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Unfamiliar concepts in Psychology > Psychopathology > Flashcards

Psychopathology Flashcards

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1
Q

Statistical infrequency -

A

Abnormality which is defined as those behaviours that are extremely rare, defines behaviour in types of typical values. If we understand what is considered normal in society then we can consider what is abnormal in society. Use of descriptive statistics

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2
Q

(Statistical infrequency) Abnormality may defined from a standard deviation that is how many away from the mean?

A

2

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3
Q

Statistical infrequency example in the real world - Dog

A

If asking someone to rate on a scale of 1-10 how much they fear dogs you would expect a range between 4,5,6. Cluster around the middle, with few people towards the end of the scale, these abnormal ratings are those at either end and are not the norm and are statistical measured and infrequent from others.

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4
Q

Deviation from social norms -

A

Abnormal behaviour is seen deviant from unstated rules of how one ought to behave, created by a group or in a social context, the expected usual behaviour in a society or culture and are behaviours that the community have found socially acceptable, these deviances are unwanted.

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5
Q

Deviation from social norms is considered: (3 factors) -

A

-Undesirable
-Often leads to rejection in a social context
-Considered abnormal in society

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6
Q

Deviation from social norms example - Homosexuality in the old days -

A

Homosexuality previously was considered abnormal and regarded as a mental disorder, it was also against the law in the UK. It’s law was based on a judgement at the time from society.

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7
Q

Failure to function adequately -

A

People are judged to go about their ability to go about daily life, if they cannot in there daily life then its considered a sign of abnormality. The lack of functioning causes distress for others and also suffering, this distress or suffering may also be to others as because in the individuals state they do not feel distressed, like people with schizophrenia who are generally unaware that anything is wrong, but their behaviour of hallucinations/delusions may be distressing to others and abnormal and not liked.

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8
Q

Failure to function adequately - functions about their daily life -

A

Functioning refers to the ability to go about there daily life (washing, eating, getting up for work, being able to communicate with others as examples)

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9
Q

Failure to function adequately example -

A

DSM includes an assessment on the ability to function called WHODAS. Considers areas of functioning previously mentioned, they are ranked on a scale of 1-5 and measure 6 categories of functioning. They are given a score of 180 in total (Highest is 5 so highest is 180 as 5 times 6 functions = 180) Therefore the use of the DSM measures the ability to function adequately based on quantitative data.

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10
Q

Deviation from the ideal mental health -

A

Abnormality can be defined in terms of ones mental health. An ideal mental health would included a positive self attitude towards the self. Based on the humanistic approach and considers what it is to be mentally healthy rather than mentally ill.

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11
Q

Deviation from ideal mental health researcher -

A

Marie Jahoda

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12
Q

Marie Jahoda pointed out we define physical health as what and identified principles that make an indivudual happy -

A

We define physical illness in part by looking at the absence of signs of physical health, the absence of these physical health attributes (correct body temperature and skin colour) indicate illness.

She identified 6 common principles that enable an individual feel happy and free of distress - E.G autonomy - independent and self attitudes - good self esteem. Lacking this qualities may make you vulnerable to a disorder.

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13
Q

The three mental disorders explored in the whole section?

A

Phobias, depression and OCD

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14
Q

Phobias quick background -

A
  • Anxiety disorder
  • Irrational fear that causes a conscious avoidance of a feared stimulus
  • Interferes with everyday normal living
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15
Q

Phobias emotional characteristics -

A
  • Persistent fear of being excessive and unreasonable
  • Anxiety, panic
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16
Q

Phobias Behavioural characteristics -

A
  • Avoidance (Fight or flight) - creates a feared response and it wants to be avoided.
  • Freeze or faint interferes with daily activities (adaptive response as the predator may think they are dead)
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17
Q

Phobias cognitive characteristics -

A
  • Irrational thinking/ resistance to this being rationale
  • Recognition of the fear as being unreasonable
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18
Q

Depression quick background -

A
  • Mood disorder
  • Defines as a persistent low mood causing distress and impairment of functioning
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19
Q

Depression emotional characteristics -

A
  • Sadness/emptiness - May feel worthless and feel low self esteem
  • Loss of pleasure in daily activities (hobbies)
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20
Q

Depression behavioural characteristics -

A
  • +/- change in appetite and sleep
  • Reduced speech and social withdrawal
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21
Q

Depression cognitive characteristics -

A
  • Negative thoughts about the world and future
  • Irrational + negative expectations
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22
Q

OCD quick background -

A
  • An anxiety disorder
  • Obsessions and compulsions as two main elements
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23
Q

OCD emotional characteristics -

A
  • Obsessions are a source of anxiety and distress
  • Embarrassment and shame
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24
Q

OCD behavioural characteristics -

A
  • Compulsive behaviour - performed to reduce anxiety of obsessions
  • Repetitive like hand washing from the fear of germs
  • Must perform these actions or something dreadful will happen
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25
Q

OCD cognitive characteristics -

A
  • Intrusive thoughts perceived as inappropriate or forbidden
  • Frightening
  • obsessive thoughts – persistent and intrusive thoughts of, eg germs
  • hypervigilance/selective attention – increased awareness of source of obsession in new situations
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26
Q

Biological explanations to explaining OCD -

A

COMT and SERT gene and Diathesis- stress

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27
Q

The COMT gene in explaining OCD -

A
  • Involved in the regulation of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which occurs from the COMT. All genes having different forms (alleles). The COMT gene has been shown to be common in patients compared to those without the disorder
  • This variations produces lower levels of the COMT gene and higher levels of dopamine
28
Q

The SERT gene in explaining OCD -

A

Affects the transport of serotonin another neurotransmitter.
Evidence of this is a study found a mutation of this gene in two unrelated families where 6 of the 7 family members had OCD.

29
Q

Diathesis-stress in explaining OCD -

A

Often a simply link of gene and a complex disorder are unlikely, it suggests that a certain gene creates a vulnerability (diathesis) for OCD as well other conditions (stressors) affect what condition develops along with a mental disorder, so they could posses the SERT and COMT gene and have no effect.

30
Q

Neural explanations of OCD -

A

Abnormal level of neurotransmitters and brain circuits

31
Q

Abnormal level of neurotransmitters in explaining OCD -

A

Animal studies have stereotyped that with high levels of dopamine from drugs they have resembled certain behaviours found in OCD patients.

The opposite with serotonin where higher levels of this are associated with less OCD, an increase in antidepressant drugs which promote serotonin have shown to reduce levels of OCD, whereas less use of antidepressants have had less effect on serotonin and do not reduce the symptoms.

32
Q

Abnormal brain circuits in explaining OCD -

A

Areas in the frontal lobe are thought to be abnormal in OCD people.

The caudate nucleus normally suppresses signals from the orbitofrontal cortex, the OFC sends signals to the thalamus about things that are worrying (germs). When the caudate nucleus is damaged, if fails to suppress these minor worry signals, the thalamus is alerted, which in turn sends things back to the OFC. Acts as a worry circuit supported by PET scans.

33
Q

Drug therapy can be achieved from two types of antidepressants in treating OCD -

A

SSRI’s and tricyclics

34
Q

The ‘worry circuit’

A

The OFC sends worry signals to the thalamus. These are normally suppressed by the caudate nucleus, but if damaged then the thalamus is alerted and confirms the worry to the OFC, creating a worry circuit.

35
Q

The biological approach to treating OCD involves the use of?

A

Drug therapy

36
Q

Drug therapy in OCD involves two types of antidepressants?

A

SSRI’s and tricyclics

37
Q

SSRIs (OCD) -

A

OCD is associated with low levels of serotonin the neurotransmitter, low levels of serotonin are also associated with depression. These low levels are implicated in the worry circuit .

Increasing levels of this neurotransmitter decreases the chance of OCD or depression. So it may normalise the worry circuit.

38
Q

What other disease is associated with low serotonin?

A

Depression

39
Q

How does serotonin work in the event of improving OCD?

A
  1. Serotonin is released into the synapse from one nerve
  2. Targets receptor cells on the receiving neuron
  3. Afterwards, it is absorbed again by the initial neuron
  4. In order to increase the levels of serotonin at the synapse an increase stimulation this re-absorption is inhibited.
40
Q

Tricyclics in managing OCD? How do they work?

A

First antidepressant to be used for OCD and is primarily used in the treatment.

Works by blocking the transport mechanisms that re-absorb the serotonin and noradrenaline in the presynaptic cell that it is fired from.

This prolongs their activity and eases their transmission of the next impulse.

Used second in line as they have more advantage on targeting one or more neurotransmitter so they may have other side effects.

41
Q

Beck’s negative schema in explaining depression? They have gained this schema during when?

A

Suggested these people who are depressed have aquired a negative schema during childhood. (adopt a negative view on the world) could be from friends and occur in new situations.

42
Q

Beck said depressed people gain what during childhood?

A

A negative schema

43
Q

What are some reasons a negative schema for depression may occur?

A
  • Parental/peer rejection
  • Critics from teachers
44
Q

Negative schemas are said to lead to?

A

Systematic cognitive biases

45
Q

Becks Negative triad -

A

These negative schemas and cognitive biases maintain Beck’s negative triad. A pessimistic and irrational view of 3 key elements in a person’s belief system.

46
Q

These pessimistic and irrational thoughts on a persons belief system is based on 3 things?

A

The self, the world and the future.

47
Q

Self - Negative triad

A

I’m unattractive and no one seems to like me.

48
Q

World - Negative triad -

A

Life experiences - I can understand why everybody dislikes me.

49
Q

Future - Negative triad -

A

I am always going to be on my own and nothing will change this.

50
Q

The two process model -

A

Explains how phobias are learnt through classical conditioning and are also maintained through operant conditioning.

51
Q

Classical conditioning for initiation for the two process model -

A

Phobias are acquired through association.
NS = such as a white rat
UCS = loud noise
In the original the UCS brings about a UCR of fear.
Pairing the loud noise with the furry object, the furry object acquires the same properties through association becoming a conditioned response.
When Albert saw the white furry rat he cried, presumably because the white rat was associated with a feared response. Little Albert’s phobia can be generalised to over furry white objects. Little Albert showed anxiety when exposed to non-white rabbit and Watson wearing a Santa Claus beard.

52
Q

Operant conditioning for maintenance for the two process model -

A

The likelihood of a behaviour being repeated is increased if the outcome deemed rewarding, in the case of a phobia the idea that avoidance is seen as rewarding and it’s avoidance results in reduced fear from the stimulus and thus reinforcing. Example of negative reinforcement from escaping from the unpleasant stimulus.

53
Q

SLT in briefly explaining the phobias -

A

SLT is not discussed in the two-process model but phobias may be learnt and acquired through modelling the behaviour of others. For example seeing a parent respond to a spider with extreme fear may lead to a child to acquire a similar behaviour because the behaviour appears rewarding. They remove themselves from the potential screaming.

54
Q

The behavioural approach to treating phobias can either be?

A

Systematic desensitisation and flooding.

55
Q

Key words to include for explaining how systematic desensitisation works -

A

Counterconditioning
Relaxation
Desensitisation hierarchy.

56
Q

Who developed systematic desensitisation ?

A

Joesph Wolpe

57
Q

Counterconditioning in SD -

A

The client is taught a new association that runs to counter the original association, the patient is taught through classical conditioning to associate the phobic stimulus with a new response (relaxation instead of fear), in this way there anxiety is reduced and they are desensitised.

58
Q

Relaxation in SD -

A
  • First thing is teach them relaxation techniques
  • May be achieved by the patient focusing on their breathing and taking slow deep breaths
  • Being mindful can help visualise being peaceful.
59
Q

Desensitisation hierarchy in SD -

A
  • Involves gradually introducing the person to the fear on step at a time
  • So it does not begin as overwhelming
  • At each stage the patient practices relaxation so the situation becomes more familiar.
  • It carries on from the least to the most feared stimuli
60
Q

Flooding does not involve?

A

Desensitisation hierarchy

61
Q

Flooding -

A

The client is exposed to an extreme form of the threatening situation in one long session, the phobia is experiences at its worst.
E.G Client who is afraid of spiders has to sit with a large hairy spider on the hand/arm until they have become calm.
The persons feared response has a time limit, as adrenaline naturally deceases, a new stimulus response can be learned and is associated with a non-anxious response.

62
Q

Ellis suggested that the key to mental disorders such as depression lay in what kind of beliefs?

A

Irrational

63
Q

(Ellis) - A -

A

Activating event - getting fired

64
Q

(Ellis) - B -

A

Belief about that event - they have always disliked me

65
Q

(Ellis) - C -

A

Consequence of that belief can be rational and irrational (so healthy or unhealthy) unhealthy emotions lead to depression.

66
Q

Musturbatory thinking -

A
  • Where irrational beliefs lie
  • Where certain ideas and assumptions have to be true in order for the individual to be happy.
  • ‘I must be approved or accepted of people I find important
  • I must do well or I am worthless.
  • A person who holds these assumptions is bound to me disappointed.

Ellis identified demanding thinking or ‘musturbation’ as the primary irrational belief in emotional disorders.

Unfamiliar concepts in Psychology (20 decks)

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