Psychopathology

Question 1

Evaluation of failure to function adequately

Answer 1

+ Measured objectively = no subjective interpretations

+ P.A. used to help diagnose

• Some patients can still function but are suffering

Question 2

Evaluation of deviation from social norms

Answer 2

+ Easy to identify

• Depends on context, subjectivity and history
• Culture relativism

Question 3

Evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 3

+ Easy to identify which aspects are missing

• Meeting all 6 is demanding
• Culturally relative

Question 4

Evaluation of statistical infrequency

Answer 4

+ Measured objectively = not subjectively interpreted

• The cut off point of abnormality is subjective
• Ethical issues = labelling

Question 5

Evaluation of systematic desensitisation

Answer 5

+ Research support: Gilroy et al

• Problem with Research support:
  only one phobia

+ Less traumatic
Than flooding

• Individual difference

Question 6

What did Gilroy find?

Answer 6

showed a group of 42 participants, treated with SD in 45 min sessions for spider phobias, showed significantly less fear than a control group treated with just relaxation techniques

Question 7

Evaluation of flooding

Answer 7

+ R.S. Ougrin:
found flooding is highly effective and quicker than alternatives

+ Cost effective and quick

• Treatment can be traumatic
• Only works on certain phobias = social

Question 8

What did Ougrin (2011) find?

Answer 8

found flooding is highly effective and quicker than alternatives

Question 9

Evaluation of cognitive approach

Answer 9

+ P.A - CBT

+ R.S: Grazioli and Terry

+ R.S: Clark and Beck

• Alternative explanations: Seligman
• Doesnt explaing all aspects: Anger and hullucations

Question 10

What did Grazioli and Terry find?

Answer 10

Found women who have been high in cognitive vulnerability were more likely to suffer post natal depression

Question 11

What did Clark and beck find?

Answer 11

Research suggested cognitive vulnerability factors can be seen before depression

Question 12

What did Seligman find?

Answer 12

biological explanations: Serotonin lead to depression

Question 13

Evaluation of CBT

Answer 13

+ R.S: March

+ Cheap and easy

+ No side effects compared to drugs

• Overemphasis cognitive: ignores circumstances
• Individual difference: extreme depression

Question 14

What did March procedure?

Answer 14

compared the effects of CBT with antidepressant drugs and a combination of the two in 327 adolecents with a main dignosis of depression.

Question 15

What did March find?

Answer 15

After 36 weeks 81% of the CBT group , 81% of the antidepressants group and 86% of the CBT plus antidepressants group were significantly improved. Thus CBT emerged as just as effective as midication and more helpful alongside medication

Question 16

How does CBT ignore circumstance?

Answer 16

A patient living in poverty or suffering abuse needs to change their circumstances, and any approach to therapy that emphasises what is happening in the patients mind rather than their environment can prevent this.

Question 17

Evaluation of OCD

Answer 17

+ R.S: Nesta dt

+ P.A: Drugs

• Direction of cause & effect: OCD = low serotonin
• Hard to separate nature & nurture
• Deterministic

Question 18

What did Nestadt find?

Answer 18

twin studies:
Found 68% of identical twins shared OCD compared to 31% of non identical twins

Question 19

Determinist OCD

Answer 19

disregards environmental factors. Environmental factors, it seems, can also trigger or increase the risk of developing OCD

Question 20

Disadvantage of twin studies

Answer 20

disregards the fact that non identical twins could share a more similar environmental situation than an identical twin set meaning that they are more different.

Question 21

Evaluation of Biological treatments

Answer 21

+ R.S: Soomro et al

+ Cost effective & non disruptive: good value for health system and are non disruptive compared to therapist

• side effects
• treats symptoms not the cause
• Research bias: drug companies

Question 22

What did Soomro et al find?

Answer 22

reviewed studies comparing SSRI’s to placebos in the treatment of OCD and concluded that all 17 studies showed significally better results for the SSRI’s than the placebo conditions

Question 23

Side effects of SSRIs

Answer 23

indisgestion, blurred vision and loss of sex drive side-effects are more common and can be more serious. More than one in ten patients suffer erectial problems, tremors and weight gain.