PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Flashcards
define psychopathology
the study of mental disorders in terms of their causes, development and treatment
define statistical infrequency
a persons thinking, trait, behaviour is classified as abnormal if its statistically unusual
example of statistical infrequency
IQ less than 70 or higher than 120
define deviation of social norms
behaviour that is different from accepted standards of behaviour in a community
define failure to function adequately
inability to cope with everyday life
symptoms of FTF
- personal distress
- behave in an irrational way
define deviation from ideal mental health
thinking about what makes someone normal and psychological healthy and identifying anyone who deviates from this
who created the criteria for ideal mental health
JAHODA
whats a phobia
characterised by excessive fear and and anxiety triggered by a place. The extent of fear is out of proportion to any real danger
name 3 emotional characteristics of phobias
anxiety
fear
unreasonable
3 behavioural characteristics of phobias
panic
avoidance
endurance
3 cognitive characteristics of phobias
selective attention
irrational beliefs
cognitive disortions
whats cognitive disortions
the perception of a person with a phobia may be inaccurate
how do we relate the behavioural approach to phobias
the approach emphasises the role of learning in the development of behaviours
therefore, suggests the phobias are learnt
whats the two process model
suggests phobias are learnt through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning ( specifically negative reinforcement )
how is negative reinforcement related to maintaining phobias
- person avoids stimulus
- results in desirable consequence
- makes behaviour more likely
whats systematic desensitisation
behavioural therapy based on classical conditioning and aims to replace fear with a relaxed response
what are the 3 phases of systematic desensitization
- patient taught deep muscle relaxation
- patient creates fear hierarchy
- works their way up the F
how many sessions does SD need and what is the difference between vitro and vivo
4-6 sessions ( can be more )
therapy is complete when goals are met ( agreed by both )
vitro- imagined exposure
vivo- actual exposure
whats flooding therapy
exposing patient directly to phobia with the aim of exposing them for so long in a controlled and safe environment
what are the 2 things flooding does
- extinguishes fear
- creates new association between phobic stimulus and something positive
define depression
depression is a mood affective disorder, mental and behavioural experiences which is severe and damaging to everyday functioning
whats the DSM- 5
recognises categories of depression and depressive disorders
3 emotional characteristics of depression
lowered mood
anger
lowered self - esteem
3 behavioural characteristics of depression
activity levels
sleep/ eating disruption
agression/ self harm
cognitive characteristics of depression
poor concentration
dwelling on the negative
absolutist thinking
explain the cognitive approach relating to depression
the cognitive explanation if depression focusses on our mental processes eg: thoughts and attention. and how this affects our behaviour
what are the two explanations of depression
BECKS TRIAD
ELLIS’ ABC MODEL
define faulty information processing within depression
- ignores positives in their lives
- blow small problems out of proportion
- cognitive biases bc they constantly see themselves as worthless
define a negative self scheme within depression
a negative self schema means they interpret all info negatively
name the negative triad
negative view of world, self and future
what did ellis’ suggest explained depression
irrational thoughts would interfere with happiness and cause unhappiness
ABC stand for in explaining depression
Activating Event ( trigger 🧠 )
Beliefs ( thoughts associated )
Consequence ( believing the things )
what are the two treatments to depression
Becks cognitive
Ellis’ REBT
whats CBT
a therapy which assists clients to identify irrational thoughts
once identified, the therapist helps change them
name two key facts of CBT therapy
- clients get homework to record positive events, can be used in sessions to challenge negative
- this then allows therapist to confront client with evidence to show them the thought is irrational
whats REBT?
identify and challenge irrational thoughts, extending Ellis’ “ABC” to “ABCDE”
D- dispute
E- effect
what are the two arguments a therapist may use in the REBT therapy
empirical- is there evidence to support this irrational belief
logical- does the negative thought follow the fact
what is the goal of REBT therapy?
to gradually decrease patients avoidance and isolation.
Increase their engagement in activities, which may increase mood
Define OCD
obsessive compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder
characterised by experiencing persistent and intrusive thoughts
which occur as obsessions compulsions, or both.
whats the difference between obsessions and compulsions
obsessions are the cognitive, intrusive thoughts
compulsions are the behaviours carries out due to the intrusive thoughts
what are the two things the DSM- 5 recognise in OCD
excoriation- skin picking
trichotillomania- hair picking
3 emotional characteristics of OCD
extreme anxiety
guilt
depression
2 behavioural characteristics of OCD
compulsions and avoidance
cognitive characteristics of OCD
obsessive thoughts
cognitive coping strategies
awareness of excessive anxiety
what are the 4 factors of the OCD cycle
obsessive thought- anxiety- compulsive behaviour- temporary relief
how does the biological approach explain OCD
focusses on genetics and how neural explanations account for OCD
define neural explanations within OCD
based on the idea that physical and psychological characteristics are determined by the nervous system
whats our main focus within the brain on neural explanations
frontal lobe- thinking, memory
how does brain structure explain OCD
OCD is sometimes associated with impaired decision making, which links to the frontal lobe of the brain.
how does brain chemistry explain OCD
The neurotransmitter serotonin which regulates mood has been linked to OCD
If someone has low serotonin levels, then the usual transmission of mood related information doesn’t take place and the person makes experience low moods
what are the specific genes that create vunerability for OCD
candidate genes
OCD isnt caused by one gene therefore its ….
polygenic
