Psychopathology Flashcards
what are the definitions of abnormality
-Statistical Infrequency
-Deviation of social norms
-Failure to Function adequately
-Deviation from ideal mental health
What are social norms?
behaviours we accept or expect as the norm, decided by society and culture
whats deviation
to step away from
what does deviation from social norms state
that abnormality is when we step away from what is normally expected in society
what 2 things can social norms be
implicit or explicit
what does it mean when social norms are implicit
unwritten or unspoken rules in society.
what does it mean when social norms are explicit
legal written laws
What is failure to function adequately?
inability to cope with everyday situations
how do you know if you’re functioning?
global assessment of functioning questionnaire
behavioural indication
what’s the global assessment of functioning questionnaire
scores range from 10 to 100
score 10 = suicidal
score 60 = suffer moderately with anxiety
score 100 = superior
what’s behavioural indication for assessing failure to function adequately
behaviours that are dangerous, irrational and unpredictable
behaviours that cause personal distress and distress to others
what’s observer discomfort
distress to others
who put forward deviation from ideal mental health
Jahoda
what does Jahoda’s 6 criteria focus on
positives rather than negatives
e.g. health rather than illness
what were Jahodas 6 major criterion for optimal living
positive attitude towards the self
self-actualisation
resistant to stress
personal autonomy
accurate perception of reality
adapting to the environment
what would someone be if they’re unable to show any of the qualities listed in Jahoda’s criteria
vulnerable to mental disorders
Evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health
+ Easy to identify which aspects are missing
- Meeting all 6 is demanding
- Culturally relative
what’s statistical infrequency
if a trait, way of thinking or behaving is statistically rare its seen as abnormal
what is used to decide statistical infrequency
distribution curves - either end of a distribution is rare
what are the 3 types of phobia symptoms
emotional
cognitive
behavioural
What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?
- Marked and persistent fear
- Excessive and unreasonable fear
- Anxiety and panic
What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias?
- Irrational thinking
- Resistance of rational argument
- Recognising fear is unreasonable
What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?
- Avoidance
- Freeze or faint
- fight or flight
- Panic
- Endurance
what do behaviourist say about phobias
they are acquired through life experiences and reinforcement
who made the two process model?
Mowrer
what does Mowrer’s two step process suggest
phobias involve to stages
what are the two types of conditioning
operant and classical
what is the formula for classical conditioning
US=UR
CS+US=UR
CS=CR
what are each of the stages in Mowrer’s two process model
stage 1 - fear is learned(acquired) through classical conditioning
stage 2 - fear is maintained through operant conditioning
what happens when a person avoids their phobia according to Mowrer
their phobic behaviour is being negatively reinforced
what are the two main behavioural therapies for treating phobias?
systematic desensitisation
flooding
Who made systematic desensitization
Wolpe
what does systematic desensitisation use
principles of classical conditioning
what new response is learned in desensitisation
counterconditioning
What is reciprocal inhibition?
one emotion prevents the other - it is impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time
What are the three processes involved in systematic desensitization?
- Anxiety hierarchy
- Relaxation
- Exposure
what is flooding
exposing phobic patients to their phobic stimulus but without a gradual build-up in an anxiety hierarchy - immediate exposure
how does flooding work
stops phobic responses very quickly due to the patients quickly learn that the phobic stimulus is harmless without the option of avoidance behaviour
What are the 3 types of depression symptoms?
emotional
cognitive
behavioural
What are the emotional characteristics of depression?
- lowered mood
- Anger
- Low self esteem
What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?
- Dwelling on negatives
- Absolute thinking
- Poor concentration
What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?
- Aggressive
- Self harm
- Reduced activity levels
- Disrupting to sleep
what’s the main principle of the cognitive approach for depression
depression is caused by the way that you think
key theorists for the cognitive approach to depression
Beck and Ellis
what did Beck propose
cognitive triad
What are the aspects of the cognitive triad
negative view of self, world, and future
What did Ellis propose
ABC model
What does the ABC model consist of
.negative event - irrational belief - unhealthy negative emotion
what does ABC stand for in Ellis’ model
activating event
belief
consequence
What is the goal of CBT
have client practice behavioural activation
what are the steps in CBT
assessment
identify
plan
challenge
behaviour
what’s the assessment step in CBT
clarify patients problems together
what’s the identify step in CBT
pinpoint negative or irrational thoughts that need to be challenged
what’s the plan step in CBT
identify goals and put a plan together
what’s the challenge step in CBT
work through by challenging and changing thoughts
what’s the behaviour step in CBT
behaviour is changed because of changed thoughts
what do therapists draw on to challenge depressive thoughts with their patients
techniques from Beck and Ellis
What does CBT do ?
challenge the elements of the cognitive triad
why do therapists set homework
to investigate the reality of their negative belief
what behavioural therapy did Ellis propose
REBT - rational emotive behavioural therapy
what is key in REBT and what can it be
disputing which can be empirical or logical
What are the 3 characteristics of OCD?
emotional
cognitive
behavioural
What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?
- depression
- Anxiety
- Guilt and disgust
what are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?
- Obsessive thoughts
- Cognitive coping strategies
- Insight
What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?
Compulsions
Avoidance
what is the cycle of OCD
obsessive thoughts - anxiety - compulsive behaviour -temporary relief
what’s the biological approach to explaining OCD
something in our body malfunctions to cause mental disorders that have been linked to various biological causes
what various biological causes have been linked to mental disorders
genes
biochemistry
brain structure
what are the 2 biological explanations for OCD
genetic
neural
what does the neural explanation link to in OCD
the nervous system with neurotransmitters and the brain
what neurotransmitter is linked to OCD and what level
low levels of serotonin
which area of the brain is linked to OCD
lateral frontal lobes (logical thinking and making decisions)
left parahippocampal gyrus (unpleasant emotions)
what does a disfunction in the left parahippocampal gyrus result in
more unpleasant emotions
what does the genetic explanation for OCD suggest
OCD is passed down through the genes
what is OCD in terms of genetics
aetiologically heterogenous and polygenic
What does polygenic mean
Many genes influence one phenotypic trait
What does aetiologically heterogeneous mean?
One group of genes may cause OCD in one person but a different group of genes may cause the disorder in another person
what 3 drugs are used to treat OCD
SSRI
SNRI
tricyclics
What does SSRI stand for?
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
whats the most standard medical treatment used for OCD
SSRIs
what does the increase of serotonin levels in the synapse as a result of SSRIs mean
it keeps working and stimulating the postsynaptic neuron
what’s the typical daily dose of SSRI fluoxetine (Prozac)
20mg
up to how long can it take for SSRIs to become effective
4 months
What does SNRI stand for
Serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor
What do SNRIs do
Increase levels of serotonin and noradrenaline
What are tricyclics
an older type of antidepressant with more side effect
on the whole statement for biological approach for treating OCD
on the whole, drugs work by restabilising neurotransmitters in the brain
When is SSRI better?
when SSRI’s are combined with a psychological treatment, usually CBT. Typically symptoms decline significanly for around 70%
