Psychopathology Flashcards
What are Phobias
An anxiety disorder which involve an irrational fear of that is directed towards a particular object or situation. The fear is out of proportion, and often the person with the fear acknowledges this
What are some behavioural symptoms of phobias
Avoidance
Freezing or fainting
Crying or screaming
Running away
What are some emotional symptoms of phobia
Irrational and persistent fear
Anxiety - constant panic
What are some cognitive symptoms of phobia
Selective attention to stimulus
Irrational thinking
resisting logical arguments
Recognition of irrational anxiety
What type of conditioning is used to obtain a phobia
Classical Conditioning
What type of conditioning is used to maintain phobia
Operant Conditioning
What are the different treatments for phobias
Flooding
Systematic Desensitisation
What happens in the flooding treatment for phobias
Where the patient is exposed to an extreme form of their phobia. This takes place over a small number of long sessions. Continues until adrenaline levels decrease and patient is calm
Evaluate the flooding treatment for phobias
+Cost effective, can be used in virutal reality
- Less effective for certain phobias, can be traumatic
Explain the Systematic Desensitisation treatment for phobias
Gradually expose the patient to more extreme forms of their phobia.
Give the three components to systematic desensitation
Fier heirachy (grad exposure to heirachy)
Reciprocal inhibition (not possible to be afraid and relaxed together, one emotion cancels the other)
Counterconditioning (fear (CS) is paired with relaxation, becoming the new reaction (CR)
Evaluate Systematic Desensitisation
+ Supporting studies such as McGrath (70% of patients treated)
- not effective with all phobias
- low generalisation
What are the two types of depression
Unipolar and Bipolar
What are some behavioural effects of depression
Loss of energy, changes in sleep pattern, changes in appetite, self harm suicide
What are some emotional effects of depression
Depressed mood, feeling of worthlessness, no motiviation, anger
What are some cognitive effects of depression
Poor concentration, negative mindset, absolutist thinking (black and white thinking)
What approach is used to explain depression
Cognitive
What are the cognitive explanations for depression
Thoughts and beliefs are factors in causing depression
Irrational thinking make a person vulnerable
People with depression show cognitive distortions (irrational thinking)
What cognitive theories aim to explain depression
Beck’s Cognitive Triad
Ellis’ Irrational Thinking (ABC model)
Explain Beck’s Cognitive Triad
Depressed people’s thoughts are biased towards negative interpretations. Depression is caused by negative thoughts and self-schemas which maintain the cognitive triad. These thoughts occur automatically
What is the negative triad in Beck’s cognitive triad
There are three types of negative thinking that contribute to depression: negative views of the world, the self, and the future.
What are negative self schemas
Set of beliefs and expectations which are self-blaming and pessimistic. A schema is a package of ideas and information developed through experience. A self-schema is the package of information we have about ourselves.
How do negative schemas contribute to depression
Due to the irrational perspective of the world, depressed people see the world in a more negative light leading to cognitive distortions
What are cognitive distortions
Logical errors focusing on certain aspects of the scenario while ignoring relevant info. Focusing on negatives, ignoring positives.
What are some examples of cognitive distortions
Overgeneralization - making a sweeping conclusion on the basis of one event
Minimisation - Tendency to underplay a positive even
What does the ABC model in Ellis’ model stand for
Activating event triggers…
Beliefs which are irrational. This produces…
Consequences - an emotional response
Explain the Activating Event in the ABC model
We get depressed when we experience negative events such as ending a relationship. This then goes on to trigger irrational thoughts
Explain the Belief in the ABC model
Ellis identified many irrational beliefs, such as focusing only negative or thinking we must be perfect
Explain the Consequences in the ABC model
When an activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional and behavioural consequence
How does the ABC model align with the cognitive approach
Takes it account that the cognitive approahc is concerneed with thinking and information processing
Evaluate to the cognitive approach to explaining depression
+Application (CBT and REBT)
- Doesn’t explain origin of irrational thoughts
What are the two cognitive treatments for depression
CBT and REBT
What does CBT stand for
Cognitive behaviour therapy
What are the two elements of CBT
Cognitive - identify and alter dysfunctional thinking
Behavioural - alter dysfunctional behaviours that contribute to depression
What are the two strands of CBT based on
Beck and Ellis’ Theories
Outline the start to both methods of CBT
Therapist and patient identify problems, then agree on a set of goals and actions to achieve goals. Patient and therpaist with then challenge the thoughts with evidence. Patient is given homework.
What happens in Beck’s cognitive theory
Help identify negative thoughts in relation to themselves, their worl and their future
What happens in Ellis Rationol-Emotive Behaviour THerapy
Techniques sucha s emprical argument and logical arguments are used
What is the Behavioural Action treatment of depression
Depressed individuals gradually decrease their avoidance and isolation by doing activities such as exercising
What are the 4 ways of determining abnormality
Deviation from Social Norms
Statistical Infrequency
Failure to Function
Deviation from Ideal mental health
Explain ‘Deviation from Social Norms’ in terms of Abnormality
When behaviours goes against unwritten social rules and expectations.
Evaluate ‘Deviation from Social Norms’ in terms of Abnormality
+ Used in clinical practive
+ Takes into account behaviour affects others
- Cultural and contextual differences
- Social norms vary with time
Explain ‘Statistical Infrequency’ in terms of Abnormality
Defines abnormality using statistics. Worked out using mean mode and median.
Evaluate ‘Statistical Infrequency’ in terms of Abnormality
+ Based on real data
+used in clinical practice
- Some statistically rare beahviour is desirable (High IQ)
- Issues with where the cut off point is
Explain ‘Failure to function ‘ in terms of Abnormality
Judges abnormality by how much it affects day to day life and how much it distresses others
Evaluate ‘Failure to function’ in terms of Abnormality
+Recognises patients perspective
+ Sensible threshold for when people need professional help
- Not all disorders distress the patient
- Can be subjective
Explain ‘Deviation from ideal mental health’ in terms of Abnormality
Compares the patient’s mental health to an ideal mental health. This includes criteria such as having an accurate view of the world and being independent of others
Who came up with the Deviation from ideal mental health explanation for abnormality
Jahoda
Evaluate ‘Deviation from ideal mental health’ in terms of Abnormality
+ Positive holistic approach to diagnosis, focuses on positives
+ Distinguishes mental health from illness
- Criteria can be too strictt
- Criteria is subjective
What approach is used to explain OCD
Biological
What are the behavioural effects of OCD
Compulsive behaviours that the sufferer feel they must do
What are the cognitive effects of OCD
Obsessive thoughts and urges that are unwanted
Describe the cycle of OCD
When the suffer does the action they feel urged to do, it reinforces this behaviour, creating a worsening cycle of OCD
What are some behavioural charcteristics of OCD
Compulsive repetitive behaviours (eg. hand washing)
Avoidance (such as avioding germs)
What are some emotional effects of OCD
Depression
Anxiety
Irrational guilt
What are some cognitive effects of OCD
Obsessive thoughts
Awareness of the irrational thoughts
Sometimes Hypervigilant
What are the two genetic explanations to OCD
Genes - genetic explanation suggest OCD is inherited, making them more vulnerable
Neural - Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters are implicated with OCD
What is meant by candidate genes
Genes responsible for OCD involved in the production of serotonin and dopamine
How many genes did Taylor (2003) suggest are involved in OCD
230, the genetic causes are polygenic
What were the results of Nestdadt’s study into OCD in twins
68% of identical twins shared OCD, 31% of non-identical twins shared OCD
What is the Diathesis-Stress Model
That disorders develop from a genetic vulnerability, and are triggered by stressful events.
What are the two types of neural explanations for OCD
Neurotransmitters
Structure of the Brain
What does low levels of serotonin cause
Mood swings, depression, impulsivity
Why is the neurotransmitter serotonin associated with OCD
Antidepressants that increase serotonin have been shown to reduce OCD symtpoms
What do high levels of dopamine cause
High levels of concentration, showing why people with OCD obsess over things
How does OCD affect decision making
Some cases of OCD are associated with impaired decision making (such as hoarding). This is associated with the frontal lobe (responsible for decision making)
What two parts of the brain are involved in OCD
Basal Ganglia
Orbitofrontal cortex
Evaluate explaining OCD with the biological approach
+ research in family studies (nestadt)
- no brain system which has consistently been found to play a role in OCD
What is the main biological way of treating OCD
Drug therapu
What two types of drugs are often used in drug therapy for OCD
Antidepressants, anti-anxiety
What are the preferred drugs for OCD
SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitoy). Increase the amount of serotonin in the synaose
Evaluate treating OCD with drugs
+Effectively tackles symptoms
+cost effective
-not a cure
-side effects
