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Psychopathology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is statistical infrequency?

A

Abnormal behaviour is that which is statistically rare

uses up to date statistics

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2
Q

How can we work out which behaviours are statistically infrequent?

A

A distribution curve

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3
Q

What percent of people on a distribution graph are statistically abnormal

A

Bottom and top 2.5%

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4
Q

Statistical infrequency evaluation

A

Many mental disorders are statistically rare so has application

People may be misdiagnosed

People with high IQ are labelled as abnormal despite this being desirable

Labelling can be offensive

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5
Q

What is a social norm

A

Unwritten rules on how to behave. They give us expectations of how to behave in certain situations

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6
Q

Implicit vs explicit social norms

A

Implicit - unspoken norms but adhered too
Explicit - Norms that are openly discussed

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7
Q

Deviation from social norms evaluation

A

Helps identify mental health disorders e.g. OCD as it is abnormal to perform compulsive behaviours

Culturally relative- behaviour considered to be abnormal in one culture may not be abnormal in another. Therefore inconsistencies in diagnosing mental illness

Social norms change over time and therefore our perception of what is normal will change over time. Therefore the way we diagnose mental illness will change over time. e.g. gay people institutionalised until 1973

Behaviour may have context e.g. a firerighter smashing a window to break into a building

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8
Q

What is failure to function

A

A person is considered abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life. They may be unable to perform the behaviours necessary for day-to-day living

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9
Q

In what way is a schizophrenic failing to function?

A

They may not be aware that anything is wrong however if they cause distress to other people then that puts them under this definition

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10
Q

How is a persons ability to function measured?

A

The GAF scale (global assessment of functioning)

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11
Q

What 6 areas are needed to function adequately - Who says this?

A

Understanding and communicating
Getting around
Self care
Getting along with people
Life activities
participant in society

WHODAS (world health organisation disability assessment)- DSM

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12
Q

Failure to function evaluation

A

Subject to cultural relativism (west may have different standards such as a high flying career that may not be what other cultures base success off of)

Schizophrenics have no awareness their behaviour is abnormal however they are happy and may not want treatment - However their behaviour may cause distress to others (Observer guilt)

Takes patients perspectives into account as behaviours are only identified if they negatively affect their mental health e.g. hoarding is only a problem if it effects day to day life - however people with less severe OCD may not be diagnosed if they find time to keep rituals

High level of face validity

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13
Q

What does deviation from ideal mental health suggest

A

Mental health being as important as physical health

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14
Q

What are jahodas criteria for ideal mental health

A

Resistance to stress
Autonomy
Positive attitude towards self
Accurate perception of reality
Mastery of environment
Self actualisation

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15
Q

Deviation from ideal mental health evaluation

A

We would all be listed as abnormal - unrealistic to keep them all all the time e.g. death of a family member will induce stress

Very vague

Culturally relative

Useful guidelines for diagnosis - very hollistic and comprehensive and looks at a multitude of factors

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16
Q

What are phobias a type of

A

Strong anxiety

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17
Q

What are the behavioural characteristics of a phobia

A

Panic (running away)

Avoidance (avoid phobia)

Endurance (sufferer remains with stimulus but is very anxious)

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18
Q

What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?

A

Anxiety - much higher than it should be

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19
Q

What are the cognitive characteristics of phobia

A

Selective attention - hard to look away

Irrational beliefs - a phobic may believe stimulus is worse than it is

Cognitive distortions - People see heir phobias as worse than they are

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20
Q

What is one explanation of phobia

A

The behaviourist explanation

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21
Q

What does the behavourist approach suggest (Phobia)

A

Phobias must be learnt

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22
Q

What is the 2 process model (who proposed it)

A

1) Classical conditioning leads to phobia acquisition
2) Operant conditioning reinforces phobia

Mowrer

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23
Q

How is a phobia gained by classical conditioning

A

Phobias are acquired through association

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24
Q

What was the little albert experiment? Who was it conducted by?

A

Watson gave little albert a white rat - no response
Watson played loud banging noises - this made hime cry
Both were given together
The mouse became a conditioned stimulus

Watson and Raynor

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25
Q

Why does operant conditioning reinforce phobias?

A

Avoidance of fears is negative reinforcement as they feel better having avoided it

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26
Q

Behavioural explanations of phobia evaluation

A

Used in therapy (flooding and desensitisation)

Based on animal studies (Watson’s rat study)

Opposed by diathesis stress model

Many don’t know how they gained a phobia

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27
Q

What are the behavioural treatments for phobia

A

Flooding
Systematic desensitisation

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28
Q

What is flooding

A

Flooding involves the patient exposing themselves to their fear
its worst. They will experience their feared situation in full without the option of avoidance.

The principle behind the technique is that without the option of a avoidance, the person learns that the feared object is harmless

Flooding should create extinction of the association.

The experience will not be over until the patient reaches relaxation with the feared object. This may occur because they are too exhausted to continue being fearful

29
Q

What is systematic desensitisation?

A

The patient creates an anxiety hierarchy for their feared object from most to least feared
The patient learns relaxation techniques to cope with the anxiety
They will be counter conditioned
We can’t be scared and relaxed at the same time (reciprocal inhibition)

30
Q

Gilroy

A

Examined 42 patients with arachnophobia (fear of spiders). Each patient was treated using three 45-minute systematic desensitisation sessions.
When examined 3 months and 33 months later, the systematic desensitisation group were less fearful than a control group (who were only taught relaxation techniques)

31
Q

Treatments for phobias evaluation

A

Flooding is quick and easy

Unethical- Very traumatic so people may quit

SD is effective in 75% of patients (however the other 25% can’t be explained which undermines classical conditioning)

Systematic desensitisation is time consuming as the person with the phobia needs to be trained in relaxation techniques and gradual exposure can take many sessions

32
Q

What are the behavioural characteristics of depression

A

Reduced energy
Poor sleep (insomnia)
Aggressive

33
Q

What are the emotional characteristics of depression

A

Low mood
Anger
Low self esteem

34
Q

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression

A

Poor concentration

Poor decision making

Only focus on the negative
Absolutist thinking (if a tiny thing goes wrong this is a disaster)

35
Q

By what explanation do we explain depression

A

The cognitive explanation

36
Q

What does the cognitive model of depression suggest

A

Thoughts are responsible for depression

37
Q

What did Beck say depressed people do?

A

Make errors in logic by demonstrating negative thinking

Depressed people selectively focus on the negative aspects of life and ignore the positive (black and white thinking)

38
Q

What did Beck suggest depression is the result of

A

Faulty info processing
Negative self schema
The cognitive triad

39
Q

What are 2 types of faulty information processing? What do they mean?

A

Overgeneralisations - A sweeping conclusion is drawn off a single incident

Catastrophising - A minor set back is exaggerated to a complete disaster

40
Q

What is a negative self schema? What are the 3 types?

A

A package of ideas and info that has developed with experience

Ineptness - We expect to fail

Self-blame - Everything is their fault

Negative self-evaluation - The individual is worthless

41
Q

What are the 3 parts of becks cognitive triad?

A

Negative views on:
World
Self
Future

42
Q

What is Ellis’s ABC model

A

Activating event
Belief (thoughts)
Consequence (behaviour)

43
Q

Grazioli and Terry

A

Assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability and depression before and after birth. They found that those women with high cognitive vulnerability were most likely to suffer from post- natal depression.

Therefore provides support for Becks cognitive vulnerabilities

44
Q

Cognitive explanation for depression evaluation

A

Treatments like CBT have been made

Doesn’t explain where depression comes from - (Lacks cause and effect)

Opposed by biological approach which suggests serotonin plays a big part

Becks theory doesn’t explain all aspects of depression (people have differing symptoms)

45
Q

What is CBT

A

Cognitive behavioural therapy
Helps people change how they think and what they do

46
Q

What is REBT - Who proposed it

A

Rational emotive behavioural therapy

Proposed by ellis

Aims to change the way people think about things

Identifies and disputes the patients irrational thoughts

47
Q

What is the REBT extension of Ellis’s ABC model

A

A citvating event
B elief
C onsequence
D ispute (thoughts)
E ffects (of disputing)
F eelings

48
Q

What else is required for CBT

A

Homework - Complete tasks to help challenge irrational beliefs

Behavioural activation - The patient should become more active / socialise

Unconditional positive regard - Therapist must show complete support for the patient no matter their situation

49
Q

CBT evaluation

A

Very effective (90%) as found by Ellis. March found it to be as effective as antidepressants (327 adolescents after 36 weeks had 81% improvement in both CBT and Anti-depressants. However 86% if taking both suggesting combo better

If a client is very depressed, they won’t be motivated to do CBT

The client is taught to help themselves

May overemphasise cognitive factors - Doest acknowledge the clients past / current situation. For example CBT may allow you to cope with an abusive relationship however it may be better to get out

50
Q

What is an obsession

A

A persistent thought/idea that is intrusive and causes anxiety

51
Q

What is a compulsion

A

A repetitive behaviour or mental act a person does to reduce anxiety

52
Q

What is necessary for the DSM to recognise OCD

A

Recurrent obsessions and compulsions

Patient recognition that that obsessions and compulsions are unreasonable

Persons life is in distress because of this

53
Q

What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD

A

Compulsions to reduce anxiety

Avoidance to triggers

54
Q

What are the emotional characteristics of OCD

A

Guilt over small things

Depressed

Frightening

55
Q

What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD

A

Bad obsessive thoughts

Insight into irrationality of thoughts

56
Q

By what explanation do we explain OCD

A

The biological explanation

57
Q

How do abnormal neurotransmitter levels cause OCD

A

Dopamine = high
Animal study - higher dopamine levels in animals caused an increase in OCD)

Serotonin = low
Antidepressants increase serotonin and reduce OCD

58
Q

How do abnormal brain circuits effect OCD

A

The worry circuit is not working

Worry signals from the orbitofrontal cortex to the thalamus are not suppressed by the caudate nucleus

If caudate nucleus is damaged, this is exacerbated

59
Q

What are the genetic explanations for OCD

A

The COMT gene - produced an enzyme that regulates dopamine production

The SERT gene regulates the transport of serotonin (can cause lower levels)

60
Q

What does polygenetic mean (OCD is)

How many genes and who found it

A

More than 1 gene effects it

230 - Taylor

61
Q

What does diathesis stress argue

A

That there is both a biological and environmental cause.

The environment activates a gene

62
Q

Biological explanations for OCD evaluation

A

Genetic doesn’t take environment into account for example most twin studies have kids who were raised in the same environment

Good real life application of SSRI’s (Piggot showed their effectiveness)

R.S. Nestadt - reviewed evidence that 68% of identical twins will both have OCD compared to 31% of non-identical twins.

Only nature side of the debate

Could be explained by 2 process model. Behaviour forms clasically and then maintained through negative reinforcement

63
Q

What are the biological treatments for OCD?

A

SSRI’s
Benzodiazapenes
Tricyclics

64
Q

What are SSRI’s

A

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Prevent breakdown of serotonin so it increases in the brain

Symptoms decline 70% of patients

Work better in conjunction with CBT

65
Q

How long do SSRI’s take to work

A

3-4 months

66
Q

What are Benzodiazapenes? Neurotransmitter?

A

Anti-anxiety medication

Enhances gaba (tells the brain to slow down)

General quieting effect on brain

Symptoms decline 70% of patients

67
Q

What are Tricyclics?

A

Anti-depressants

Prevents breakdown of serotonin

More severe side effects that SSRI’s

68
Q

Biological treatments for OCD evaluation

A

Effective in 70% of patients (Soomro found SSRI’s significantly better than placebo accross 17 trials). C.A. - study only looks at short term effects

Preferred by patients as easy to manage and less time consuming & cost effective

Only treat symptoms - not cure (does not address underlying issue) - also comes with a variety of side effects e.g. benzos are addictive and shouldnt be taken for more than 4 weeks (ashton)

Turner argues publication bias in research. The effectiveness of certain drugs may be exaggerated

Psychology (14 decks)

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