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PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

A

Deviation from social norms
Statistical infrequency
Failure to function adequately
Deviation from ideal mental health

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2
Q

Definitions of abnormality

Deviation from social norms

A

Social norms are unwritten social rules that society is expected to follow
Deviation from them is seen as abnormal

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3
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitation of deviation from social norms
Cultural bias

A

Different cultures have different social norms

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4
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitation of deviation from social norms
Temporally relative

A

Social norms change over time

e.g. homosexuality used to be illegal

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5
Q

Definitions of abnormality

Statistical infrequency

A

Uses a bell graph where the outliers are the anomalies

This statistically rare behaviour is seen as abnormal

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6
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Culture bias

A

Things that are rare in one culture may be common in another

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7
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Gender bias

A

This effects sample size

e.g. women more likely to visit a GP then men

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8
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Age

A

Normal at one age, not at another

e.g. thumb sucking is normal at 2, but abnormal at 20

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9
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of statistical infrequency
Desirability of behaviour

A

Rare behaviours can be desirable, so difficult to decide how far you must deviate from the average to be abnormal
e.g. high IQ

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10
Q

Definitions of abnormality

Failure to function adequately

A 
Failure to cope with day- to- day living
Causing distress and suffering to to the individual and those around them 
WHODAS
Understanding & communicating 
Getting around
Self care 
Ability for engaging in life activities
Mixing with others 
Participation in society 
Ranked from 1- 5 to assess abnormality
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11
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of failure to function adequately
Subjective

A

Difficult to measure the extent to which people conform to the criteria
Self- reporting

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12
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of failure to function adequately
Is ‘dysfunctional’ behaviour always dysfunctional?

A

Some dysfunctional behaviour IS functional for the individual
e.g. a man who cross dresses for work

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13
Q

Definitions of abnormality

Deviation from ideal mental health

A

Jahoda stated 6 criteria that a person must have in order to be mentally healthy
Self attitudes- high self esteem
Personal growth/ self actualisation- achieve full potential
Integration- being able to cope with stressful situations
Autonomy- Making own decisions & being in control
Accurate perception of reality
Adaptation to environment- Ability to love & solve problems

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14
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of deviation from ideal mental health
Cultural bias

A

Self- actualisation

Desired in individualistic cultures, not in collectivist cultures

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15
Q

Definitions of abnormality
Limitations of deviation from ideal mental health
Subjective

A

Difficult to measure the extent to which people conform to the criteria

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16
Q

Phobias

Which approach??

A

Behaviourist

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17
Q

Phobias

What model explains phobias?

A

Two- process model

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18
Q

Phobias

Who proposed the two- process model?

A

Mowrer

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19
Q

Phobias

Step 1 of the two- process model

A

Phobia is acquired through classical conditioning

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20
Q

Phobias

Step 2 of the two- process model

A

Phobia is maintained through operant conditioning

Avoidance of the feared item reduces anxiety -> negative reinforcement

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21
Q

Phobias

Who conducted the study into phobias?

A

Watson

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22
Q

Phobias

What was the name of the study into phobias?

A

Little Albert

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23
Q

Phobias
Procedure of Little Albert study
Before, during and afar conditioning

A

Before: rat (NS), loud noise (UCS), fear (UCR)
During: rat and loud noise consistently paired
After: rat (CS), loud noise (CR)

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24
Q

Phobias
Limitations of approach and model
Reductionist

A

Ignores cognitive & biological exp.
Cog- some phobias are caused by IRRATIONAL beliefs
Bio- ‘ancient fears’ are inherited phobias for survival purposes

25
Q

Phobias
Strengths of approach and model
Research support

A

Little Albert- Watson

26
Q

Phobias
Strengths of approach and model
Real- life examples

A

Real- life examples of people being bitten by dogs and developing phobias

27
Q

Phobias
Strengths of approach and model
Real- life application- treatments

A

Behaviourist treatments
SD and flooding- counterconditioning
Economic impacts

28
Q

Phobias

What are the treatments for phobias?

A

Systematic desensitisation
Flooding
Both are counterconditioning (a form of classical conditioning)

29
Q

Phobias

Systematic desensitisation

A

Wople
Step 1- clients taught relaxation techniques
Step 2- clients & therapist construct fear hierarchy list, which is a list of fear items from most to least feared
Step 3- in presence of therapist, client confronts each item on fear hierarchy list in a state of relaxation until the client feels relaxed in the presence of all the items

30
Q

Phobias
Strengths of systematic desensitisation
Fast

A

Relatively fast so time efficient

In comparison to drug treatments which must b taken for extended periods of time to target symptoms (e.g. anxiety)

31
Q

Phobias
Strengths of systematic desensitisation
Self- administered

A

People can try it at home, which is cost- effective yet successful

32
Q

Phobias
Strengths of systematic desensitisation
Success rates

A

McGrath- 75% of patients successfully respond to SD

Remaining 25% -> biological/ ‘ancient fears’??

33
Q

Phobias
Limitations of systematic desensitisation
NOT appropriate for ALL phobias

A

If there is underlying evolutionary reasons, then counterconditioning is ineffective
Limited application and usefulness

34
Q

Phobias
Flooding
& why/ how does it work??

A

Step 1- learn relaxation techniques
Step 2- one LONG session (2- 3) hours where client confronts item at its worst whilst practise relaxation techniques
A persons fear response and the release of adrenaline has a time limit, so as adrenaline levels reduce, a new response is learned

35
Q

Phobias
Strengths of flooding
Cost & fast

A

Cost- effective and fast

36
Q

Phobias
Limitations of flooding
NOT appropriate for ALL phobias

A

If there is underlying evolutionary reasons, then counterconditioning is ineffective

37
Q

Phobias
Limitations of flooding
Ethics

A

Goes against ethics!
Traumatic for some, making phobia worse
Goes against psychology guidelines

38
Q

OCD

What genes does the genetic explanation to OCD involve?

A

COMT and SERT genes

39
Q

OCD

What is the role of the COMT gene in OCD?

A

Regulates the production of dopamine

A defect in the gene produces HIGH levels of dopamine in the orbital frontal cortex

40
Q

OCD

What is the role of the SERT gene in OCD?

A

Regulates the production of serotonin

A defect in the gene means serotonin is reabsorbed prematurely, leading to LOW levels in the basal ganglia

41
Q

OCD
Strengths of genetic explanation for OCD
Interactionist- DSM
Cromer

A

Diathesis dress model
Suggest people gain a genetic vulnerability towards OCD, but an environmental stressor is also required
Cromer found that over half his OCD patients had a traumatic event in the past

42
Q

OCD
Strengths of genetic explanation for OCD
Research support

A

Nestadt

Twin studies showed a strong biological link

43
Q

OCD
Limitations of genetic explanation for OCD
Polygenic

A

OCD is thought to be polygenic
Development is determined by more than one gene
OCD- up to 230!
Little predictive power

44
Q

OCD

What are the 3 areas associated with the neural explanation for OCD?

A

Basal ganglia
Thalamus
Orbital frontal cortex

45
Q

OCD
Neural explanations
What is the role of the basal ganglia?

A

Serotonin

Repetitive behaviours- washing, cleaning, checking repeatedly

46
Q

OCD
Neural explanations
What is the role of the thalamus?

A

Safety behaviours- cleaning, checking

Overactive thalamus -> overactive OFC

47
Q

OCD
Neural explanations
What is the role of the OFC?

A

Overactive thalamus -> overactive OFC

Dopamine
Anxiety behaviours and planning to reduce anxiety

48
Q

OCD
Strengths of neural explanation for OCD
Features of science

A

Objective
Empirical
Neuroimaging/ brain scans
Compare normal vs abnormal brain patterns to identify areas associated with OCD

49
Q

OCD
Strengths of neural explanation for OCD
Treatments

A

Drug treatments- e.g. SSRIs
Even more effective when combined with CBT
Economic impacts

50
Q

OCD
Limitations of neural explanation for OCD
Obsessional thoughts?

A

Doesn’t explain obsessional thoughts -> limited application and usefulness

51
Q

OCD

What are drug treatments/ why are they used?

A

Assume there is a chemical imbalance in the brain which can be corrected by drugs

52
Q

OCD

SSRIs?

A

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Low levels of serotonin = OCD
SSRIs prevent the reabsorption of serotonin, thus INCREASING serotonin levels

53
Q

OCD
Strengths of drug treatments
Effective

A

Often used alongside CBT for best results
Drugs reduce emotional symptoms so patient can engage more effectively with CBT
High success rate
Economic impacts

54
Q

OCD
Strengths of drug treatments
Cost- effective

A

Relatively cheap in comparison to psychological treatments -> more affordable for wider population

55
Q

OCD
Strengths of drug treatments
Non- disruptive

A

Not time consuming or requiring time off work etc,

56
Q

OCD
Limitations of drug treatments
Side effects

A

Minority receive NO benefit

Minority suffers SIDE EFFECTS, such as weight gain, dry mouth, memory loss

57
Q

OCD
Limitations of drug treatments
Risk of relapse

A

Coming off a drug is a slow process in which the dosage is gradually reduced over months

58
Q

OCD
Limitations of drug treatments
Unreliable evidence

A

If companies sponsor research, they may suppress any results that do NOT support the drug being effective
Lacks validity

Psychology A level (12 decks)

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