultures
What is a Strength of evaluation of failure to function adequately
-asses degree of abnormally E.g GAF scored on a continuous scale = practical applications
What were Jahodas 6 criterias for Ideal Mental Health
- Personal Growth
- Reality Percerption
- Autonomy
- Intergration
- Self Attitudes
- Environmental mastery
Define Personal Growth
Self Actualisation should reach full potential
Define Reality Perception
Should know what is real
Define Autonomy
Should be Inderpendant
Define Environmental Mastry
Be able to cope in your environment
What is a Limitation of deviation from idea mental health
-Jahodas criteria is subjective E.g measuring mental illness relies on self report from patients is unreliable = DIMH is flawed
What is a Strength of deviation from idea mental health
Praised for its holistic approach E.g considers individual as whole = suitable and realistic definition
What is staistical Infrequency
Behaviour that devaites from the statistical norm or average
What is a strength of Statistical Infequency
Not all behaviours which are statistical infrequent are abnormal e.g., Albert Einstein level of IQ was abnormal but hes not seen as abnomal= definition may be a flawed definition of psychopathology
What is a Limitation of Statistical Infequency
Does not consider cultural factors. E.g., what is considered Statistical normal in one culture may not be in another= Culturally Bias
What is a phobia
Irrational fearful response to a specific object or situation
What are the 3 types of Characteristics
Behavioural, emotional and Cognitive
What are the 2 bahvioural characteristics
- Avoidance
- Disruption of functioning
What is Avoidance
Avoid phobia or stimuli or situation to reduce to chances of anxiety.
What is Disruption of Functioning
Ability to conduct everyday working and social functioning is impared
What are the 2 Emotional characteristics
- Persistent, excessive fear
- physical symptoms
What is persistant excessive fear
Produces high levels of anxiety to presence or anticipation of feaered objects or situations.
Define Physical Symptoms
Body changes due to fight or flight
What are the 2 Cognitive Characteristics
- Irrational Thought processes
- Maladaptive thought processes
What is The Irrational thought processes
Marked persistant fear out of proportion to the actual danger posed.
Define the Maladaptive Thought processes
Overstated Reaction to phobic object or situation
What approach is used to explain and treat phobias
The Behavioural Approach
Which model is used in the behavioural approach
The Two-Process Model
What are the 2 types of Conditioning
- Classical
- Operant
What is Classical Conditioning
Learning through association
What is Operant Conditioning
Learning through Consequence ( Reward and Punishment )
What does the Two Process Model consist of
- Operant Conditioning
- Classical Conditioning
What does the Two Process Model state
phobias are learned by classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning (Mowrer 1960).
What are 2 Strengths of the Behavioural Approach The Two Process Model
- Behavioural explanation combined with biological gives us better understanding of phobias. E.g., genetic vulnerability more susceptible to develop phobias=T.S.T Behavioural Approach has enriched our understanding of treatment for phobias.
- Research supports behavioural approach for Phobias. E.g., Watson was able to classically condition a small child to be phobic of white rats, and a number of white objects=T.S.T Basic Assumptions on which the approach is Externally Valid.
What are 2 Limitations of the behavioural Approach The Two Process Model
- Not eveyone who has a negative experience with a simulus develops a phobia. E.g., bitten by a dog as a child no fear displayed as an adult=T.S.T Behavioural Explanation is an incomplete explanation of phobais.
- Contradicting research with Classical Conditioning. E.g., Munjack Found participants who had experienced a traumatic car related experience did not form a phobia=T.S.T Individual Differences when developing phobias and for some poeple an association is not enough for a phobai to develop.
What are 2 types of Behavioural Treatments
- Systematc desensitisation
- Flooding
What is Systematic Desensitisation
based on the princple that one cannot simutaneously be in a state of relaxation and fear.
What are the 3 steps of Systematic Desensitisation
Step 1 = Teach phobia suffers relaxation techniques.
Step 2 = Lowests fear situation to the highest.
Step 3 = Wait till Anxiety levels are lower
What is Flooding
Where a person in Inescapably exposed to teh object of their phobia.
What are 2 Limitations of Systematic desensitisation and flooding as behavioural treatments
- Flooding has raised major ethical concerns. E.g., not suitable for patients for health conditions as flooding can increase the risk of heart attacks=T.S.T not applicable to certain groups of patients such os those with heart problems or elderly.
- Systematic Desensitisation is thought unsuitable for some patients. E.g., Mianly suited those who are willing to learn adn use relaxation=T.S.T SD may not be suitable treatment for a wide Variety of poeple.
What is OCD
intrusive and uncontrollable thoughts coupled with a need to perform specific acts repeatedly.
What are Obsessions
Recurrent, intesive thoughts ideas images or impulses that an indivudual has great difficulty to resist.
What are Compulsions
Irresistable, repetative physical or metnal actions that PPL feel complied to carry out.
What are the 3 Biological Approaches to explaining and treating OCD
- Genetic
- Neural
- Drug
What is Genetic transmission
The passing on of genetic material through natural selection E.g Inheritance.
What are Candidate Genes
genes which create a vulnerability to OCD
What are the 2 Candidate genes that are linked with OCD
- COMT
- SERT
What does the COMT Gene do
Regulates the Production of Neurotransmitter Dopamine which is linked to OCD.
What did Tukel 2013 find About the COMT gene
More Common in patients which OCD
What does the SERT gene do
Affects the Transport of Neurotransmitters serotonin which is linked to OCD
What did Ozaki 2003 find
Muted version of this gene in two unrelated families where 6/7 members had OCD.
What does Polygenic mean
caused by more then one Gene
How is OCD PolyGenic
According to Taylor 230 genes are involved in OCD
What is a Diathesis Stress
The idea a simple link between a gene and a complex disorder such as OCD is unlikely.
What is the Neural Explanation
OCD patients have abnormal levels of neurotransmitters or abnormal brain structure
What 2 barts if the brian are linked to OCD
- Basal Ganglia
- Orbitofrontal Cortex
What does the OrbitoFrontal Cortex do
sends signals to the Thalmus about things that are worrying E.g germ hazard.
What happens when the Basal Ganglia is damaged
Fails to supress minnor worry signlas and the Thalamus id Alerted.
What is an advantage of the biological approach to explaining and treating OCD
-Research to support role of Serotonin in OCD. E.g., Hollander found drugs known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors were successful=T.S.T OCD could be caused by an imbalance in neurotransmitters is plausible.
What is an Disadvantage of The Biological Approach to explaining and treating OCD
contradicting research as to the true effectiveness of drug treatments. E.g., Foa found while drug Therapy more effective was less effective than CBT alone=T.S.T to see full potential should be combined with CBT
What are the 5 main drugs
- Fluoxetine
- Sertaline
- Fluvoxamine
- Anxiolytic
- Antipsychotics
What does Fluoxetine treat, who is it prescribed what are the side effects
- Depression
- adults and Teenagers
- Dry mouth, anxiety
What does Fluvoxamine treat, who is it prescribed what are the side effects
- OCD, Depression
- 8 and upwards
- feeling nervous, restless, insomnia
What does Antipsychotics treat, who is it prescribed what are the side effects
- SZH
- 5 years onwards
- drowsieness, gain weight, low blood levels.
What is an advantage of The Biological Approach to explaining and treating OCD
Side effects, E.g., SRIs unpleasant side effects such as impotence, weight gain=T.S.T not suitable for all patients.
